Ian Hargreaves

Ian studied Technical Graphics at Bournemouth Art College and then led a Bohemian life in the early eighties, painting portraits to earn his keep in London and Palermo. In 1985 he moved to Germany to paint and raise a family. However, after 25 years living abroad, Ian returned to the South of England, settling in Poole and reacquainting himself with the British landscape.

Living abroad has had a huge effect on Ian’s painting, especially his love affair with Italy and its southern climate. Regular trips down south revealed a world full of light and shade, which is still a great motivator to the artist. Different subjects interest, whether this is figures on the beach, an alleyway in Venice, or a view of the Thames. Ian paints these subjects that grab his attention at the time and he adopts a distinctive realistic style with strong colours and careful observation. Presently, Ian is moving towards a 'looser feel' in his paintings, concentrating on large scale water reflections. At first glance they appear slightly abstract, but they are true to nature.

Ian is a member of The International Guild of Realism and has works in private and corporate collections worldwide.

"Like most people I am fascinated with water reflections, so it seemed natural to incorporate this theme in a new series of images of the New Forest. Reflections, apart from adding movement to a scene, are transient and intangible and can sometimes in their own way present abstraction in an otherwise representational painting.”