Rob Pointon

"Rob Pointon is without question one of the most exciting artists working and living in the UK."

Rob Pointon happy at work

As part of my GCSE coursework, one of my artists that I studied over the 2 years was Rob Pointon. I first saw his work at The Crick Show- a boat show, mainly for narrowboats. Unfortunately I didn't meet him here as he just finished a painting and went to get some refreshments and leave his painting to dry. Although he wasn't there personally, co-workers of his told me that he aims to support all young artists. Soon after, I emailed him about using him as an artist study in my GCSE art and he seemed enthralled. As soon as I saw his work, I was able to spot inspiration from artists old and young, everyone from Monet to Van Gogh, I was able to see in his work. On his website, he is described as "without question one of the most exciting artists working and living in the UK" and I can certainly agree with it.

The Crick Show, where I first saw Rob Pointons' work

Rob Pointon brings a new perspective to painting. An understanding of drawing can be seen at the core of his work, although now working mainly in oils and working 'en plein air'. Rob has a great distinguishing characteristic in his use of a wide-angle perspective- at times as far as 360° "which enables him to encompass a phenomenal sense of the world around him in a single canvas". 

A photo of his work alongside the area he painted, presumably in the English Canal System

At such a young age, Rob has already travelled to many countries and taken a year to travel the canals of Britain, while painting. All his paintings from this year trip have been put on display around the country in exhibitions called 'Year of the Boat'. Rob has also painted over 75 paintings and has been awarded the 'Young Artist Award from NADFAS (2005)'. He has now continued to paint and exhibit his work around the country.

Cronk Hill

Using oil paints with bright, vibrant colours, Rob creates detailed and realistic paintings grasping the beauty of some unnatural places. He says himself "On the boat you slowly and silently glide through this alien cathedral of artificial noise and vibration..." I also find that Rob's paintings has an abstract feel about them, because of his use of wide-angle perspective.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

On his website he is described as; "Rob Pointon is without question one of the most exciting artists working and living in the UK. His exceptional talents have been recognised by a hst of comissions and acquisitions by high profile collectors, of whom the list  is headed by HRH The Prince of Wales and Her Grace Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire. Rob was the Regional Winner in last year's Fine Art Open Competition at Weston Park and works that he subsequently produced of the V Festival and Guild of British Travel Writers Dinner were purchased by the Trustees of the Weston Park Foundation as a part of the inalienable collections of that House where they have joined the ranks of exceptional and internationally significant works by John Constable, Sir Anthony van Dyck and Holbein. Born in North Staffordshire, Rob is proud of his Potteries roots and, unsurprisingly, the industries and their legacy within that region feature frequently in his works. Having graduated with First Class honours from the University of Wales Aberystwyth, Rob undertook a postgraduate course at The Prince's Drawing School in London. An understanding of drawing can be seen at the core of Rob's works, although now working predominantly in oils and working en plein air. The great distinguishing characteristic is his use of a wide-angle perspective - at times as far as 360 degrees - which enables him to encompass a phenomenal of the world around him within a single canvas.' Gareth J.L. Williams M.A., Curator and Head of Learning to the Weston Park Foundation

Chirk Aqueduct

A copy of Rob Pointon's work as part of my GCSE coursework