Artist Statement

Susan McCall
Artist who lives and works in High Peak, Derbyshire.
Being in the landscape is the dominant inspiring theme in my life and my work reflects this continuing fascination.
My working practice begins with movement and this immersion in nature begins the creative process.
I am excited and in awe of the colour, light and texture seen whilst cycling along a green lane or glimpsed whilst boating through the landscape or walking the moors.
The smell of bluebells, heather, hawthorn, bracken and earth. The rich colours of the landscape as the light changes the tone and hues. The sound of bees, grouse, curlews and skylarks. These sensory adventures combine feelings of joy, physical experience and visual observation.
The drawings and paintings are memories of those experiences and are captured in sketchbook and on camera before developing into rhythmic and gestural fluidity of paint in order to evoke the moments of being in the landscape.
I have always needed to draw and paint. After studying at Chester and Liverpool I went into education until, as Senior Lecturer, I won a Roostein Hopkins Painting Award. I was able to retire and devote myself to developing my work full time.
I usually exhibit a couple of times a year and Derbyshire Open Arts is crucial to my practice. I run workshops for Tate, Liverpool and Charleston House, Sussex and events linked to my exhibitions.
In 2023 I have exhibitions in Leek and Buxton Museum.