David Beattie celebrates his 25th year as an artist/printmaker with his new exhibition at Art Matters in Tenby.
Whilst he is primarily an etcher of finely detailed studies of his 'encounters' in and around West Wales where he lives with his wife and three children, this exhibition gives the viewer a rare glimpse into what else he gets up to when time allows.
Amongst the affectionate studies of the farmers at the marts that he frequents, as much for the usual scalding cup of tea and Bara Brith as for inspiration for new work, he also depicts the landscape and the livestock that first drew him to the area when he and his wife started holidaying in the Cardigan area 21 years ago.
It was in 1988 that they realised their ambition to move to a small Welsh village and he established his own studio premises, a far cry from the back bedroom of his mother's and subsequent houses. He still marvels at his good fortune in being able to live amongst the diverse inspiration for his work.
Within a few miles in any a direction he can find himself on the coastline, in lush pastoral valleys, or on the sparse, yet magnificent Preseli Hills. Trying to pin him down to one subject is always going to be hard. If one common trait is to be observed, it will always be his attention to fine detail that allows a personal sharing of the experience the work depicts with the viewer and himself.
Someone once dryly observed of an abstract work before them: "The splashes hold some interest, but the dribbles lack conviction." This could never be said of David's work. He studiously avoids (or at least hopes to) the possibility of such an accusation. What you see is what it is. The confidence and polish of his finely finished etchings, give little idea of the painstaking preparation that David undertakes before each work is commenced. Amongst the exhibits, large pen and ink drawings executed with the same fine detail as the miniature etchings can be seen. They were intended as preparatory sketches but soon evolved into complete works of their own.
A first for this show is the newly completed 'Lost Feathers' depicting a shoal of mackerel. Four of the fish became his models after a friend took him sea fishing for the first time. They reclined in his deep freeze for two years, surfacing occasionally for drawing sessions. Taking four years overall and with the repeated requests from visitors to his studio to "get on with it," David finally finished this etching, ironically after a recent heart attack with new dietary requirements to now eat mackerel for the 'Omega 3 Oil.'
As to what 'Lost Feathers' mean? Ask a fisherman.
In the past few weeks, he has surprised everyone by entering the Tenby Arts Festival Open Art Competition and winning the Watercolour Prize with his painting entitled 'Ceiriog.'
David's exhibition at Art Matters in Tenby runs from October 12 to November 2, Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 5 pm. For further details telephone 01834 843375.