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| GALLERY GUIDE SCOTLAND 2009 |
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| An Interview with Rob Newton |
| By Maria Brett, Editor |
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Can you describe your journey to becoming an artist? |
| At the age of twelve I copied a pair of Guillemots from a National Trust book in pencil. It was technically way beyond anything I had ever done. Previous drawings were innocent and clumsy but this one drawing was a revelation. I always had some artistic inheritance from my mother, a very competent drawer and painter, who never pursued a career in art, but this drawing was so special. I still have it. |
| I excelled in art during my schooling, however I left school in 1982 to become an engineer in electronics for fifteen years. It was during this time that I joined a local amateur art group, taking part in the annual autumn show to fund more materials. From 1995 to 2000 I studied fine art at Sunderland University on a part time basis. By now my attention was focused on a career in art. |
| The beginning was very difficult and I suffered a brief period of hardship but persevered. In 1999 I submitted some work to The Dial Gallery (now closed) in Northumberland. I sold work and slowly began to gain confidence and, more importantly, win the confidence of gallery owner, Janice Charlton. Subsequently she offered me my first solo exhibition in summer 2001. I sold everything and more in the first week of the show. I was flabbergasted! I was not used to success. Brimming with confidence, with my foot in the first rung of the ladder, it was not long before other galleries wanted to show work. |
| What inspires you to paint? |
| Three points come to mind. Firstly, I'm inspired by nature and the very nature of oil paint. Its plasticity and texture allows many possibilities for image making. Secondly, there is a desire to investigate composition and the infinite ways one can combine shape, form, marks and so forth to make an image. Lastly, subject matter is less important but I live in the countryside so the landscape is close at hand. If I lived in the city perhaps I would paint people or the city. |
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| What is the best thing about being a full time working artist? |
| Perhaps the best part, for myself, is being free to create what I want, when and how. Being in amongst the landscape and seeing the seasons change slowly. |
| How did you become involved with The Ruthven Gallery? |
| I think they saw my work in Edinburgh. Suzanne called the studio and it all went from there. When I met Mike and Suzanne we got on well instantly. They are driven and very enthusiastic, hard working yet have time to talk. The drive up to the gallery is inspirational. I'd rather go north than south any day. |
| What does the future hold? |
| I don't think too far ahead. I have been painting some portraits and still life. Making more charcoal drawings. I'm still trying to paint that special one. I have another couple of exhibitions coming up this year so there's plenty to focus on. There's always plenty to do. |
| A Northern Landscape with Louise Balaam and Robert Newton opens on the 9th May and runs until the 29th June. |
| © Capital Group UK. |
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