Philip Proudlove

Biography

Born in 1957 in London, and moved to Staffordshire as a child where I have lived ever since. For as long as I can remember I have been drawing, sometimes frequently, sometimes sporadically, but it has always been there. I studied design (technical illustration) at Bournville College in Birmingham. Now with more free time I can pursue a course that inspires me, and I paint as I please. Living in north Staffordshire gives me easy access to many picturesque parts of the county and surrounding areas. I work either ‘en plein air’ sketching, or in the studio using information collected in my sketchbooks. When working outside I generally sketch in water based pens as these are easy to carry. I use a sketchbook where each sheet is prepared with three predrawn rectangles, the main image area occupying most of the page with two smaller thumbnails in the corner for notan images to allow me to compose the chosen view to best effect. This arrangement also allows me space to include colour notes, weather conditions and direction of light on the page. When working outside it is the experience of being immersed in absorbing surroundings that is most important to me. To be in that moment and, having decided what it is that has inspired me, to get that impression down in its most immediate form and preserve it. Having sat for a while absorbing the scene I find that I can return to a sketch months or even years later and bring back that experience and pour it into a studio painting. Still, I have so much yet to learn.