Innehållsförteckning för June 2025 från Artists & Illustrators

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Editor’s pick… Unearthed: The Power of Gardening explores the transformative and sometimes radical impact of gardening in Britain. Featuring rare items, from an Anglo-Saxon herbal manuscript to the first gardening manual of 1564, the show reveals how gardening has driven social and political change. From allotments to windowsills, it examines how gardening heals, empowers communities and fosters activism. From 2 May to 10 August 2025, British Library, London NW1 2DB. Don’t miss Among the renowned Old Master paintings at the Wallace Collection is a significant group of 18th-century Venetian views, or vedute, by Canaletto and his followers. Following years of conservation and research, the paintings have been restored and a new catalogue, Canaletto and Guardi: Views of Venice at the Wallace Collection, presents them in renewed splendour. This study has…

ROB ADAMSON’S HOME AND STUDIO lie near the foothills of Salt Lake City, Utah, at the outermost edge of a grid of busy streets. Rob stumbled into his niche one day when he drove up a nearby wooded canyon to paint and couldn’t find a scene that interested him. Disappointed, he drove down into the city and found his inspiration at a stoplight when he glimpsed a McDonald’s on the corner. “I looked at the afternoon light and was enamoured by all the colours and the architectural elements popping out,” he says. Rob parked his car, sat at the intersection and painted the fast-food restaurant. “I had so much fun. The next day I went down on the other corner and painted the 7-11,” a gas station known for its…

THE 19TH-CENTURY FRENCH PAINTER Andre Derain, friend to Matisse, once commented that “the substance of painting is light,” and it’s a philosophy shared by contemporary artist Alison Watt, who, in 1987, memorably won the BP Portrait Award whilst still a student at Glasgow School of Art. “Light can transform something otherwise ordinary,” she says. “It can release the power of what we might consider commonplace. I often paint ordinary things: a piece of paper, a feather, a piece of cloth; but light has the ability to imbue simple objects with a life beyond their original purpose.” Some of these very objects can be seen within an intriguing new exhibition, From Light, Alison’s first London-based show since 2008, all set within the beautiful surroundings of Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery in Ealing.…

I WAS ASKED TO TAKE PART in a Painting Fair although, sadly, I had to decline as I had damaged my thumb. Additionally, my painting process takes longer than the time would allow. So, the project didn’t suit me, but I went along to support friends. It was a glorious day, with over 100 artists taking part. Their works were judged the following day in different categories, with prizes for the winners that attracted well over a thousand visitors to the event. Walking around, my friends asked me what I would have painted. I thought hard, after taking it all in. I replied and said I would have liked to paint the artists themselves, at work. I saw various ideas for a subject and asked the painters if I could…

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I GET ASKED A LOT as an artist is, “How long did that take?” I bristle a bit at this because it presumes a direct relationship between time and quality, but art doesn’t really work like that. However, I think this question really just comes from a desire to understand the process, which can admittedly seem opaque. It made me think about what develops at what stage in the hour or two when I do a portrait drawing. I set a timer and recorded progress at 10-minute intervals while doing this, so you can see my process over time. Whether drawing from life or from a reference image, I prefer to work by eye rather than measuring or tracing. I start with loose marks and feel…

We have expert advice from two artists on the subject, including Bonny Snowdon, renowned coloured pencil specialist, who is also offering free subscriptions to her Ignite art course membership in this month’s prize draw. Meanwhile, inspiration can be right under your nose, as Matthew Jeanes found out when he visited his local art fair. He saw an opportunity to paint a fellow artist at work and jumped at the chance. You can see the results in our step-by-step section. He is also joined by watercolour master Alvaro Castagnet, in his third instalment on mastering the techniques of the medium. In this issue, he explains his process behind creating values. Short on time? A former British Art Prize finalist shows you how he drew his self-portrait in just 90 minutes. His…

30 APRIL Enter The Homiens Art, Prize, an international, non-acquisitive art prize valued at $24,000 USD annually and open to all artists and art forms. Entry is $30.  homiens.com 30 APRIL Showcase the connection between humans and animals with visual art, written word, video or photographyfor the Humanimal Trust Creative Awards. Free. humanimaltrust.org.uk 7 MAY Calling all UK disabled young artists aged 7-21! Submit your 2D, 3D or digital art to win cash prizes. All finalists will be invited to a virtual presentation ceremony. uniqueartawards.uk 31 MAY If you’re a student in years 7-13, enter the YouCreate Competition by interpretting the theme 'Dreams' for a chance to win an iPad or Amazon vouchers. uca.ac.uk…

