Ben Brotherton lives and works in the Occitanie Region in south-west France. Having initially established a reputation for his atmospheric en plein air landscapes of the French countryside, Ben turned his attention to life studies and still life paintings. These bold colourist studies are a natural progression in style.
Inspired by the French Masters Cezanne, Corot and Matisse, Ben's paintings are about the painted surface, space and light. In his warm, richly evocative palette, there is real depth and presence to Ben's work. With layer on layer of colour, tone, pattern and texture, these beautifully distilled paintings radiate with tranquility and calm.
'In drawing and painting one's ideas about the subject and the resulting work constantly evolve. Painting, for me, is a process of discovery,' Ben explains. 'I like that one can see, between the brushstrokes, glimpses of previous ideas of colour, shape and tone.' In this 'piecemeal, layered, patchwork approach' Ben's subjects emerge in a series of 'overlapping shapes.'
Painting in the studio, Ben explains, 'everything is in flux.' From the changing light, to small shifts in contour and movement; these subtle developments inform the work. 'Painting from nature may be my attempt to understand the world' he says. 'It allows me the opportunity to engage with its constituents. From the infinite chaos of experience a painting might be distilled.'
Painting in the studio, Ben explains, 'everything is in flux.' From the changing light, to small shifts in contour and movement; these subtle developments inform the work. 'Painting from nature may be my attempt to understand the world' he says. 'It allows me the opportunity to engage with its constituents. From the infinite chaos of experience a painting might be distilled.'
Ben Brotherton graduated from Canterbury with a 1st class BA Hons in Fine Arts in 2002 and an MA in painting in 2004. After three years as artist in residence at The King's School, Canterbury, he moved to France in 2008. Ben has shown regularly in solo and group exhibitions with GrandyArt since 2006. He has also exhibited in London with The Royal Society of Oil Painters and Royal Society of British Artists. In France, Ben exhibits with L'Oeil du Prince in Biarritz and has shown in various salons across south-west France. He has been awarded 1st prize in Montmatre, Paris, at Artempo, Toulouse and Brouillarta, Biarritz.