peter brown paintings of London

Kodachrome image of Shaftesbury Avenue from Piccadilly Circus, London, 1949 Photo by Chalmers Butterfield.

peter brownpaintings of London

2016

www.messums.com

28 Cork Street, London W1S 3NGTelephone: +44 (0)20 7437 5545

front cover: 1Piccadilly Circus, Summer Afternoon, 2015oil on canvas 152 x 190 cms 60 x 743⁄4 ins

front flap: 24pm, The Meridian, Piccadilly, 2015oil on canvas 64 x 51 cms 25 x 20 ins

3The ‘Prêt’ Chef and the Two Fur Coats, Piccadilly, February 2014 ✤oil on canvas 64 x 51 cms 25 x 20 ins

foreword

Peter’s images of our capital are neither strictly topographical as, say,

those by the eighteenth-century artist Thomas Shotter Boys. Nor,

despite their clear human interest, are they quite Hogarthian. But

there is nevertheless a touch of both artists in his work.

Architecturally, his paintings are exacting impressions of a bustling

community going about its business in all weathers. Working quickly,

he is able to catch the very essence of the moment, making his

pictures highly skilled impressions of everyday city life. But each

painting has a personal touch, because Peter engages with his

audience, often to such a degree that passersby return, hoping to

find themselves included within the scene.

Nicknamed by his friends “Pete the Street”, he lives up to his

reputation. Each day becomes another challenge; setting up in a

public space hoping to catch the commuting traffic in all weathers

is not for the faint-hearted. He often pops into our gallery first thing,

having driven up from his hometown of Bath, allowing us to discuss

the work in progress. With a cheery smile, and after a cup of coffee,

he is back on the street to catch up again with one or two unfinished

works still lurking in the back of the van. Where to paint, the light,

and the weather that day all dictate the day’s work. This year Mayfair

has dominated and in particular there are some substantial works

that have been developed from these paintings. Otherwise,

everything is created on site giving each picture that sense of

moment and a freshness of colour that more studio-bound masters

often lack.

My favourites in this year’s exhibition include the winter afternoon

pictures, where the light from shop windows takes over, spilling

over the pavements in pools of colour and silhouetting shoppers.

Wet surfaces, where you can still make out the treads of previous

pedestrians, or the leftover track of a passing bicycle. These small

touches beg you to look further; they take you into the picture so

that it is no longer a view of a familiar place, but a shared experience

of actually being there.

DM

4Air Street, Evening, Study, 2015 ✤oil on board 31 x 18 cms 12 x 67⁄8 ins

Sansom & Company 81g Pembroke Road

CliftonBristol BS8 3EA

info@sansomandcompany.co.uk www.sansomandcompany.co.uk

Extent: 200pp

Size: 250 x 300 mm landscape

Illustrations: over 150 full colour

Binding: hardback

Price: £35

ISBN: 978-1-908326-80-5

London: as seen through the eyes of Peter

Brown, a unique artist, who eschews both

photography and the convenience of the

studio to paint each of his cityscapes, on

site, amid the daily bustle of the capital’s

streets. In fact, Brown is so dedicated to

capturing the true essence of his chosen

view, that, over the course of several

days, he often returns to the same site in

an effort to realise the specific effects of

weather and atmosphere, which first

caught his eye.

This book presents Brown’s work as a

journey of his artistic discovery of London,

taking us from The City, eastward along

the Thames to Tower Bridge, and westward

to Parliament, the London Eye and to the

very edges of Greater London: Richmond.

Through his work, we explore the ‘electric West End’, the

‘testosterone-driven City’. Brown’s keen eye for how human

activity breathes life and transformation into some of London’s

most iconic spaces.

While he knows London as well as his native Bath, Brown has

never lost his eye for adventure, and like an intrepid tourist, he

takes nothing for granted, however “familiar”. This book affords

us an equal opportunity to discover London alongside him, to

celebrate not only its architecture and breath-taking views, but

also its local communities, markets, parks and open spaces.

His travels radiate to Golders Green and Forest Hill, Wimbledon

and the East End. What is more, he takes every opportunity to

present London as he immediately experiences it, whatever the

weather, or time of day.

