Pete Fell

I began painting as a boy when I marvelled at the watercolours my father painted of the countryside, all from memory, and the atmosphere he could create with a few old brushes and colours mixed together on a saucer. I found that just by painting what you see, the light and shade, and the changing seasons, you could bring to life a unique moment that only you could see, but everyone else could share. There are many places of beauty in and around Warwickshire, and I enjoy capturing some of them in a picture, usually from photographs, and with the digital age upon us, like nothing more than nipping out early on a spring morning to click away in one of the villages or towns nearby to where I live in Southam, loading them onto the computer at home, which now takes seconds, and then sifting through the library of photographs till I find one that I think will make an interesting painting.

I have always painted in watercolour, although I did for a few years use oils, but found

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I began painting as a boy when I marvelled at the watercolours my father painted of the countryside, all from memory, and the atmosphere he could create with a few old brushes and colours mixed together on a saucer. I found that just by painting what you see, the light and shade, and the changing seasons, you could bring to life a unique moment that only you could see, but everyone else could share. There are many places of beauty in and around Warwickshire, and I enjoy capturing some of them in a picture, usually from photographs, and with the digital age upon us, like nothing more than nipping out early on a spring morning to click away in one of the villages or towns nearby to where I live in Southam, loading them onto the computer at home, which now takes seconds, and then sifting through the library of photographs till I find one that I think will make an interesting painting.

I have always painted in watercolour, although I did for a few years use oils, but found watercolour easier and quicker to use, although I do like to paint building up layers as I go along, from a very light wash through to rich vibrant colours. I have always been interested in country sports, and the dramatic and atmospheric scenes you see out on a day's shooting, the hunt moving off from a meet, or a fisherman at the river bank fighting with a big fish. In this respect I admire the work of Archibald Thorburn, Gordon Beningfield and one of the great contemporary British country artists, Rodger McPhail, and my claim to fame is that a picture I painted some years ago hangs next to one of Rodger's in Shuckburgh Hall where he was commissioned to paint a picture of the shoot back in the 1970s.

I have exhibited at local exhibitions and was a member of the Napton Art Group for many years, but due to work commitments found I did not have the time to paint or indeed participate. I have undertaken over 50 commissions, some of people's houses, local scenes, or pet portraits. I have recently had cards and postcards made of some of my pictures, which are on sale in local shops in the Napton and Southam area.