I WAS BORN IN VALENCIA, where the light stretches endlessly. This shaped my understanding of colour and atmosphere in painting. I come from a working-class family, and despite difficult times, my parents prioritised education and encouraged our artistic interests. One of my biggest influences was my older brother, an illustrator and designer, who introduced me to comics, films and fantasy literature. It was through him that I started drawing by imitation. A defining moment came in my teenage years. I was going through a turbulent phase and wasn’t the best student. Then, a teacher encouraged me to study Fine Arts; his advice changed my life. My years at the Polytechnic University of Valencia were essential, not just in technique but in connecting with people who shared my artistic concerns. That…

THERE ARE ONLY 16 PAINTINGS ON DISPLAY in XXX, the new Harland Miller exhibition at the York Art Gallery. Considering that some of those pieces are three metres long, visitors won’t come away feeling short-changed. The stunning exhibition features the paintings, alongside 25 graph paper drawings, by the critically acclaimed writer and artist, whose irreverent northern humour and love of language infuses everything he creates. Born in York in 1964, Miller was brought up in Yorkshire and then studied at the Chelsea School of Art before moving to New York, where his creativity was fuelled by Pop Art, Colour Field Painting and Abstract Expressionism. He spent a few years living what is best described as an itinerant lifestyle in New Orleans, Berlin and Paris, before moving to London, where he…

British Art Club member CLAIRE YATES is an award-winning contemporary animal artist who works with pastels in exquisite fine details. Here are her top tips for working with the medium 1 Jump in and make a start Choose the pastel colours that you will need for your artwork by studying your reference photo. I have found in the past that I will always add more to my selection as I go along, depending on what new colours I have seen in the photo. Applying a rough colour base, first on your subject using sticks, pencil or Pan Pastel will help. 2 Layering up The common rule for pastels is to work from dark to light. This is one of the many perks of pastel. The only drawback is when using…

MESSAGE OF THE MONTH Sandy Howarth Born in Sri Lanka into a family-owned furniture business, I studied interior design in the UK and US, graduating from Parsons School of Design, New York. My career halted when my son, Steven, was diagnosed with severe autism in Dubai. With no facilities available, I home-educated him while navigating the stigma and lack of information in 1994. Returning to the UK, I fought for Steven’s education, taking the Local Authority to tribunal. Painting at night became my solace and a source of hope. After 24 years of care, Steven moved to a care home. Now, I have the freedom to rekindle my passion for art. A self-taught artist, I work mainly in oil on canvas, exploring nature, philosophy, and love. My latest collection, Poetic…

ALE CASANOVA Ale is a Spanish painter known for his figurative work. A Fine Arts graduate, his paintings delve into physical and psychological narratives, featuring precise brushwork and balanced compositions. They invite viewers to contemplate the hidden narratives within our everyday lives. SUSAN MURRAY Susan is an award-winning artist and illustrator from Lincolnshire, now based in southwest Scotland. She studied at Carlisle Art College in the 80s. In 2017, she discovered coloured pencils, sparking a passion for their vibrant possibilities. Ever since, she has pursued her own creative practice. ROB ADAMSON Rob is a passionate painter and teacher with 30 years of professional experience. He is a signature member of Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society as well as the Plein Air Painters of Utah. His award-winning work…

THE EDWARDIANS: AGE OF ELEGANCE 11 April to 23 November 2025 This show will exhibit the glamour and sophistication of the Edwardian age. Featuring over 300 objects, it highlights the lives of two royal couples – King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary – their personal collections and their lavish social circles. Visitors can explore dazzling jewellery, striking portraits and rare artefacts from their travels. Works by celebrated artists and designers of the era, including Fabergé, Sargent and Burne-Jones, will be on display. The exhibition captures a world on the brink of change, as Britain edged towards modernity. The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA. rct.uk DESIGN AND DISABILITY 7 June 2025 to 15 February 2026 This exhibition will showcase the contributions of…

RICHARD KITSON IS A PORTRAIT artist based in Barnsley, Yorkshire, whose work is deeply influenced by his northern roots. His studio, though small, is a space for focused, disciplined work, shaped by his experiences teaching art. His art has gained wider recognition, with pieces selected for prestigious exhibitions like the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery. “I’m on cloud nine, it certainly hasn’t sunk in yet. To finally have one of my paintings exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery after 22 years of trying is a huge honour,” he says. Alongside his painting practice, he published From Life, a book showcasing his personal collection of works, and continues to connect with both clients and followers through exhibitions, workshops and…

COLOURED PENCIL IS A SLOW MEDIUM. Whilst I love this and it’s slow meditative, sometimes it’s nice to finish a drawing in a few hours rather than spending days and weeks creating something realistic. However, this drawing took me three-and-a-half hours from start to finish. Here. I’m going to show you how over the next few pages. I chose to create this little Yorkie in a different style from how I usually draw and teach. Whilst it might not be as refined as my usual work, it’s still realistic and will be something that you can follow along with easily, even if you haven’t drawn with coloured pencils before. I’m using Grafix Drafting Film 0.005 double matt, a surface you may not have considered for your coloured pencil work, yet…