What's your name?: Nick Benjamin
Where are you from originally and where are you now?: I was born and bred in Haverfordwest. I now live in Wimbledon, South West London.
What medium / media do you work in?: I paint using oils on gallery style block canvas.
How would you describe your work?
My work is quirky in as much that I paint only using my fingers and no brushes! This is quite challenging for larger paintings but I feel it helps me to intricately blend vibrant colours together.
What are your influences and inspirations?: My paintings have a distinct influence from growing up in Pembrokeshire. They often have a landscape quality to them but with really vibrant colours. I love sunsets and the Pembrokeshire Coast is an ideal place to absorb those colours and interpret them through painting.
Which piece are you most proud of and why?: Each new painting tends to be my favourite for a while. But with certain paintings I actually think... "wow... I really like that!" I have painted a few that sell really quickly. In fact I was recently painting at an exhibition and a visitor put down a deposit on it even before it was finished. I was really moved by this gesture and it re-inforced that this is the right profession for me to be in!
Have you had any exhibitions - if so, where? Do you have any planned in the future?: I had a recent exhibition at the Haverfordwest Library Gallery in December 2006. This went down really well with local people who could sense the Pembrokeshire feel to my paintings but they were pleasantly shock by the vibrancy of the colours.
I have two painting residencies in Pembrokeshire this year both at Nant-Y-Coy Mill craft centre near Treffgarne Gorge, Haverfordwest. The first is from 6th-25th April 2007 and the second from 4th-9th September 2007.
Please give a brief description of one or two of the projects you've worked on recently.: I often receive and welcome commissions from people who like to have a say in what colours I use and also the size of canvas. Some people have a specific place in mind in their home for an artwork. I particularly like working on big paintings just for the sheer impact of the finished results.
What are your views on the current arts scene nationally and in South Wales?: Nationally there feels like more and more people are becoming interested in art - which from an artists point of view is great as I sell more and more pieces. I am noticing a real surge of interest from people who used to enjoy the value of a mass produced piece who now want something unique that no-one else has. This is the reason why I only paint one of each artwork and wouldn't go down the limited edition route. I admire people who break away from the sheep mentality of all having IKEA style artworks and who are willing to invest in a unique painting.
In South West Wales there are more artists and designers than ever before. Again a great thing. They are also doing more adventurous works rather than "Watercolours of Tenby Harbour!" This has to be a good thing as the said watercolours of seaside resorts are great for tourists to take away but we should be addressing what local people want. My Haverfordwest exhibition proved that. To share one comment from my comments book about that exhibition: "Absolutely amazing... such a pleasant change to see someone who isn't frightened of colour!"
Website: www.nicksartworks.co.uk
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