About
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My name is James Spencer and I am a fine artist based in Northumberland.
After working as an illustrator for clients including The Guardian, Financial Times, GQ and Christie's I have gone on to pursue a fine art direction in my work.
An important theme throughout my painting is simplicity. My compositions are often minimal, the aim being to convey a sense of calm. The work invites the viewer to mindfully contemplate the world which surrounds them.
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My work focuses largely on still life and landscape painting. I love to paint from life whether 'en plein air' or in the studio in front of a still life set up. This approach allows for the most immediate and direct response to the subject. My preferred medium is oil and I paint on gessoed plywood panels.
Whilst painting from life will always be an essential part of my practise, it also has it's limitations. With the aid of reference photography I am able to create works in the studio which capture moments in time that otherwise would have been unattainable when painting on location. This combination opens up endless opportunities to explore light and the transformative effect it has on colour.
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I have exhibited at The Mall Galleries in London at the annual exhibitions of both The Royal Society of Portrait Painters and The Royal Institute of Oil Painters.
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When I'm not painting I love to walk. In 2023 my partner and I walked over 900km across Spain whilst following the Camino de Santiago. An incredible experience which I am sure will continue to inspire me and fuel my painting practise for years to come.
