OPENING NIGHT Tuesday 28 April 6pm to 8pm
MEET THE ARTIST Saturday 16 May 2pm Register Here
“The title of this exhibition is a comment on what I paint and the many different shapes created by ships as they pass by. In the distance, ships appear just as shapes, especially with the sun setting or rising behind them. They are silhouetted against the background, with palettes generally yellow in the morning and red or orange as the sun sets. I am concentrating on the continual development of my artwork, experimenting with the oil paint medium, striving to improve and fully resolve artworks through colour, texture with impasto, layering, and balance.” - Julian Twigg 2026
Shipshape brings together a series of oil paintings and ceramic works grounded in direct observation of the coastal environment. Painted primarily from a boatshed in Sorrento, with additional works from Brighton and Hampton, the exhibition reflects Julian Twigg’s commitment to working on site. Recent works developed during a residency at the Royal Brighton Yacht Club further embed the practice within its maritime context.
Focusing on the sea, weather, ships, and coastal landmarks, the works capture shifting light and atmosphere across different times of year. While primarily realised in situ, paintings are later refined in the studio. The exhibition also includes ceramic tiles and sculptural barge forms inspired by vessels observed in Paris and London observed on the artists’ recent trip to Europe.
