A day at Bath Contemporary Arts Fair: original paintings, conversations and creative connections

There’s something special about exhibiting your work in a beautiful setting, surrounded by art, artists and people who genuinely love what you do. My day at Bath Contemporary Arts Fair was a reminder of just how rewarding it is to take my paintings out of the studio and share them with the world.

Bath provided a wonderful backdrop for the event, with its distinctive architecture, rich history and vibrant creative atmosphere. It felt like the perfect place to bring together contemporary artists, collectors and art enthusiasts, all with a shared appreciation for original artwork and the stories behind it.

Sharing my paintings with art lovers

One of the highlights of the day was meeting so many visitors and having the opportunity to talk about my work in person. As an artist, much of my time is spent working alone in the studio, developing ideas, experimenting with colour and building paintings layer by layer. Events like this offer a completely different experience, allowing me to see how people respond to the finished work.

I was particularly encouraged by the considerable interest in my original paintings. There’s something about seeing these pieces in person that photographs simply can’t replicate. The scale, texture, colour and energy of the paintings become much more apparent, and it was fantastic to have so many engaging conversations with visitors about them.

My work explores the urban landscape, drawing inspiration from the architecture, movement, history and visual complexity of the places around us. I enjoy finding a balance between observation and interpretation, using expressive line, bold colour and a degree of artistic licence to capture the character of a place rather than simply reproduce it.

Meeting people who connect with that approach, and hearing what they see in the paintings themselves, is one of the most rewarding aspects of exhibiting.

Connecting with fellow artists

Another pleasure was spending time with other artists exhibiting at the fair. There’s a real sense of camaraderie at events like these, where everyone brings their own perspective, techniques and experiences to the same space.

It’s always interesting to discover how other artists approach their work, hear about their creative journeys and exchange ideas about the realities of making and exhibiting art. These conversations are a valuable part of being involved in the wider art community, and they often provide fresh inspiration long after the event has finished.

Books, sketching and sharing ideas

Alongside my original paintings, I was delighted to see interest in my book, Line & Wash in the Urban Landscape. It was lovely to meet visitors interested in urban sketching and discuss ways of developing their own drawing and painting practice.

I’m passionate about helping people see the world around them differently, whether that means simplifying a complicated scene, finding a more expressive line or using watercolour to bring a drawing to life.

This naturally led to some lovely conversations about workshops, with visitors keen to explore opportunities to develop their skills and spend time drawing and painting together. It’s always exciting to talk about bringing people together through art, particularly when those conversations begin with a shared interest in the urban landscape.