Art / Nicky Knill-Jones
The Square Club hosts exhibition of Nicky Knill-Jones’ Cornish seascapes
Artist and photographer Nicky Knill-Jones has been living in Bristol for 25 years.
Throughout that time, she has found herself venturing in her campervan down to coastal Devon and Cornwall for weekends and holidays, drawn by her lifelong love of the sea – “either spending time looking at it, in it, and on it, either kayaking or surfing,” she smiles.
During the quiet of Lockdown she spent a lot of time making sketches and taking photographs of the swell coming in on Cornish beaches, captivated most by dramatic light and weather.
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Returning to the studio, she would paint what she “saw and felt” – with works taking as little as five hours or as many as 45 hours to complete.
Bristol painter Nicky Knill-Jones – photo: courtesy of the artist
Knill-Jones has sold her works all over the world, many of them to people who share her passion for the coastline that inspires her.
“The Cornish landscape entrances me due to its wildness, expanse, incredible Mediterranean colours but luscious wild and stunning headlands full of vibrant colours and textures,” she reflects.
“The sheer wildness of the seas and the stunning sunsets and sunrises are breathtaking; above all it’s the light, colours and energy I love to capture in my paintings.”
Wonder, Nicky Knill-Jones – photo: courtesy of the artist
An exhibition of Knill-Jones’ coastal paintings is currently on show at The Square Club, with all works on sale.
Amongst the featured works is In the Blue, one of the first paintings she has created from someone else’s photographs.
“It’s by a surfer photographer in St Ives,” she explains,” and was taken when he was on his board looking back over ‘The Island’. I just had to paint it.”
In the Blue, Nicky Knill-Jones – photo: courtesy of the artist
Nicky Knill-Jones: Coast is at The Square Club until July 19. Visit www.nickyknilljones.com or follow @nickyknilljonesart for more information.
All photos: Nicky Knill-Jones
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