John Smyth

Balancing figuration with abstraction

Born in Fort William, in the Highlands of Scotland, artist John Smyth creates paintings which exude a sense of balance and contemplation.

They are an interplay between the formal aspects of figurative painting, the human figure, flesh and form, contrasted against more abstract elements via the introduction of background panes of colour, sometimes textured impasto or decorative pattern work and geometry.

This push-pull effect of the restrained and sensitive exploration of the figure contrasted against the freer and more dynamic colour work of the background, results in paintings which are calming yet powerful.