Life is short, precious, exciting...an ardent love of living is my driving force.

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Clementine Copeland
6 years ago
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1 Jeffrey Pratt

3 Clarendon Fine Art is proud to present the inaugural show of paintings from distinguished British colourist Jeffrey Pratt. Painting en plein air out on location is the quintessential element of Jeffrey s creative process allowing him to get to the heart of a scene in a way that he believes would be impossible in a studio. Working directly from life means that he paints his own interpretation of his own experience, which guarantees immediacy, authenticity and integrity. This modus operandi combined with Jeffrey s close affinity with the French landscape leads inevitably to comparisons with the French Impressionists, in particular to Monet, although for him it is Van Gogh and the Post Impressionists who are his true creative forebears. Life is short, precious, exciting...an ardent love of living is my driving force. Front Cover Oat Straw Harvest Time Oil on Board 32 x 24 8,

4 Northern France Towards Calais Oil on Board 39 x 21 9,

7 Harvest Time near Aurel Oil on Board 24 x 24 5,

8 Lavande Banon Oil on Board 30 x 30 7,

11 Olives N e a r Valreas Oil on Board 32 x 24 9,

12 My whole spirit is nature; I am absorbed in and at one with it and my environment.

13 Lillies, Swerford, Late August Oil on Board 24 x 24 6,

14 Waterlilies, Swerford Oil on Board 48 x 32 19,

17 Sunflowers Near Lavoute, Chilhac Oil on Board 32 x 24 6,

18 Gladioli, Alison s House Oil on Board 31 x 32 11,

21 Swerford I Poppies Oil on Board 48 x 36 14,

22 wild SPring flowers Oil on Board 16 x 18 4,

Although his existence may sound idyllic, Jeffrey is quick to point out that his life is not spent sitting about in beautiful countryside charmingly arrayed in paint-besmirched smock and battered hat.

24 Although his existence may sound idyllic, Jeffrey is quick to point out that his life is not spent sitting about in beautiful countryside charmingly arrayed in paint-besmirched smock and battered hat. The reality is a daily battle with the landscape as he attempts to distil the essence of what he sees into a tangible piece of work. Add to this the sheer graft of travelling from place to place in a van which must double as a mobile studio and living space, and the scale of each challenge becomes apparent.

27 St Ives From Balcony Oil on Board 19 x 19 4,

28 Cape Cornwall (Sea) Oil on Board 10 x 8 1,

29 Sunset Over Cape Cornwall Oil on Board 32 x 24 10,

30 South of Clermont Ferrand Oil on Board 25 x 15 5,

It is beautiful, out there, outside in life, looking, loving, feeling all that is free If you re not out there, face to face with the world, you are seeing a second hand view.

33 It is beautiful, out there, outside in life, looking, loving, feeling all that is free If you re not out there, face to face with the world, you are seeing a second hand view. The minute subtleties of colour simply don t show on a photograph and much of the energy and excitement of the reality is lost in the studio. When you re there, in life, on the spot, with all the accompanying difficulties, you are thrown back into a wild, brave, now or never, spontaneity, a sense of there being nothing to lose. Cornfield with Wild Flowers, Massif Central Oil on Board 32 x 24 11,

34 Grignan Vines II Oil on Board 25 x 24 6,

37 Angels, St Ives Oil on Board 32 x 24 8,

38 Wales Oil on Board 8 x 6 1,

39 Overlooking Nice Oil on Board 12 x 10 2,

40 IN SENNEN BEACH, CORNWALL Oil on Board 25 x 24 7,

43 Weymouth September, The Old Harbour Oil on Board 31 x 23 6,

Jeffrey s work has been exhibited in prestigious galleries from the USA to Singapore and the West Indies, and his collectors range from influential jewellery designer Elizabeth Gage to celebrity chef

44 Jeffrey s work has been exhibited in prestigious galleries from the USA to Singapore and the West Indies, and his collectors range from influential jewellery designer Elizabeth Gage to celebrity chef Rick Stein. His London exhibitions include a major one man show at Lloyds of London - a red carpet event which was personally arranged by the chairman of Lloyds (himself a collector of Jeffrey s work).

47 Chipping Norton Market Oil on Board 39 x 26 9,

48 three langoustines Oil on Board 24 x 24 6,

49 Mackerel with Knife Oil on Board 20 x 18 3,

51 st ives Lobsters Oil on Board 32 x 24 7,

52 Jeffrey s extensive painting trips around the world have provided an abundance of themes for this tireless traveller and seeker after light. In company with many painters, he finds that southern skies consistently provide him with the two essential elements he needs an inspirational subject and that special quality of light that cannot be found in a studio but only from direct sunlight. His slightly bohemian travelling lifestyle is somehow perfectly in keeping with his philosophy and seems to recapture the romantic ideal. I feel that each painting is created though me rather than by me... I never attempt to simply copy life, but rather to extract its magical essence. fisher girl, West Africa Oil on Board 14 x 18 2,

54 West Africa, Tangiers Oil on Board 32 x 24 7,

56 Clarendon s unstinting support has empowered my brush work this year and I feel I have been able to take a bolder approach - working towards something totally new without losing integrity. If my work feels more alive and powerful to you as it does to me, then I will be thrilled 33 Oakdene Parade, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 2LR cobham@clarendonfineart.com

Clarendon Fine Art is delighted to present new works from distinguished British colourist Jeffrey Pratt.

Jeffrey Pratt Clarendon Fine Art is delighted to present new works from distinguished British colourist Jeffrey Pratt. It is rare nowadays that we come face to face with the natural world in all its splendour.