Organisation of form

1 day ago
2 min read

Words by Mercedes Smith

Artist Leigh Davis’ palette and bold approach to compositional structure are informed by the unique geology of Cornwall’s landscape.

Abstract painting with angular shapes in black, white, blue, and mustard. Geometric patterns create a dynamic and textured composition. — Boatyard Form

Leigh Davis’ new collection, on show at New Craftsman Gallery this June, demonstrates not only his engagement with Cornwall as a landscape, but with the historic principals of Cornish Abstraction. His work pulls on an internationally important thread of fine art that has its roots in the work of mid-20th century St Ives artists, where deconstruction and refinement of form are essential to painting and sculpture.

Leigh’s work begins with numerous studies from life, specifically from the human figure, the landscape and the Atlantic coastline, which he develops on paper and panel through a reductive abstraction. In the studio he moves these preliminary sketches and studies beyond observation towards the essentials of form, line and colour. Working mainly in oils, he captures the changing rhythms of nature and place, translating them into richly textured imagery in an earthy palette that is subtler and more grounded than that of other contemporary artists. A sense of scale and spatiality are central to his work.

A man with glasses sits pensively in a chair, arm crossed. Abstract painting with earthy tones in the background. Casual attire. — Leigh Davis at his studio

“Leigh’s work draws on the same forms and energies that inspired Cornish artists like Peter Lanyon and Naum Gabo,” says New Craftsman Gallery Director Ylenia Haase. “They have those same abstract elements of Constructivist art, aerial perspective and organisation of form, and because of that they connect to an art history that is globally recognised. New Craftsman was one of the first galleries to exhibit the early work of artists such as Lanyon, Patrick Heron, Bryan Wynter, and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, so we felt that Leigh’s work would be a natural fit for our gallery and we are really proud to have this collection on show.”

Leigh was born in Shropshire and studied Silversmithing and Jewellery in Birmingham before completing a multidisciplinary degree in Ceramics, Woods, Metals and Plastics at the University of Wolverhampton. He has exhibited his paintings and sculptures since 2012, and his work is held in private collections in the UK and internationally.

newcraftsmanstives.com