From Ross-on-Wye, Rhys has always had a keen interest in the arts. Since gaining a degree in Fine arts at University College Falmouth he has gone on to show work in various locations around the country, including group and solo exhibitions in London. However, he chooses to stay rooted in the countryside exploring his environment to create paintings, drawings and his new venture, printmaking all from his home studio.
Rhys’ work focuses and aims to describe the rural environment he loves so dearly.
He has a specific interest in surface, light, shade and colour. He enjoys experimenting with different mediums and has most recently taken up lino cutting, looking primarily at British wildlife. This is a much more controlled and thoughtful process, which is a great juxtaposition to his paintings.
His love of printmaking started whilst studying at university and he has since gone on to a unique linocut process. The process of lino cutting is one that takes a lot of care and precision; bringing focus to shapes, lines, mark making, and positive and negative space with rewarding results. After graduating in 2012, Rhys set about building a small independent business from his home studio, where he spends most days dividing time between his two passions; painting and printmaking.
Birds and the wildlife found in the hedgerows are evident in his printmaking practice. Each image is printed by hand with great care and attention to detail, most of the cards have their own unique characteristics because of this. They posses a tactile quality that can only be achieved from printing by hand, this is something that is very important to the bespoke quality of the final product.