A passion for landscapes at new city show

ARTIST David Tress – who has a new show at Cardiff’s Albany Gallery, has always drawn inspiration from the landscape, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced him to remain close to home and rediscover his love of Pembrokeshire writes Jenny White.

Born in London in the 1950s, David – whose works include Gorse and Sea (St Non’s, March), pictured above – has lived in West Wales and north Pembrokeshire since 1976. Widely regarded as one of Britain’s most inventive landscape painters, his creations are not simple ‘snapshots’ of beautiful scenery – instead, they are expressive, visceral records of the feeling of being in those places .

Tress, who has always been fascinated by paintings, drawings and natural history, says: “I often find myself returning to certain places and subjects. This is particularly true of the landscape of north Pembrokeshire where I have lived for nearly 50 years and which I paint repeatedly, never more so than over the last two or three years when lockdowns prevented travel – or at least made it considerably more difficult. As it turns out, this has been a blessing as well as a difficulty. Every year I would normally make one or two drawings and painting trips to different parts of Britain, from the Outer Hebrides to the busier landscapes of southern England such as Wiltshire and Dorset. Because this has not been possible, for this show I have returned to the core subject of the landscape around me in Pembrokeshire and I have had a wonderful time rediscovering what I thought I already knew.”

Most of Tress’ paintings and drawings start from sketchbook studies made in the landscape. Then, in the studio, he works using heavy water colour paper, first drawing and then laying in washes of colour.

Alongside Tress’ artwork will be ceramics from Hilary LaForce for the exhibition. Hilary makes individual ceramic pieces and also draws inspiration from the changing landscapes and eroding seashores and will be featuring her Fragile Landscape range in this exhibition, which she hopes complements Tress’ paintings.

 David Tress with ceramics by Hilary LaForce at the Albany Gallery, Cardiff, runs until May 28. More details at www. albanygallery.com