Paul Darley is a painter in the truly English tradition, of one who grows up where he was born, in this instance Norfolk, and over a period of time familiarises himself with the landscape that surrounds him, then does nothing but paint it with feeling and compulsion in all it’s shades and forms. He can be found in all weathers, clement or otherwise, painting the wealth of Norfolk’s many subjects. Be it coastline, landscape or beach scenes with holidaymakers and local crabmen.
His paintings are vivid, highly observant and spontaneous executions of life in North Norfolk and it’s countryside. He uses a vibrant neo-impressionist palette to render in oil all his wry lyrical eye sees. This, coupled with his quirky choice of subject matter, (car park attendants, breakwaters and lifeguard huts) form an irresistible combination.
However, in spite of his highly charged palette, his paintings still retain an honesty and earthiness very much grounded in reality. His series of ‘crabmen’ and ‘tractor’ pictures attest to this idea. He is not afraid of the gestural mark, small areas of the canvas left unworked, or the blunt, honest titles that are very much his signature.
Paul Darley is not always concerned with an orthodox notion of compositional balance, although he can use it with mastery in work such as No Bathing. In the painting a deep red lifeguard hut on the Norfolk coast is lifted to almost iconic status by the vibrant play of colours which harmonise to provide a painting of warm, yet windswept serenity.
In December 2000 Paul won the Llewellyn Alexander Prize at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London.
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April Redsoil on laid linen 10" x 12" £675 By the way, 'laid linen' is really bed sheets from charity shops which Paul cuts to size and sticks down with rabbit skin glue to board. Whilst it is very easy to buy ready made canvas panels to paint on (and they are as cheap as chips) Paul prefers this slightly more archaic process as the resulting board "has a better tooth". |
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Surfin' Norfolkoil on laid linen 16" x 20" £950 |
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Surfs Comings & Goingsoil on laid linen 8" x 12" £480 |
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Surf Schooloil on laid linen 8" x 10" £430 |
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The Offoil on laid linen 8" x 12" £480 |
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Three Cowsoil on laid linen 8" x 12" £480 |
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Beach Donkeysoil on laid linen 6" x 8" £360 sold |
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Marty's Countingoil on laid linen 6" x 8" £360 |
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On Reflectionoil on laid linen 8" x 6" £360 |
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We're On Our Wayoil on laid linen 8" x 10" £430 |
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Crab Men Waitingoil on laid linen 10" x 8" £430 |
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Reed Cutteroil on laid linen 10" x 8" £430 |
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Waveny Valleyoil on laid linen 16" x 20" £950 |
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May Morningoil on laid linen 16" x 20" £1000 |
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Winter Coatoil on laid linen 12" x 16" £740 |
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Six Of The Bestoil on laid linen 7" x 14" £520 |
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Barry & Ivan At Restoil on laid linen 10" x 12" £540 |
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Summer Marsh, Cowsoil on laid linen 6" x 8" £360 |
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May Meadowsoil on laid linen 8" x 10" £430 |
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Young 'Unoil on laid linen 6" x 8" £360 |
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Must We Go ?oil on laid linen 6" x 8" £360 |
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Threes A Crowdoil on laid linen 14" x 18" £870 sold |
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December Pasturesoil on laid linen 12" x 16" £740 |
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In The Orchardoil on laid linen 16" x 20" £1000 |
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No Puntersoil on laid linen 8" x 12" £480 |
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2 O'Clock Shadowsoil on laid linen 8" x 10" £430 |
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Roger's New Oilysoil on laid linen 8" x 10" £430 |
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Winter Cowsoil on laid linen 8" x 12" £480 |
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Grand Parentsoil on laid linen 8" x 10" £430 |
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Long Walk Backoil on laid linen 12" x 16" £740 |
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Quiet Day At The Beachoil on laid linen 8" x 12" £480 |
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Boats, The River Blythoil on laid linen 10" x 12" £520 |
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