Finally, while he takes his painting seriously, Brown’s wit, warmth

and curiosity about people makes him one of the most engaging

and approachable artists one could ever hope to meet. In fact,

part of his working practice has always been to keep a journal

of the chance meetings and conversations he experiences

whilst painting on London’s streets. His humanism, remarkable

talent for capturing architectural perspective and light, and eye

for urban energy has made him one of the most admired and

collected artists working in London today.

LONDON: PAINTINGS BY PETER BROWNPeter Brown’s new book – published 1st December 2015

index of works (works in this exhibition that are illustrated in Peter Brown’s new book are marked with ✤ )

5Criterion Theatre Entrance, Piccadilly Circus, Afternoon Sun, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 76 x 64 cms 30 x 25 ins

4pm de Beauvoir Square, 2015 ✤ (book p. 118) 41

4pm, The Meridian, Piccadilly, 2015 2

9.30am from the Middle of Regent Street, June, 2015 ✤ (book p. 61) 31

Air Street, Evening, Study, 2015 ✤ (book p. 192) 4

Air Street from Eagle Place, Evening, 2015 ✤ (book p. 192) 9

Alma Grove, South Bermondsey, 2015 ✤ (book p. 128) 59

April, St Clements and Fleet St from the Aldwych, 2014 32

Barnes from the Terrace, 2015 50

Barnes from the Terrace, Morning Sun, 2015 49

Bolton Place, 2015 ✤ (book p. 87) 46

Camberwell Green, 2015 ✤ (book p. 130) 57

Chelsea Bridge, Rain, 2015 ✤ (book p. 172) 51

Clapham Common West, 2015 ✤ (book p. 135) 56

Criterion Theatre Entrance, Piccadilly Circus, Afternoon Sun, 2015 ✤ (book p.44) 5

Dulwich College, June Morning, 2015 ✤ (book p. 131) 70

Dulwich Village, February, 2015 ✤ (book p. 131) 68

Eros’ Wet Steps, Piccadilly Circus, Rain, 2015 16

Evening Rain, Lombard Street, 2015 ✤ (book p. 165) 27

Evening, Shepherd Market, 2015 ✤ (book p. 185) 12

End of a Winter Day, Brockwell Park, 2015 69

Great Russell Street, 2015 30

Hatton Garden, 2015 ✤ (book p. 79) 26

Herne Hill from Brockwell Park, 2015 ✤ (book p. 132) 66

Kensington Square, 2015 ✤ (book p. 94) 47

Late Afternoon, Jermyn Street, 2015 ✤ (book p. 191) 11

Late January Afternoon, Talbot Road from Colville Square, 2015 ✤ (book p. 196) 38

Lauriston Road, January, 2014 ✤ (book p. 157) 42

London Fields, 2015 ✤ (book p. 119) 43

Lower Grosvenor Gardens, the Day of the Tube Strike, Summer, 2015 ✤ (book p. 42) 35

