Ernest Ager

From childhood drawing has always been a part of me. Interpreting what I see in pencil seemed just natural. I started painting around twenty years ago, initially with pastels, later with acrylics, and most recently with oils.

I am drawn to a subject by my emotional reaction to it. I like the play of light on water, or wet pavements, the different moods of water under different skies, and the contrast of shadowy figures against the light. I like dawn and evening light, with long shadows and strong highlights. My interiors also tend to have a strong directional element to the light, with a nearby window or doorway illuminating the subject.

I paint mostly land and seascapes, often with an architectural interest. I also paint portraits in pastel, again emphasising the drama of light and shadows to bring out the character.

Artists I admire include Vermeer, John Atkinson Grimshaw, Edward Hopper and, more recently, Ken Howard.

Last year, I had two paintings accepted for the South West Academy Summer Open Exhibition in Exeter, and I have won prizes at the Exmouth Art Group Summer Exhibition. In 2003 and again in 2008 I was awarded a Norah Pearse Prize, and in 2007 the Channel View Cup.

Go to Ernest's gallery