Walter Holmes has been painting for 50 years. Following a formal education in earth sciences (Durham University and Imperial College, London), he studied art at various institutions, including Hammersmith and Chelsea Schools of Art and Newcastle University. Since his first one-man show in 1971 his work has been exhibited throughout the UK and is in private collections from the USA to Russia.
Like many outstanding artists Walter brings a unique energy to his paintings through his understanding of light. In a way, his paintings are the narrative of a life-long obsession with the action of light upon the substance of the world; it's effect on foliage and stone, on water, cloud and haze - even the blaze of the sun itself.
The search for a representation of light is not even the whole story in Walter's case, it's what he feels about his subject which strikes you on seeing his paintings. You only have to look at a few to realize that he feels a great deal about what he sees, making his paintings both beautiful and emotionally powerful. He continues the English Landscape tradition in a unique way which pays homage to Northern Romanticism, Abstract Expressionism, Turner, Girtin, Constable and Palmer to name a few. It is Walter's technical skill as a painter combined with an understanding of light, and particularly his ability to convey emotional presence in his paintings, which set him apart from his contemporaries.
Late summer with a full moon rising at sunset and when most people have gone home. The cool..
£75.00
Soft afternoon - warm yellow diffusion of sunset; seeping tide filling the pools with opalised ra..
£100.00
A late afternoon in May after a day of sunshine and showers, finally ending in sunshine; the bree..
£100.00
Standing in snow, their feet buried; steam rising from their breath and backs, they are the ..
£95.00
As soon as you start to draw cows they become inquisitive and come towards you, however, they qui..
£130.00
Warm evening sunlight shafting through the wood smoke drifting up across the harbour.Limited..
£100.00
HMS Ark Royal looked magnificent in the setting sun, smaller vessels were almost insignificant al..
£250.00
The retreating tide was two hours past slack water as a fierce wind rippled the rock pools, and n..
£100.00
This painting was made just after a fierce squall had passed over the island, the tide was two ho..
£100.00
Mid May, just after an early morning shower, the tide only an hour past slack water; the su..
£100.00
Sunday on the quayside after a blissfully hot day, everyone drifting towards the bars & resta..
£100.00
Exploding afternoon - yellow shaft of light over the fields; bluey-green tones seeping into..
£130.00
Brooding clouds to the East, warm sunlight reflecting down from overhead, poppies and cornflowers..
£95.00
A bright morning with the sun quite low and the Grand Canal still in shadow, the sudden glimpse o..
£75.00
Honey coloured evening light after a squall; calm breezes again before dusk, seaweed crackling an..
£130.00