Morning’s Snow, Horniman Gardens, 2015 ✤ (book p. 179) 64

Muswell Hill I, 2015 44

Muswell Hill II, 2015 ✤ (book p. 121) 45

Night, Piccadilly Circus, 2015 25

Peckham High Street, 2015 ✤ (book p. 129) 60

Peckham Rye, End of Day, 2015 ✤ (book p. 130) 62

Piccadilly Circus from the End of Piccadilly, 4pm, June, 2015 ✤ (book p. 46) 21

Piccadilly Circus, Summer Afternoon, 2015 1

Piccadilly from the Middle, 2pm, June, 2015 ✤

(book p. 48) 15

Piccadilly from the Middle, 4pm, June, 2015 ✤ (book p. 49) 17

Poppies, Tower of London, 2015 28

Preparing the Wicket, Putney Common, 2015 ✤ (book p. 138) 55

Queen’s Gate, 2015 ✤ (book p. 83) 48

Rain, Lower Regent Street I, 2015 ✤ (book p. 169) 6

Rain, Lower Regent Street II, 2015 14

Rain, Lower Regent Street III, 2015 24

Rain, Piccadilly Circus, 2015 8

Rain, Piccadilly Circus, 2015 ✤ (book p. 161) 18

Regent Street, 6pm, June, 2015 ✤ (book p. 58) 7

Regent Street, from Gant, Summer, 2015 23

Richmond Park, 2015 ✤ (book p. 136) 58

Russell Square Station, 2015 ✤ (book p. 78) 29

Shaftesbury Avenue, Evening, 2015 ✤ (book p.194) 19

Sloane Square, 2015 ✤ (book p. 86) 34

Spring Parson’s Green, 2015 ✤ (book p. 143) 53

St Pancras Station from Argyle Street, Woburn, 2015 ✤ (book p.115) 33

Summer Evening, Arnold Circus from Calvert Avenue, 2015 ✤ (book p. 156) 40

Sussex Place from London Street, Paddington, 2015 ✤ (book p. 95) 36

The Band Stand, Northampton Square Garden, 2015 ✤ (book p. 79) 39

The Bottom of Shaftesbury Avenue from Piccadilly, 2015 ✤ (book p. 68) 22

The Cambridge Crew Training at Putney, 2015 ✤ (book p. 140) 52

The Cambridge Theatre, Winter Afternoon, 2015 20

The ‘Prêt’ Chef and the Two Fur Coats, Piccadilly, February 2014 ✤ (book p. 47) 3

The Railway Bridge, Rosendale Road from Brockwell Park, 2015 ✤ (book p. 132) 67

The Top of Monmouth Street, 2015 ✤ (book p. 69) 13

Towards Battersea Power Station from Clapham Common, 2015 ✤ (book p. 135) 54

Towards Deptford Town Hall from Goodwood Road, New Cross, 2015 ✤ (book p. 128) 61

Twilight, from Brockwell Park I, 2015 ✤ (book p. 190) 63

Twilight, from Brockwell Park II, 2015 ✤ (book p. 133) 65

Twilight, Theatre Royal, Haymarket from St James’ Square, 2015 10

Winter, Regent’s Park, 2015 37

6Rain, Lower Regent Street I, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 20 x 25 ins

7Regent Street, 6pm, June, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 20 x 25 ins

8Rain, Piccadilly Circus, 2015oil on canvas 152 x 190 cms 597⁄8 x 743⁄4 ins

9Air Street from Eagle Place, Evening, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 102 x 51 cms 40 x 20 ins

10Twilight, Theatre Royal, Haymarket from St James’ Square, 2015oil on board 25 x 31 cms 10 x 12 ins

11Late Afternoon, Jermyn Street, 2015 ✤oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins

12Evening, Shepherd Market, 2015 ✤oil on board 41 x 31 cms 16 x 12 ins

13The Top of Monmouth Street, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 41 x 51 cms 16 x 20 ins

14Rain, Lower Regent Street II, 2015oil on canvas 102 x 51 cms 40 x 20 ins

15Piccadilly from the Middle, 2pm, June, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 20 x 25 ins

16Eros’ Wet Steps, Piccadilly Circus, Rain, 2015oil on board 76 x 89 cms 30 x 35 ins

17Piccadilly from the Middle, 4pm, June, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 20 x 25 ins

18Rain, Piccadilly Circus, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 89 x 76 cms 35 x 30 ins

19Shaftesbury Avenue, Evening, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 64 x 51 cms 25 x 20 ins

20The Cambridge Theatre, Winter Afternoon, 2015oil on canvas 30 x 92 cms 113⁄4 x 36 ins

21Piccadilly Circus from the End of Piccadilly, 4pm, June, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 64 x 76 cms 25 x 30 ins

22The Bottom of Shaftesbury Avenue from Piccadilly, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 64 x 76 cms 25 x 30 ins

23Regent Street, from Gant, Summer, 2015oil on canvas 64 x 76 cms 25 x 30 ins

24Rain, Lower Regent Street III, 2015oil on canvas 89 x 76 cms 35 x 30 ins

25Night, Piccadilly Circus, 2015oil on canvas 76 x 89 cms 30 x 35 ins

26Hatton Garden, 2015 ✤oil on board 15 x 30 cms 6 x 113⁄4 ins

27Evening Rain, Lombard Street, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 51 x 41 cms 20 x 16 ins

28Poppies, Tower of London, 2015oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 19 7⁄8 x 25 ins

29Russell Square Station, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 64 x 51 cms 25 x 20 ins

30Great Russell Street, 2015oil on canvas 51 x 41 cms 20 x 16 ins

319.30am from the Middle of Regent Street, June, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 20 x 25 ins

32April, St Clements and Fleet St from the Aldwych, 2014 ✤oil on canvas 89 x 76 cms 35 x 30 ins

33St Pancras Station from Argyle Street, Woburn, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 51 x 41 cms 20 x 16 ins

