Haydn Cottam - Julian Vilarrubi Private View

Thank you to everyone who attended the private view for artists Julian Vilarrubi and Haydn Cottam. 

After graduating from St. Martins College of Art in the 80s and having worked and exhibited with painters such as Gavin Lockheart and Peter Doig in both California and London, Haydn concentrated on figurative work. In 1990 he was commended in the BP Portrait Award and in 1991 followed this success with winning the BP Travel Award. In 1995 he was the winner of The Carole Foundation at the Mall Galleries in London. The move from figure painting to landscape was gradual and reflects a general desire to be near open spaces and away from the urban environment.

Julian also paints dynamic, vibrant landscapes. They are largely abstract, yet suggest a real sense of atmosphere and the feel of a place. He says “All my work is inspired by my surroundings and I seek out new locations to create new work. I make drawings and colour studies on-site and create the work back in the studio. This means memory becomes a more significant aspect of the work as opposed to the strictly observational. It's important to retain the feeling and sensations of a place and try to get that into the painting. Somewhere in between the drawings, the studies and the memories lies the point of it all and to get to that and express it is the challenge.