Mike Ibbotson

Mike Ibbotson is instinctively drawn to the sculptural forms that make the landscape that surrounds us; from the soft Cotswold hills and valleys where he lives to the rugged coasts and mountains he explores when travelling.

His landscape art flows out of a personal philosophy and approach. His work ranges from the figurative to the semi-abstract; always graphically strong with a distinctive use of colour, and a loose, fresh, effortless feel. Mike works from direct observation, making sketches that describe the space and volume, not just the objects in view. He adopts a spontaneous, rapid workflow where accidents form part of the creative process, not things to be corrected. He strives to get the best qualities out of each medium, so for example watercolour must be a pure interaction of pigment and paper where splashes and drips are accepted rather than risk a correction that kills the quality of the paint. He likes the pigments to interact on the paper or canvas, rather than being over-mixed on palette. Mike likes to work to themes; some are recurring, others temporary.

Mike has exhibited with the Royal Society of British Artists after being awarded the RBA ‘Best work on Paper’ prize at one of their annual exhibitions and has also exhibited in the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Open Prize Exhibition. Painting commissions include the Royal Parks Agency and he has undertaken illustration for the Royal Horticultural Society, Royal Albert Hall and Historic Royal Palaces.