Daniel Crawshaw 'Valley Roads'
Daniel Crawshaw
Valley Roads
1 February - 2 March 2025
The mountains of Wales continually draw me back in, their potential is seemingly endless. My recent investigations have led me into signs of habitation; roads, houses, towns emerging from the shadows. As large paintings appear in the studio I begin to reconnect with places, feeling my way back into the absorbing, shifting landscape.
Valley Roads is an exhibition of new work by Herefordshire born artist Daniel Crawshaw. He is best known for his captivating landscape paintings inspired by walking adventures in Wales, the Pyrenees, Canada and Australia. For this exhibition the focus is on paintings of Eryri, primarily Ogwen and Llanberis, and Merthyr Vale in the Rhondda.
Daniel Crawshaw's work stands out for his distinctive approach to landscape painting. His paintings blend realistic depictions of landscapes with abstract elements, creating a unique and evocative visual experience. There is a strong emphasis on atmosphere in his work, often capturing the ephemeral and fragile potential of mountainous landscapes. His art not only showcases the beauty of these natural settings but also evokes a sense of being overwhelmed by the sheer scale and majesty of nature.
Typlical of Daniel's work, there will be a mixture of both the very small and much larger paintings in the exhibition. Depictions of mountains shrouded in cloud that you feel could lift as you watch, or mist that seems to move as you observe. This new body of work sees him venture into more habitable landscapes with roads and emerging towns. Still with his characteristic unusual perspectives and paired-back monochrome palette, they display lost moments which draw the viewer in and create a sense of intimacy and grandeur at the same time.
Daniel has exhibited widely in Wales, winning awards at the National Eisteddfod, BEEP painting biennial and Oriel Davies Open. He now lives and works in South London.