Simon Stooks – over rooftops to the mount

This is Simon Stooks’ third solo exhibition at Cornwall Contemporary and comes just as he is about to embark on a move to southern France. Following on from his 2007 and 2008 near sell out shows, he is quickly cementing his status as one of the most exciting and collectable artists in the county.

This new body of work combines the subject matters of both of his previous shows of St. Michaels Mount and the view of cornish harbours and cottages glimpsed over rooftops.

“The last body of work of harbour scenes in Flushing, took me closer to where I wanted to be as a painter, it excited me and was something that I wanted to explore further. My show before that was based on St. Michael’s Mount so I have combined the two - my father worked on the Mount when he was young and it has a deep emotional draw for me as a subject. It can be a daunting prospect to paint an image that is as iconic as the Mount as it could easily become clichéd, however, I feel impelled to paint and portray the scenes of Cornwall that are dear to me and to do it in such a way that it feels contemporary and draws upon the emotion of the place. These are amongst the best paintings I have ever worked on – they have integrity and I feel I have finally found my voice as an artist. I’m producing the sort of work that I’d want hang on my own walls.”

Although Simon’s new home will be in southern France, he still intends to spend every summer in Cornwall painting, as the Cornish coast remains the major influence upon his work. Simon’s next exhibition in the UK is not scheduled until 2010 and it will be fascinating to see how his move to France will be reflected in his painting. He is an artist whose reputation grows with each exhibition and it is still my firm belief that he will go on to become one of the countries most inspiring and successful artists.