About

James Lord

In September I started a new chapter in my creative life studying for a Masters in Fine Art at UCA Farnham. This turns a part-time into a full-time practice, pushing the boundaries of my work by greater emphasis on research and experimental practice. My new work enhanced by the results of critically studying artists that inspire me by and the materials I use to create.

I was born in 1970 on the Isle of Wight and spent an idyllic feral childhood in Yarmouth never far from the family boatyard by the old wooden bridge. My cousins, my friends and I treated the river and salt marshes from Afton to Sandhard beach as our second home, crabbing, fishing, rowing dinghies and sailing Scows. Over the downs we spent long hot summer days on Compton Beach building castles and playing in the waves on homemade plywood surfboards.

In 1988 I left the Island to study for a National Diploma in Graphic Design at Arts University Bournemouth and then a BA at UAL London College of Communication where I graduated with a 2.1 Hons degree in Graphic Communication in 1993. The following 10 years I lived and worked in London as a graphic designer at Moore Wilson Design then The London International Financial Futures Exchange (LIFFE) and finally EasyScreen Plc before heading back to the Isle of Wight to set-up my own graphics, illustration and photography studio. From 2020 - 23 I owned and managed Bath Road Gallery in Cowes stocking contemporary art, ceramics and jewellery.

My practice is primarily landscape painting, with elements of 3D and collage. The work acknowledges English Neo Romanticism and Magical Realism. Themes explored in my work include coastlines under threat, geometric shapes, colour and texture, water and light.

I try to be a sustainable as possible painting on reclaimed OSB, plywood, MDF, particle board, cardboard, recyled paper, driftwood, skip finds, offcuts and old furniture. My friends Pete and James at Superior Bespoke carpentry have been very kind in donating all their offcuts giving a range of new surfaces to paint on.

For more about my working process and my latest artworks follow me on instagram