Working almost entirely with the medium of Linoleum to produce prints of the everyday, the commonplace, things we all look at but do not see. Drawing on many years of education, using influences too numerous to list some obvious, Spencer, Howson, Beckman, some not so Rodin, Rego and Leger. Continuously researching to create images which tell the viewer a story, to show a journey.
The earliest memory I can recall with any connection to art I have to go all the way back to the mid 1970s I would have been about five. Drawing on a unfolded cigarette packet the street scene viewed from my dads Ford Capri, waiting for him outside a classic motorcycle dealers shop in Hastings. My dad's a carpenter so pencils were always somewhere close, usually behind his ear. Returning to the car he picked up the decorated packet.
"Did you do that"? he asked.
"Yes" I replied proudly.
After poor advice from the careers department at Secondary School plus some quite shameful exam results spent several miserable years in a garage until a just as frustrated but wise Iranian gentleman became a colleague. After many lunch time discussions he gave me the confidence that set me on my wondrous and unimaginable journey into the vast world of fine art.
On leaving Secondary School in 1986 became an automotive panel beater and paint sprayer. Dissatisfied and unhappy took the advice of a colleague and re-entered the education system. In 1992 attended West Kent College firstly to achieve less shameful exam results which then led to a diploma in general art and design where, with guidance, discovered and practiced many forms of printmaking. Graduated in 1995. Gained qualifications needed to be offered a position at Nottingham Trent University to study for a BA(Hons) Fine Art degree, specialising in printmaking. Graduated in 1998.
Soon after graduating began to exhibit at various galleries and shows. To celebrate the Millennium South East Arts commissioned a series of large prints based on the history of the broadcloth industry in Cranbrook, Kent. Appeared on the television programme "Country Ways". Feeling increasingly uncomfortable doing the whole gallery and exhibiting thing and unhappy with the direction of my work decided to step back from exhibiting to concentrate solely on printmaking and the building and setting up of my own studio. Now living and working in Hawkhurst, Kent.
Twenty years on with advice coming from all directions came to a decision I'm going to show my work again to "EXHIBIT" on the world wide web.
Hope you like them.
Neil Ashton