34Sloane Square, 2015 ✤oil on board 20 x 60 cms 8 x 233⁄4 ins

35Lower Grosvenor Gardens, the Day of the Tube Strike, Summer, 2015 ✤oil on board 15 x 31 cms 6 x 12 ins

36Sussex Place from London Street, Paddington, 2015 ✤oil on board 20 x 50 cms 8 x 191⁄2 ins

37Winter, Regent’s Park, 2015oil on canvas 31 x 92 cms 12 x 36 ins

38Late January Afternoon, Talbot Road from Colville Square, 2015 ✤oil on board 31 x 18 cms 12 x 6 7⁄8 ins

39The Band Stand, Northampton Square Garden, 2015 ✤oil on board 15 x 30 cms 6 x 113⁄4 ins

40Summer Evening, Arnold Circus from Calvert Avenue, 2015 ✤oil on board 15 x 30 cms 6 x 113⁄4 ins

414pm de Beauvoir Square, 2015 ✤oil on board 15 x 30 cms 6 x 113⁄4 ins

42Lauriston Road, January, 2014 ✤oil on board 25 x 31 cms 10 x 12 ins

43London Fields, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 31 x 92 cms 12 x 36 ins

44Muswell Hill I, 2015oil on board 25 x 31 cms 10 x 12 ins

45Muswell Hill II, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 41 x 51 cms 16 x 20 ins

46Bolton Place, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 20 x 25 ins

47Kensington Square, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 64 x 76 cms 25 x 30 ins

48Queen’s Gate, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 89 x 76 cms 35 x 30 ins

49Barnes from the Terrace, Morning Sun, 2015oil on board 20 x 61 cms 8 x 24 ins

50Barnes from the Terrace, 2015oil on board 20 x 61 cms 8 x 24 ins

51Chelsea Bridge, Rain, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 76 x 51 cms 30 x 20 ins

52The Cambridge Crew Training at Putney, 2015 ✤oil on board 20 x 61 cms 8 x 24 ins

53Spring Parson’s Green, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 31 x 92 cms 12 x 36 ins

55Towards Battersea Power Station from Clapham Common, 2015 ✤oil on board 20 x 60 cms 8 x 233⁄4 ins

54Preparing the Wicket, Putney Common, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 31 x 92 cms 12 x 36 ins

56Clapham Common West, 2015 ✤oil on board 20 x 60 cms 8 x 233⁄4 ins

57Camberwell Green, 2015 ✤oil on board 20 x 61 cms 8 x 24 ins

58Richmond Park, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 31 x 92 cms 12 x 36 ins

59Alma Grove, South Bermondsey, 2015 ✤oil on board 15 x 31 cms 6 x 12 ins

60Peckham High Street, 2015 ✤oil on board 20 x 25 cms 8 x 10 ins

61Towards Deptford Town Hall from Goodwood Road, New Cross, 2015 ✤oil on board 31 x 25 cms 12 x 10 ins

62Peckham Rye, End of Day, 2015 ✤oil on board 20 x 61 cms 8 x 24 ins

63Twilight, from Brockwell Park I, 2015 ✤oil on board 20 x 60 cms 8 x 233⁄4 ins

64Morning’s Snow, Horniman Gardens, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 25 x 76 cms 10 x 30 ins

65Twilight, from Brockwell Park II, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 31 x 92 cms 12 x 36 ins

66Herne Hill from Brockwell Park, 2015 ✤oil on board 20 x 20 cms 73⁄4 x 8 ins

67The Railway Bridge, Rosendale Road from Brockwell Park, 2015 ✤oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 20 x 25 ins

68Dulwich Village, February, 2015 ✤oil on board 18 x 31 cms 67⁄8 x 12 ins

69End of a Winter Day, Brockwell Park, 2015oil on board 30 x 41 cms 113⁄4 x 16 ins

70Dulwich College, June Morning, 2015 ✤oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins

CDIV ISBN 978-1-908486-96-7 Publication No: CDIV Published by David Messum Fine Art © David Messum Fine Art

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage

and retrieval system, without the prior permission in writing from the publisher.The Studio, Lords Wood, Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

Tel: 01628 486565 www.messums.comPhotography: Steve Russell Printed by DLM-Creative

peter brown ne ac rp roi ps rba(hon)

Born 1967

Awards2013 The Critics’ Choice, (New English Art

Club)2012 The Critics’ Choice, (New English Art

Club)2012 Runner up, Lynn Painter Stainers Prize2011 The Critics’ Choice (New English Art

