On a quintessentially British rainy summer day in early July, I had the pleasure of visiting gallery-favourite artist Ben Warner in his studio.
Nestled slightly off the beaten-track from bustling Falmouth, Ben’s studio is tucked away amidst rural farmland in a spacious, converted, and airy outbuilding. As Ben opens the studio doors to welcome me in, I am immediately captivated by a vast array of his latest atmospheric oil paintings, each in various stages of completion, lined up against the walls. This initial glimpse sets the tone for an exciting and informative studio visit, providing me with a first-hand insight into Ben’s creative process, inspirations, and artistic journey.
Cornwall born and bred, Ben studied at Falmouth School of Art and Design, where he trained as an illustrator. After completing his studies, Ben relocated to London to pursue a career in illustration for ten years. His portfolio during this period is impressively diverse, ranging from figure paintings and family portraits, to corporate commissions and billboard advertisements. Notably, his work includes a London Underground poster promoting the city’s bar scene, and numerous advertising and publishings commissions, with clients including Toyota, Penguin and Heineken.
It wasn’t until Ben’s return to Cornwall in the early 2000s that his artistic focus shifted to what those familiar with his current work will recognise: atmospheric oil paintings, predominately seascapes and nocturnes. A great source of inspiration for Ben was his father, who was not only a trained artist but also Ben’s tutor during his time at Falmouth Art School. With an already versatile repertoire, and an inherent painterly quality to his work, this seamless transition from illustration to painting seems almost inevitable. In 2005, upon his return to the West Country, Ben had his first solo exhibition at Beside The Wave, and has since become one of our most well-recognised artists with an impressive list of collectors. Most recently, he showcased a remarkable selection of works in celebration of the gallery’s 35-year anniversary.
As I walk into the studio and take a look around, it is clear to me the time and dedication Ben invests into each of his paintings, ensuring every work of art he produces is unique and special in its own distinct way. On the right-hand side of the studio, neatly propped up against the wall, Ben stores the selection of paintings he is currently in the process of working on. As we sit down to chat, Ben elaborates on his creative process. Rather than exclusively painting one piece of art at a time, he works on multiple pieces simultaneously; Ben has been known to have 30 on the go at any one time! This approach is predominantly due to the lengthy drying time of oil paint, his principal medium, coupled with Ben’s meticulous attention to detail, light, depth and colour, which means the journey from concept to completion can be quite extensive. Moreover, Ben discusses how his ideas are constantly evolving, sometimes leading him to create six or seven versions of the same scene! With his ‘works in progress’ lined up as you enter the door, Ben mentions that he often scribbles notes on the floor beneath the paintings as and when he sees something he feels needs alterations: ‘scratch back there’, ‘warm up this area’, meaning until they leave the studio, Ben’s paintings are in constant evolution.
Ben’s technique involves a mixture of palette knife and paintbrush, and he maintains a relatively fixed monochromatic colour palette, primarily utilising raw umber, black, white, and ochre. His father’s advice to stick to a single hue when creating a landscape – be it warm or cool – has influenced his approach. In terms of scale, Ben experiments with a range of sizes, predominately working on canvas, which he attaches to a board and pins to a stretcher for larger pieces, and directly onto panels for smaller works. Although Ben has created several smaller paintings, notably for our Christmas collection, he admits a preference for larger pieces, with a desire to go even bigger, as it allows for a looser effect, a noteworthy quality of his expansive seascapes.
To me, and many admirers of Ben’s work, one of the trademark qualities that make Ben’s paintings so distinctive is the masterful way he captures the light. Ben has a real eye for placing and altering light to glimmer through the clouds above and shimmer onto the water below, truly creating an awe-inspiring yet peaceful ambience to his work. I have been intrigued who or what inspires Ben in his practice. Ben tells me that since his illustration days, he has been inspired by traditional painters Sickert and Whistler and especially Turner in his early painting days. He states how he enjoys waking up at sunrise and going for a walk when the world is sleeping to capture still scenes of his local surroundings in and around Cornwall, and particularly enjoys painting Falmouth, commenting on how it never gets old, there is always something new to paint!
As we discuss his artistic philosophy, Ben shares that he views painting as a romantic endeavour, aiming to evoke emotion and feeling in his scenes. When asked what he hopes people take away from his paintings, he humbly expresses his desire for the custodians of his work to enjoy it for years to come, allowing it to grow with them, in turn creating their own personal connection to it.
I conclude our chat by asking Ben what the future has in store for his painting journey. He tells me that he has been considering incorporating more acrylic paint into his practice. This would ensure quicker drying times. Additionally, he is exploring the embrace of more ‘happy accidents’ and bravado in his work, but of course, while maintaining the peaceful serenity that defines his art.
This is an exciting time for Ben, and we can’t wait to see his upcoming works in the gallery! Many thanks to Ben for inviting me into his studio and sharing his fascinating artist journey, it was a true pleasure.
-Mimi Hadley-Piggin