Big City Lights Inspire Artist

by: Martin Hofschroer

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Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 Time: 7:20 AM - 0 comments

British artist Neil Dawson has explained how exciting city scenes inspired his latest work.

The most recent set of Neil Dawson prints included in NY:LON, the artist's first touring exhibition, have depicted various urban landscapes in the metropolises of New York and London.

New York and London were selected by the artist because of their iconic imagery, landmarks and their reputation as the world's most pulsating, active and energetic cities.

Dawson's style of painting has been compared to the pointillism of impressionist artist Seurat as vibrant city scapes are created through a mixture of strong primary colours competing for attention.

"I have always loved cities and find myself constantly drawn to their colour, vibrancy and energy - they are both infectious and consuming. They are full of intricate details and boldness, of light and dark," said Dawson.

Most Neil Dawson prints portray the two cities at night time and the artist revealed this is because New York and London come alive at night in a spectacular array of contrasting colours.

"For me they take on a special atmosphere and excitement at night and I love trying to capture the lights and movement of a city after dark," he added.

Neil Dawson prints from the NY:LON series are ideal for people who have a connection with either city as the paintings contain scenes which can trigger emotional responses that transport a person to the location.

Dawson said: "It is my hope as an artist to capture a part of their unique atmosphere on canvas and to spark memories, associations and aspirations of these fantastic cities for you".

Residents and natives of both cities will appreciate how Dawson represents the unique environment of each setting though dazzling lights and expressive use of colour.

Dawson revealed that the evolving nature of each city allows him to paint with an aura of indistinctness which lets the viewer deduce their own conclusion from each individual artwork.

"I also try and paint with a sense of ambiguity to allow for individual interpretation and, as cities are always in a state of flux, perceptions of these places will never be indentical - that's the beauty of them," he added.

The painter has been prolific in recent years and this could be attributed to the freedom he is afforded as an artist.

Neil Dawson prints have been on display across Britain this year in cities such as Newcastle, Manchester and of course London.