Club) Painter Stainers’ Award (New English Art

Club) 2nd Prize, The RAC Centenary Exhibition 2009 The Critic’s Choice (New English Art

Club)2008 Prince of Wales Award for Portrait

Drawing2006 First Artist-in-Residence at the Savoy

Hotel, London2005 Hunting Art Prizes: the Drawing Prize; The

Cross Gate Gallery Purchase Prize2002 The Arts Club Award (New English Art

Club)2001 The Arts Club Award (Pastel Society); Selected to be hung at the National

Portrait Gallery from the 2001 RP show2000 W.H.Patterson Memorial Award (New

English Art Club)1999 The Llewellyn Alexander Award (New

English Art Club)1998 The Bristol Fine Art Oil Painting Prize

(Royal West of England Academy); The Tom Rice Gallery Award (Pastel Society)

1997 The Saint Cuthbert’s Mill Award (Royal Society of British Artists)

1996 The Pastel Society Non-Members Award

Collec tionsThe National Library of Wales; The Victoria Art Gallery, Bath; The Holburne Museum, Bath; The Building of Bath Museum, Bath; The Bowerman Collection; House of Fraser; The RAC Club; Howard de Walden Estate; The Target Corporation; The Drapers’ Company; Sir John Sunderland

MembershipsNew English Art Club Royal Society of British Artists (Honorary)Royal Society of Portrait PaintersRoyal Institute of Oil PaintersPastel SocietyBath Society of Artists

One Man Exhibitions2016 Messums (Paintings of London)2014 Messums (en route)2014 Victoria Art Gallery, Bath2013 Messums (home and abroad )2013 Messums (Paintings of India)2012 Messum’s Cork Street, London2011 Victoria Art Gallery, Bath2010 Messum’s, Cork Street, London2009 Messum’s, Cork Street, London Alexander Meddowes, Edinburgh2008 Messum’s, Cork Street, London; Victoria Art

Gallery, Bath2007 Messum’s, Cork Street, London2005 Messum’s, Cork Street, London; Victoria Art

Gallery, Bath2004 Messum’s, Cork Street, London2003 W.H.Patterson Fine Arts, London2002 W.H.Patterson Fine Arts, London2002 Victoria Art Gallery, Bath2000 Victoria Art Gallery, Bath

Group Exhibitions2015 ‘Varanasi’ 4 man show at Indar Pasricha Fine Art, London2013 Five painters in India, The Tryon Gallery, London1999–2010 Albany Gallery, Cardiff; Alresford Gallery, Alresford; The Arts Club, London; Champs Hill, Pulborough (courtesy of the Bowermans); Fountain Fine Art, Llandeilo; Island Fine Arts, Isle of Wight; Red Rag Gallery, Stow-on-the-Wold; W.H.Patterson Fine Arts, London

Open ExhibitionsLyn Painter Stainers Prize finalist 2007/2008/2012/2013Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: 2002/03/04/06/10/11The Hunting Art Prizes finalist: 1998/99, 2000/01The First RWA Open Painting Exhibition: 2001The Discerning Eye: 1999, 2000/02/11The Laing Art Competition: 2001New English Art Club: 1997 to dateRoyal West of England Academy: 1997/99, 2000/02Royal Institute of Oil Painters: 1995/98, 2000, to datePastel Society: 1996 to dateCheltenham Open Drawing: 1998Bath Society of Artists: 1995 to date

PublicationsLondon: Paintings by Peter Brown, hardback, published: Samson and Company 2015, ISBN 978 1 908326 80 5DVD Peter Brown: Oil Sketches APV Films 2013My Indian Travels, by Peter Brown, Hardback published 2013, ISBN 978 1 908486 41 7Brown’s Bath: The Work of Peter Brown, published 2008, ISBN 978 0 9559727 0 6Exhibition catalogues (x13) 2002–2011

BroadcastsA Picture of Bath, BBC1 for Inside Out series, September 2004A Picture of Bath, BBC Radio Bristol for ‘A Sense of Place’ series, May 2002

Ar t Education1992/93 PGCE(FE) University of Greenwich1987/90 BA (Hons) Fine Art 2:1, Manchester

Polytechnic1986/7 Diploma in Art Foundation Studies

(commendation in painting) BCHE, Bath

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