Jess Gale

 I began to paint in 2010 during a spell of living in Amsterdam. Spurred on by the dark, quiet beauty of a Dutch winter, I was strongly influenced by the brooding mood of Rembrandt's work.

The focus of my work is diverse, perhaps a result of spending a large part of my childhood and married life living overseas.  I produce both representational and abstract work, enjoying the challenges of landscape and figurative painting and drawing.  I have always felt the pull of nature, and am particularly drawn to the natural world, the great outdoors.  My practice involves both plein air and studio work and I enjoy a holistic involvement with my subjects.  In both my abstract and representational work, I like to investigate the dynamics of what is in front of me – the shapes, the light, the negative spaces - and then manipulate them, whether it is through form or colour.