Seascapes created in Cornwall by Matthew Hedges

Artist Statement

Here in West Cornwall the encompassing seas give opportunity for exploration, inspiration and fascination with the oceans power.   A place where the north and south coasts converge and give way to the Atlantic before drowning, a hoarder of mists, inaccessible coves, shifting skies and sunshine too.   A place where the rocks submit stubbornly until the seas win over.

Living in south west Britain, beautiful West Cornwall has been crucial in my evolvement as a seascape painter.   Surrounded by craggy coastline, beaches and stormy winter seas near my home, provides essential source material.

Most of my wave studies are loosely based around the Cornish coast, I say loosely because many are imaginary or mythical, with no reference to any specific region or time, others are simply a study of how sunlight and atmosphere interact with the ocean.   Through my acquired knowledge of the ocean I can sometimes paint waves from memory straight out of my head guided purely by feeling and emotion.

Waves break quicker than my hand can sketch so photography plays an essential role.   That said, during the creation process I choose to communicate the essence of the sea from memory and experience, engaging with the sea through swimming, surfing and intuitively creating serendipitous marks, allowing the materials, colours and impulse to guide the painting.   My aim is to imbue a sense of wonder and enchantment that is sympathetic and calming to the weary soul, giving whoever acquires one of my works a lifetime of pleasure...   Many have said my style is reminiscent of Monet with echoes of Van Gogh particularly when using an impasto technique while others say my paintings have an 'other-worldly' beauty.   Isolated beaches are a recurring theme in my seascapes and they address waves as the essential subject in an intimate way, emitting a dynamic curiosity and sense of wonder.

Biography...