Artists & Illustrators - UK (2019-12)

22 Artists&Illustrators

NewEnglishArtClubpresident

PETERBROWNis backonhometurf

for hislatestexhibitionofpaintings

ofBath,buthestillhaslotsto learn

hetellsMARTHAALEXANDER

P

eterBrownhasgonebacktoschool.Theaward-

winningpainterandfatheroffiveis currently

ensconcedata publicschoolinLancashirewith

littleinthewayoftelephonereceptionandplentyinthe

wayoffreshinspiration.

ButPeterisn’tatStonyhurstCollegetolearnina

traditionalsense.He’sonanartist’sresidencyhere,

followingschoollifewithintheimposinggothicbuilding

andtheruggedlandscapethatsurroundsit.

It’sa longwayfromBath,Peter’sadoptedhometown,

whereheliveswithhiswifeLisaandchildrenOllie,Toby,

Hattie,EllaandNed(askedif anyofthekidsmightfollow

intheirfather’sfootstepsandhesuggeststheymightget

“properjobs”instead).Bathis alsothecityPeterhas

immortalisedhundredsoftimesinhispaintings,but

theresidencyis furtherevidencethatheis alsoanartist

whothrivesonchangeandchallenge.

OriginallyfromNewbury,Berkshire,Petermovedto

Bathin 1986 forhisartfoundationcourse,beforeleaving

topursuehisstudieselsewhere.Hewasn’tawayforlong

astheRegencyglamouroftheSomersetcitypulledhim

towardshispast– andhispaints.

Brownis affectionatelyknownas“PeteTheStreet”,

a namewhichis assumedbymanytorefertohis

predilectionforpaintingurbanscenes,thoughthisisn’t

strictlytrue– it actuallycameaboutbecausehesoldhis

worksonthestreetsofBathatthestartofhiscareer.

WhenhispalCharliedroppedoffsomeofhispaintings

foranopencallatBathSocietyofArtists,theladyatthe

deskaskedif hewas“PeteTheStreet”.“Howshecame

aboutit I don’tknow,butthat’sthefirstI heardofit.”

in the

Bath

Soaking

Morning Light

on Snow,

Marlborough Lane,

oil on canvas,

50.8x63.5cm