In over 140 superbly reproduced artworks, the distinguished artist Philip Hughes records eleven iconic walks across the length and breadth of Britain, from Allt Coire Pheiginn in Scotland to Zennor Head in Cornwall. Inspired and informed by maps, aerial photographs and the latest electronic survey techniques, Hughes's clean, spacious artworks, with their arresting blocks of colour, make contemporary some of the most ancient and formidable landmarks of the British Isles. This is a beautiful, reflective book that will resonate with artists, walkers and anyone who shares a deep love of art and landscape. Eleven sections, organized geographically by location, come complete with short introductions by the artist, noting key routes and impressions, and illustrated by Ordnance Survey map openers. Each section features important local heritage sites, whether Neolithic settlements such as Maes Howe in Orkney, standing stones such as Stonehenge in Wiltshire, mountains of special geological interest such as the Three Peaks in Yorkshire, or locations of particular mystery and beauty such as Silbury Hill, the oldest and tallest artificial mound in Europe. Written notes, archaeological scans and contour maps are often incorporated into Hughes's aquacryl, acrylic, gouache and tempera artworks; notebook spreads, containing exquisite drawings and paintings made on the spot, are also on display here. Pull quotes throughout consist of evocative extracts from the artist's diaries and notes, shedding light on the mood and atmosphere of the awe-inspiring landscapes in view.
Author Biography
Philip Hughes is a widely exhibited artist. Born in London he studied at Cambridge University. Self-taught as an artist, his vision has been shaped by extensive travel linked to a preoccupation with the structure of landscape and the archaeology of ancient cultures. Hughes' work is represented in numerous public collections including The British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and the UK Government Collection in London, UK and the Library of Congress, Washington D.C., U.S.A. He served on the council of the Royal College of Art (1987-1992), on the board of the Design Museum (1990-1996) and as Chairman of the Trustees of the National Gallery (1996-2000).
