Art / Artist of the Month
Artist of the month: Oliver Sidaway
This month’s artist is Oliver Sidaway, whose 15 limited edition giclee prints of an original painting are exclusively available through our online shop.
Oliver Sidaway specialises in urban landscapes, usually depicting Bristol locations. His work often elicits emotional responses from locals who recognise his subjects. He recalls a man who told him his painting of the tunnel under Temple Meads brought back a childhood fear of having to pass through it. “But he wanted to buy it anyway!” Oliver says.
is needed now More than ever
Oliver painted The Louisiana several years ago in his Stokes Croft studio. It was a commission from a client with a special affection for the live music venue. The two of them did a lot of conferring over photographs and notes before deciding on the final design. To paint it, Oliver used the impasto technique of applying oils thickly on the canvas, which gives the finished work a highly textured look. It took him about a week to complete.
His client was pleased with the final piece and the nostalgia it evoked, and Oliver says the painting seems to have a similar effect on others as well. He explains, “Since it was painted I have had many others express the same attachment, saying it was where they saw their favourite gig, met their boyfriend or girlfriend, and so on.”
Appropriately, Oliver has chosen the Music Venue Trust to receive the profits from the sale of The Louisiana. This charity helps small independent venues stay open by providing legal and campaigning support and raising awareness of the difficulties they currently face in keeping their doors open.
The Redfield-based painter has lived in Bristol for 36 years. He describes himself as self-taught, saying, “I’ve always painted alongside other things – for example, I worked for 20 years as a youth worker and support worker with people who are homeless.” He’s spent the past 15 years developing his present style, and exhibiting and selling his work.
Oliver is enthusiastic about Bristol’s current arts scene, which he believes gets its unique flavour from the mix of visual and musical artists here. “There seems to be a critical mass of such people, who provide a supportive creative soup which manages to nourish the original and the quirky,” he says.
He is currently working on an exhibition featuring his paintings of trees situated in urban environments, which he hopes will open next autumn.
A framed version of the work is also available. Seb Reed from The Little Framing Company explains his choice for Oliver Sidaway’s work: “We chose to stain a wide ash frame for this great pastel toned print. The grain in the frame works well with the brush strokes within the image, while the double mount helps the image stand out.” You can quote Bristol24/7 for 15 per cent off all framing from The Little Framing Company.
Profits from the sale of this piece will got to the Music Venue Trust.
Keep up to date with Oliver’s work: www.oliversidaway.com
Read more: Artist of the month – Peskimo
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