Deeson Gallery: Simon Cunniffe
I was born in Lincoln in 1974. I was brought up in the RAF so I had a nomadic life travelling around Europe and the UK. I studied Fine Art and the History of Art in Leicester, followed by Secondary PGCE at Christ Church.
I try to play with or reverse the rules of colour theory. The highly dominant, rich, warm red is used as a background. This forces the subject matter, to be powerful enough to push this back. I try and combine high gloss with rich impasto oil focus points to heighten this process. The majority of my subjects are landscape based or pieces of human engineering. Everyday structures are used, that are highly functional but have an aesthetic sculptural quality.
More recently, I have tried more abstract compositions, still using the same techniques. The inspiration and subject matter coming from the abstract shapes and patterns found in Cornwalls cliffs and rocks.
Artist Q&A
If you were a Pantone colour, which one would you be?
Clearly, Signal Red
In the studio of which artist - dead or alive - would you like to be a fly on the wall.
Anyone except Damian Hirst's. You'd be trapped forever in a cycle of making him more money. Free food though!
Tell us something great you've just discovered?
If you hear a mosquito fly past your ear at night, don't bother getting up to kill it. Only males make any noise and they don't bite.
What 3 words define your art?
Others have described it as "apocalyptic" "reddish" "touchy"
Name your top three dinner guests, famous or not, dead or not...
Clint Mansell, Shaun Ryder and Bob Mortimer
Which book or film do you wish you'd written?
The Bible, imagine the royalties.
What's your favourite journey
A completely empty A303
How would you express yourself if there was no such thing as art?
Through Crimewatch
If you were a superhero, which one would you be and why?
Penfold from Dangermouse, nice suit.
Rock or Roll?
Rock