Philip Westcott

Biography

I was born in Salford, studied in Leeds and now live in Eccles. I have had over 20 exhibitions in city galleries across the Northwest. My work has also featured in major exhibitions in the UK and USA. My paintings are in many private collections in Germany, Canada, Australia, Spain, Hong Kong, UK and USA. My work covers a wide spectrum of styles and themes. I have painted cityscapes for over 30 years with Manchester and Salford being my main inspiration. I started by painting individuals but now tend to paint a wider view of the scene. In these compositions I capture indiscriminate figures by painting them loosely so that they appear to merge into the scene. I often highlight them with fleeting glimpses of colour, to give the impression of a fast paced lifestyle. Concentrating on the busy shopping centres depicts the hustle and bustle of modern life. My other interest is the Northwest Landscape. Here my paintings focus on the hidden view rather than large panoramas. These are painted initially in watercolour and them translated in larger oil paintings. Freedom and spontaneity are important to me and the use of a palette knife in these works allows me to capture both. ? My landscapes are fragmented. As natural sunlight filters through the branches, the images highlighted are the colours and shapes of nature. I hope, by the use of texture, I have captured the depth that can be found in woodland scenes. M?y work has been reviewed in many publications, including, Art and Artists, BritArt Directory and Artful Reporter. Recently I have become interested in using a tablet to draw images of local people. Capturing a moment in time where the pose reflects everyday life.