Heather Davies: Artist's Statement

I cannot recall a time in my life when I was not being creative. I remember drawing a great deal, as paint and colour did not hold the same fascination for me as it does today. It was usually pencil or black ink and always linear. When I did paint I used watercolour. I applied my paint in a very simple manner; it was a long time before I realised the many and varied possibilities this medium could offer.
In some of my recent work the colours are dark and sombre, contrasted with others, which are bright and optimistic. This is possibly a reflection of how I am feeling at the moment. I often use watercolour, as I love the translucency achieved with this medium. Whilst I still appreciate the wonderful aspects of traditional watercolour painting, I am for example more concerned with my response to a subject than producing a painting, which shows the absolute mastery of the medium. Even the more representational works have something of the artist’s personality in them, however I feel my more abstract pieces possibly portray more of me.

I often start with a sketch done outside in the landscape, and then develop it later in the studio. I have noticed it sometimes takes some time before I am in the mood to paint. Its as if I am waiting till I am in a certain state of mind before I begin. It is always interesting and often frustrating but never easy.

What I find exciting is the element of surprise. I hope to keep my mind open and flexible. For instance, I consciously changed the way I used watercolour because I felt it limited my options. There are a number of traditional ways in which watercolour is supposed to be applied. The layering for example of several subtle washes to finally build up the desired depth of tone is I feel only one person’s dictum. This method I found limited my spontaneity and consequently the element of surprise.

Many things inspire me, however they are usually natural elements in the landscape. For instance rock formations or shapes on the Fellside that show the movement, which took place many millions of years ago. There seems to be a continual On The Edgestruggle going on between depicting what is actually there and the effect the subject is having on me. At present my work is, I feel a mixture of the two. Sometimes when I work out of doors other interesting elements come into play. I feel it may be ones subconscious gaining the upper hand. I find I make marks, which I could never attain in the studio.

I did some illustration for a time and enjoyed some of the commissions I received, however the tight deadlines and having to draw to order, not from my own inspiration, eventually made me feel very frustrated. I felt like a tightly wound spring, it was only when I began to paint what really inspired me, did I unwind, and realised how much I needed to return to my own work. I was now also aware, how much of myself was being transferred to the paper when I am involved in a truly creative process.