Paul Smith

From Dark to Light

I studied Fine Art in the UK and have lived in England, Venezuela, Japan and Switzerland. Currently I live in Zurich, often finding inspiration for my paintings from the people I know and the view from my apartment of the Lake. I also spend time in Cornwall (UK), where I look for ideas for paintings. I have exhibited in solo exhibitions Zurich and Tokyo, as well as group exhibitions, including the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, the BP Award at the National Portrait Gallery, London, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.

I chose ‘From Dark to Light’ as a title for the exhibition because the relationship between light and dark is something I always think about, whether I am painting landscape or portraits. The behaviour of light is intrinsically fascinating and it can change how we perceive a subject, in dramatic, bright, subtle or low contrast. It can also be thought about on a more philosophical and conceptual level, adding mood, atmosphere and meaning to a painting. Darkness is thought to obscure and perhaps stimulate melancholy, whereas light can be enlightening and revealing. For an artist, juxtaposing light and dark helps one contemplate the sublime beauty of the things around us.