James Guy ECCLESTON

James has been diligently working away in his private studio in North Wales for several years.
His family lived in a large old house and due to the art-collecting habits of his father, he was immersed in both 19th and 20th century art from early childhood. His attic bedroom could only be reached by a thirty foot winding staircase, hung tightly with a wide variety of paintings, including, above all, a series of works by the renowned figure-painter R O Lenkiewicz.
The combination of many visits to the Lenkiewicz studio and subsequently a period of teaching over the last ten years, have been a pivotal influence for James. So whilst he still paints predominantly still life, the very recent death of Lenkiewicz triggered a move toward figures. The resultant series of intimate studies of his wife (on the website) provides a small insight into the private life of a painter.

James’s approach is to treat figures, landscapes and still life all as equal subjects, as he considers this to be the mark of the true painter. As a result he has not chased commercial success or the long list of regional exhibitions, hoping that viewers would find his work both interesting and desirable.
This single-mindedness, clarity of vision and absolute determination sets him apart, for as the late Sir Roger de Grey, President of the Royal Academy once said to me - ‘being a painter is a solitary calling’.
Copyright www.oddyart.com 2004
Statement by the artist:
“ I am always trying to test my skills, to ‘paint better’ and record reality with sincerity. As I have progressed I have realised that an overall balanced composition is just as important as any technical flair.
I have long been impressed by those great painters of the past who could seduce our eyes with a simple, uncluttered painting of something quite mundane and familiar.
Painting ‘good’ Still Life has always been one of the great tests of a painter’s ability, and I am progressing with each piece. Some of these paintings are studies and others are more elaborate, but each one exists in its own right. I hope they interest you!”

His 2002 Highgate exhibition marked the emergence from comparative obscurity of a brilliant new talent, who already has a small following amongst our collector clients.
His work should now be gracing many more walls.
Noel Oddy, July 2004

Curriculum vitae:

Born 1972 in Sutton Coldfield.
Attended King Edward VI School,Lichfield
Bournville College of Art - Foundation Course 1990 - 91
Wolverhampton University, BA (Hons) Fine Art 1991 - 94
Studied under R O Lenkiewicz - 1994 - August 2002


Selected Exhibitions:
Patisserie Valerie Knightsbridge, London 1999

Highgate Fine Art, Highgate Village London 2000 on

Paintings