Peter Woolley's Traditional Watercolours

Posted on December 28, 2007 at 2:29 PM.

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Peter Woolley

Medium: Watercolour

Genre: Traditional

Subject: landscapes

Artist's Biography:

Peter Woolley was born in Derby in 1960. He was educated at Spondon Comprehensive School, where he received Art tuition from the late Wilfred Ball. He left school at 16 to work at Rolls Royce in Derby for six years, ultimately as an Assistant Buyer. He left Rolls Royce in 1982 to more fully pursue his interests in music and painting.

A bad experience with a gallery reinforced his desire to have as much control over the sale of his work as possible, resulting in his first one-man exhibition at the Guildhall in Derby in February 1983. After early experimentation with subject and medium, he settled for the pure watercolour style he now employs. In December 1986 he began painting full-time.

In June 1991, Peter presented his PENNINE WAY EXHIBITION, a collection of 50 finished paintings and a portfolio of working sketches depicting Britain's first official Long Distance footpath. He has since repeated his success with the COAST TO COAST, THREE PEAKS and WEST HIGHLAND WAY Exhibitions, and all his subsequent work has been, in some way, directly related to his experiences on walking/backpacking expeditions.

Peter Woolley has work resident in private collections throughout Great Britain and overseas (principally in Norway, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, China and Australia), and many of his paintings have been published as Limited Edition prints and Art cards.

Peter tours extensively in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, where he gathers material in the form of outdoor sketches, he also teaches watercolour to beginners in Derbyshire, and runs weekend courses across the North of England throughout the summer months. In May 2005, he opened his own Studio Gallery, The Courtyard Gallery in Hawes, North Yorkshire.

Peter has written and produced a full range of products designed to help the home student learn how to paint in watercolour. His successful CD-Rom: Peter Woolley's Watercolour Studio 4 and his laminated sets of Study Packs (Watercolour Stages 1 and 2 & Sketching Guide) are suitable for all abilities, from complete beginner upwards.

Peter Woolley's Watercolour Winter Scene 2005 saw the launch of his first book, entitled Drawing Towards Watercolour, published by David & Charles. Two videos featuring Peter Woolley, produced by the SAA are also available. All products (CD-Roms, Book, Videos, Study Packs, Prints, Cards and even original watercolours) can be ordered directly from his website, via the on-line secure order form and shipped to anywhere in the world.

He has appeared on TV, on The Painting and Drawing Channel (Sky Digital Channel 167), and has recently been appointed art tutor on board Saga and Fred Olsen Cruises.

Artist's Statement:

With 25 years of full-time painting and exhibiting experience behind me, I consider myself to be an established artist. With over 12 years of satisfied students and increased attendances at my live demonstrations, I am delighted that I appear to inspire and motivate others in the exploration of their own talents.

Certainly, I consider myself, without any doubt at all, to be privileged. It's a privilege to be able to make a living at something I'm passionate about and it's a privilege to be able to come into contact with so many interesting people of all ages, and from all walks of life, who are as enthusiastic about watercolour as myself. It is the new Rock n' Roll!

I believe everyone has the ability to learn the basic techniques involved in watercolour painting, providing those techniques are taught with energy and humour. Students vary widely in their ability to absorb the subtleties of the medium, and therefore need to be treated with the utmost consideration and compassion. Watercolour can bring out the extremes of emotion in the painter. For a beginner, it can be quite an eye-opener! On workshops I've seen tears of both joy and sheer desperation.