GEORGE ANTONI

"As an artist, I am primarily self-taught. Although I studied art at West Ham College of Further Education after leaving school, I also had an interest in drama. A three-year course at E15 Acting School lead to a thirty-year career in film, TV, and theatre.

It was only after leaving London and moving to Brighton that I took up painting again, initially inspired by the expansive skies and dramatic seascapes. The influence of coastal life still shows in my current work.

My painting is essentially experimental and is all about the process. I try to tap into my unconscious and start with only a loose intention of what I want the piece to be, allowing it to evolve through numerous generations. The work ends with the idea rather than starts with it. Much is left to chance as I often work with several inspirations simultaneously and the viewer is invited to bring their own interpretation to the finished piece. The greater the number of interpretations the better. What interests me is the emotional response to a painting void of depiction.

The works are of mixed media, using, predominantly, layers of household emulsion on fibre board, but incorporate acrylic pigments, ink and, in some cases, wood dye. Each piece undergoes a process of construction and degradation impossible to replicate. I'm fascinated by the way we find beauty in deterioration.

When finished the paintings are wax polished, not only for protection but to add a further dimension. They are highly tactile, and people are drawn to touch them. They invite examination from inches away as the tiny imperfect variations are as significant as the composition." — George Antoni