Beside The Wave gallery is delighted to announce it's biennial exhibition for Paul Lewin.

Paul is widely regarded as one of this country's leading contemporary land and seascape artists and this collection is the result of an ambitious project he undertook exploring and painting the iconic headlands and promontories from north to south along the Cornish coastline.

Paul has revisited places familiar and inspiring to him in his work but also has taken the opportunity to explore parts of Cornwall that are completely new to him, 'filling in the gaps' in his knowledge of the coastline and challenging himself as an artist to meet the task of depicting views hitherto unfamiliar to him. At least half of the paintings in the collection are of places he has never studied previously despite many years painting in the county.

Often completed in one sitting the paintings are rendered in mixed media. Once the composition is found that 'speaks of the place' Paul begins with a pencil drawing which he will then start to build upon with a combination of pastel, watercolour, gouache and oil pastel. The media vary according to whichever is appropriate to the particular piece and the direction he feels the painting is taking. Each painting is as particular in its character as the place that inspired its creation.

Included in the collection is the study 'Higher Sharpnose Point'. Lush moss covered clifftops drop dramatically away to reveal the purple/black chasm plunging to the sea below. Evident here is the vertiginous viewpoint that Paul has become well known for along with his matchless ability to render the light sparkling on the surface of deep water. Never a painter of the generic, he captures perfectly the nuances of the geography of a place, the characteristics of the ocean specific to the stretch of coast he is depicting.

'Hella point, Gwennap Head' offers a view of the landscape on a warmer day. The cliffs tumble into the sea contrasting their umbers and rich greens with the inky blue water. The sharp geometric shapes of the rocks jut against the surging water that has helped shape them. The inexhaustible tide swells against and is halted by the imposing headland.

Cornwall is Paul's inspiration to be an artist. He is compelled by his environment to paint. The journey that he takes with each painting matches the physical journey he takes into the landscape to explore and record this wonderful and inspirational part of England.

There will be approximately forty new paintings in the exhibition which we are sure will inspire and delight all who view them.

To receive a catalogue of paintings or more information about the exhibition please contact Beside the Wave gallery@beside-the-wave.co.uk or (01326) 211132. Catalogue paintings will be available to view on the gallery website www.beside-the-wave.co.uk a week prior to the exhibition, with the full collection of work available to view on the gallery website from 3rd September.