He started his working life as a town planner and later he became a local authority Chief Executive. His career took him to London, the North East, Shropshire and Hampshire. His interest in art finally lead to a major change! In 2005 he joined a fine art degree course at Winchester Art College. In 2009 he graduated with a first-class honour’s degree in Fine Art. From the start he developed a distinctive style and is now a committed practising Artist. His work has been shown in solo shows and many group events in the south of England and in London, Berlin, and Poland.
His work reflects travels abroad and lifelong interests. It also comes from a wide range of artists. In some cases, it’s the way they paint and in others its what they mean. Names might include Caspar David Friedrich, Anselm Kiefer, Peter Doig, Georgia O’Keeffe, Neo Rauch, Giorgio de Chirico and an amazing painting by Adam Cvijanovic about the end of gravity.
Malcolm describes his work as ‘imaginary landscapes set in unknown and improbable locations’. This reflects deep concerns about our planet and its future. He states ‘we live in a small green planet in an infinity of time and space. Images draw upon the unavoidable conclusion that out there beyond our world there will be very different landforms, structures, artefacts, cultures, beginnings and endings all written into the fabric, geology and history of other places and times’. Despite this, his paintings can often present a blue sky and sometimes strange vegetation like a warm day in summer. But where are the people and what’s the storey? The images do not provide answers but they do invite the viewer to reflect and speculate. Perhaps, in doing, we might also consider our own plight and future on a planet we are using and abusing.
Malcolm normally uses acrylic paint. This suits an approach which involves an exploration of content as things evolve on the canvas. There are often modifications and changes as the painting develops. Currently he works from a converted stable behind his house in the New Forest.
