We sat down with Newcastle based artist Sam Wood to talk about his latest collection of oil paintings, Evening Walkthrough, on show at Hancock Gallery from 7th October until 13th November 2026.
What sparked the idea behind your new collection? And how did you land on the title Evening Walkthrough?
The idea for this current series of paintings is quite a simple one. I just want to capture little moments of people doing ordinary things. I wanted to use many friends for the models, because then it's more relatable to my life. It lends itself to that simple, everyday feel. People just go to work, or just go dishing, or just do things which are quite simple.
The title, Evening Walkthrough. I thought it was a nice thing to do because it reminded me of when you used to watch people playing Xbox, and it would be a walkthrough on video games. It connects to that in a subtle way. You're watching people, and you're going on a journey with them as they're doing their day to day things.
Your earlier work at Hancock Gallery has a historical feel, whereas the new collection features contemporary subjects. What prompted that shift?
A lot of my previous work, I would like to find images of everyday people, working class people, and use those as references. They're ambiguous but relatable. In this new series of paintings, it's still scenes of everyday people doing normal things. I think that's the through line between the older work and this work.
But it's quite nice to use my own photo references because it's a more personal connection for me. It ties into the old work, where it's the same ideas, but I'm using references from my own life as source material.
Are the scenes in the paintings drawn from real places and people, or are they composed from imagination?
Most of the series and spaces are from local landscapes or scenes down local roads. I wanted them to be recognisable. There are aspects that might be changed a little bit, but largely they're quite straightforward areas in the North East.
Once you have an idea, how do you begin? Do you keep sketchbooks, or does a piece start somewhere else?
When I'm out and about, I'll see little scenes or little moments, or someone doing something in a particular area. That's always something I'll try to remember. Sometimes I'll try to recreate it and photograph it. Other times I'm just walking around with someone and I'll photograph them doing those things.
Those can usually be the start of a painting. I don't normally do sketches or anything like that. I just use my camera and start painting straight on canvas.
Do you work on several pieces at once, or finish one before starting the next?
I'll almost always have at least two or three paintings on the go at any one time. That way I can jump through the paintings. If I get stuck on a particular part of the painting, or get really tired of it, I can just leave that painting. I can even turn it around and face the wall so I don't look at it.
Once I feel like I have the energy, or a new idea about the seed of that painting, I can go back to it. I always have something to work on.
Have your materials or techniques changed for this body of work?
My materials and techniques are quite similar to previous collections, but I've tried to focus more on an overall feel. I would say the biggest difference is the early stages. I'll try to photograph or keep an idea, theme or mood in mind when I'm starting to paint these.
Every body of work has its difficult stretches. Was there a point in this collection where things did not come easily, and what helped you move forward?
This collection's actually been quite a lot of time out there. Some of these paintings I painted a good 16 months ago. It's always been something on the back of my mind. Even when I'm doing other work or commissions, I'll always have this in the background.
It's quite a loose idea, so it's something I can always work towards. I've not really had any parts where I've been particularly stuck.
How did you know when the collection was complete?
I never think it's complete because I always run out of time. I always work till the last day of the deadline, and I always get stressed about the deadline. But when the time comes, you have to say it's done.
What are you looking forward to exploring next?
In the future, I'm excited to develop some of the ideas in these paintings and explore what it means to be from the North East. I also want to develop the style of work that represents my life, or a life that I think other people could relate to.
Explore the full Evening Walkthrough collection at Hancock Gallery.
