John Raynes' 2010 solo exhibition is a continuation of his journey into the Cornish landscape following a stunning collection for the gallery's 'Of Woods and Trees' exhibition at the beginning of the year.

His primary interest is, as ever, in searching out salient shapes and seeking structure, form and pattern within the landscape. "I believe such patterns are usually only subliminally experienced but the artist's (well this artist's!) job is to filter them out and, by simplification, bring them to the surface. While all vision is of course either perceived by light reflected from objects (including the sky) or directly from the sun or man-made light, the patterns made are primarily produced either by the impact of forms silhouetted against the prevailing light (contre jour) or by the shapes of colour and form as revealed by direct light."

He embraces the complexities inherent in the Cornish coast line with its coves, promontories and jagged, rocky geography. The variations in the light between sunrise and sunset provide, sometimes unexpected, challenges for him to explore but, as a very generalised rule, if he is looking for strongly contrasted coastal light patterns he heads for the south coast and for more overall colour and structure he makes his way to the north.

John observes, "A characteristic of this beautiful county of ours is the relative proximity of north and south coasts. When looking out to sea on the north coast (therefore with the sun for much of the day behind you) the beach, the sea, anything on or near the sea will be frontally lit. Thirty miles or so south, sometimes less, the converse is true. The southerly view on the south coast is contre jour. Rocks, boats and quays are silhouetted against the light and at times the orb of the sun (and its reflection in the sea) enters the picture. Two completely different sets of shapes and patterns so easily accessible."

John works from life where possible but supplements this with information provided by photographs that he takes as part of the creative process, manipulating the images electronically, searching out images from which the most significant shapes can be selected and developed.

He uses mixed media, usually watercolour and oil paint, working on several paintings at the same time to allow the layers to dry but also to "keep the vision fresh".

He has made one major painting for each location and an accompanying collection of smaller paintings as well as rarely exhibited drawings. The value of drawing, composition and colour founded in his early education at St. Albans School of Art, and his exposure to and experimentation with abstraction is evident in his search for abstract shapes in a primarily figurative series of images.

'Looking West from Cape Cornwall' is a large vibrant composition of Priest's Cove viewed from Cape Cornwall. It is a fantastic mixture of colour and shape and a fascinating variety of marks made with palette knife and brushes. It creates a tapestry that describes a dramatic sky hanging over the steep north coast cliffs and a turbulent sea.

'View from Pendower' is a dramatic study of a glowering winter sky reflected in the smooth mirror-like surface of the wet sand. Seemingly almost monochromatic, closer inspection reveals rich umbers and blues complimenting delicate lilac-greys, the leaden sky alleviated by a thin band of peach coloured clouds on the horizon.

Warm blues, greens and even pink are used to capture Bassets Cove saturated with light and colour. Sand banks and ridges beneath the water are depicted as a snaking, undulating pattern under the cobalt blue sea.

Also included in the exhibition will be a beautiful view of Falmouth, as seen from Flushing, just before sunrise, boats and houses glowing white against the velvety blue pre-dawn sky. Viewed from the other side of the river, a study of a moored boat with Flushing in the background, is an intricate web of colours and shapes.

Land, sea, sky and the human figure have all fuelled John's fascination with form and pattern over the years but this relatively new exploration of his home county continues to fascinate, challenge and ultimately inspire him to create these wonderful paintings.

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 Friday 2nd July 2010.