martin collins
paintings from the celtic shores

From Timmy’s Hill, Bryher, Isles of Scilly
24 x 31.5” 600 x 800mm oil on canvas

Paintings from the Celtic shores

The paintings in this exhibition focus on some of the coastal fringes of England, Wales, Ireland and France, linked by their Celtic associations. They represent a personal and contemporary vision of the moods, diversity, beauty and wildness found where ocean and land meet along our Celtic shores. Most of the smaller pieces were made en plein air, the larger canvases being developed back in the studio.

It is not necessary to understand how the locations are linked culturally or historically to appreciate the paintings themselves. Any artist will select his or her imagery in a highly personal way and in that sense the Celtic connection is sometimes quite a loose one. The paintings do not set out to depict historical or cultural features, but they do share a common fascination with these western margins of the UK and France, their varied topography and the ever-present, all-powerful sea.

The Celts

The Celts were a loosely tied collection of rather warlike tribes sharing common languages, religious practices and forms of cultural expression. Their influence within the British Isles, notably to introduce working in iron, began around 600BC and by the 5th century there was also a significant Celtic presence - The Bretons - in northern France. Other Celtic regions include north-western Spain and Portugal, the Isle of Man and Scotland.

Eventually Celtic life and culture were eroded following the Roman occupation and the growth of Christianity but their traditions live on, passed down through generations. Today a revived, vibrant Celtic heritage embraces languages, legends and poetry, music and artefacts. There are numerous ancient landscape features too, among them hillforts, burial sites, ancient crosses and the remains of settlements and field boundaries.

While we enjoy these magnificent coastlines, perhaps we should reflect on how immensely hazardous they must have been in those far-off days during the development of trade routes. Other than an occasional lighthouse or harbour, in many places little has changed; over the centuries communities may have sprung up, but between them still remain vast stretches of wild, often inhospitable shoreline, overseen by the relentless march of waves and weather.

Martin Collins, April 2007

Please call 01326 318452 / 01736 788911 or e-mail: gallery@greatatlantic.co.uk to reserve the painting of your choice.

Paintings may be collected by arrangement or we can arrange delivery from as little as £20 depending on size and distance. Money back if not entirely satisfied (provided we are informed within 3 days of your painting being collected/delivered). Cheques and all major credit cards accepted. Colours may vary between the original paintings and the reproductions shown here. All paintings are framed.

Breaking swell, Pointe de Corsen, west Brittany
13 x 10.5” 340 x 270mm oil on canvas

Godrevy Point, Cornwall
47 x 39” 1200 x 1000mm oil on canvas

Daymark, St Martins, Isles of Scilly
14.5 x 12” 370 x 310mm mixed media on card

Clodgy Point, St Ives, Cornwall
10.5 x 17” 265 x 430mm mixed media on paper

Early summer near Boscastle, Cornwall
19.5 x 19.5” 500 x 500mm oil on canvas

The harbour, St Ives, Cornwall
20 x 27.5” 500 x 700mm oil on canvas

Tralee Bay, Co Kerry, Ireland
8 x 15” 210 x 390mm acrylic on board

Brandon Mountain across Scraggane Bay, Co Kerry, Ireland
10 x 8” 255 x 200mm acrylic on board

Ground Swell, Baie de Douarnanez, west Brittany
29.5 x 49” 750 x 1250mm acrylic on canvas

Across Scraggane Bay, Co Kerry, Ireland
5.5 x 16” 140 x 415mm acrylic on paper

The Magharee Islands, Co Kerry, Ireland
6 x 16” 155 x 415mm acrylic on paper

Hell Bay, Bryher, Isles of Scilly
16 x 39” 400 x 1000mm oil on canvas

East from Porth Dinllaen, Lleyn Peninsula, north Wales
25.5 x 39” 650 x 1000mm oil on canvas

Hayle Towans, Cornwall
19.5 x 16” 500 x 410mm gouache on paper

Little Merrick Ledge, St Martins, Isles of Scilly
10 x 14.5” 260 x 370mm acrylic on card

Mans Head, St Ives, Cornwall
11 x 12” 285 x 300mm mixed media on paper

St David’s Peninsula, Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales
20 x 27.5” 500 x 700mm acrylic on canvas

Slieve Mish Mountains from Kilshannig, Co Kerry, Ireland
9 x 16.5” 230 x 420mm acrylic on card

Towards Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales
27.5 x 20” 700 x 500mm oil on canvas

Atlantic Dawn, Ballybunnion, Ireland
29.5 x 49” 750 x 1250mm acrylic on canvas

Kilshannig shower, Co Kerry, Ireland
10 x 11” 250 x 285mm acrylic on paper

Kilshannig morning, Co. Kerry, Ireland
10 x 14” 255 x 355mm acrylic on board

Towards Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo, Ireland
12 x 15.5” 310 x 400mm acrylic on paper

Great Orme’s Head, Llandudno, north Wales
8.5 x 14” 220 x 360mm oil on board

Winter dawn, Kilshannig, Co Kerry, Ireland
12.5 x 19.5” 315 x 495mm acrylic on paper

Rock, Côte du Granite Rose, north Brittany
11 x 14” 285 x 355mm mixed media on paper

Towards Les Sept Iles, north Brittany
16 x 39” 400 x 1000mm acrylic on canvas

After the storm, near Camaret, Brittany
16 x 39” 400 x 1000mm acrylic on canvas

The Blasket Islands, Co Kerry Ireland
19.5 x 39” 500 x 1000mm oil on canvas

26th May - 14th June 2007
at The Great Atlantic Arwenack Street Gallery
48 Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 3JH
Telephone: 01326 318452

then at The Great Atlantic Gallery, St Just
5 Bank Square, St Just -in-Penwith, Cornwall TR19 7HH
Telephone: 01736 788911