Colin Carruthers was born in Antrim in Northern Ireland where he spent his early childhood. He showed an interest in drawing at an early age and was encouraged by his mother to draw and paint. He completed a BA Honours degree in Fine Art in 1997 and thereafter began exhibiting his paintings in Galleries throughout the UK. Colin’s textural paintings depict landscapes and seascapes which are intended to convey the ever-changing aspects of nature. He paints mainly with oils and often works with a palette knife, creating thick, textured surfaces. The oil paint dries slowly, allowing him to build layers in which the marks of the palette knife are often still visible – creating interesting and dramatic effects. Colin’s frequent trips to the coast and countryside both in the U.K. and mainland Europe, have deepened his appreciation of the diversity and beauty of nature. Colin says, “Expressing nature in my work probably stems from my early childhood experiences in connecting with nature. For me, as a painter, nature can be liberating and it’s beauty a power”. Colin’s recent trips to the countryside have inspired a new group of paintings depicting scenes of wildflowers growing in their natural habitat around lakes in Wales. During the last couple of years, Colin has been selected to exhibit his work at the Royal Cambrian Academy’s Annual Exhibition – which has inspired him to spend even more time in Wales, studying the Welsh landscape. This exhibition of new paintings at The Albany Gallery, draws together both landscapes and seascapes following Colin’s recent travels around Wales and France. June 2024