Autumn Reflections on the River Wye, Bakewell
This collection of work features the colours we most associate with this wonderful time of year, and one of Hazel’s favourites.
As trees lose their leaves and change to a palette of golden hues, they slowly reveal a sculptural core of branches, just perfect for a landscape painter.
Keeping to a small scale or using a limited palette, Hazel uses this “restriction” to help her distil the essence of a scene. She works mainly in acrylics for their versatility when out of doors, usually finishing a painting in one sitting, and also more recently using graphite, concentrating on light and shade and taking rubbings from her surroundings to create texture and atmosphere. Influenced by British landscape painters who worked on-location, such as John Piper and Kyffin Williams, she paints whatever stops her in her tracks, looking for quiet unassuming landscapes that explore the subtle moods of the seasons, exploring forgotten corners and unusual views away from the beaten path.
Rust red bracken, Millstone Edge
Studying for a BA in Fine Art at Aberystwyth University was a conscious decision to learn more about the history of art and her own place alongside other artists. “Only by looking back can we look forwards”. Studying themes, movements and the motivation that drives artists both past and present, Hazel came to see her own work very differently and set about building new challenges into her practice, including opening "Saffron Studio", a small art gallery to display her work. Based previously around the Hope Valley, Hazel chose West Studios to reach a new audience and through the connections with Chesterfield College is hoping to inspire visiting students to use the colours of autumn to boost their creativity.
