Chasing the light and tracing the tides of Ynys Môn at Comme Ça Gallery

Two artists present their work after a period of observation and exploration of the Anglesey coastline. Sophie Nixon and Nan Collantine’s exhibition Chasing the light and tracing the tides of Ynys Môn at Comme Ça Gallery gathers a new body of work, created as a result of a residency.

Both artists express themselves through painting resulting in an intriguing combination of two styles exploring the same subject matter. Taking into account the topographical and atmospheric landscape of the island in the context of the universal elements of sea and sky, the works tell viewers as much about what the artists saw as what they felt. There is no denying that great bodies of water and coastlines, whether more or less dramatic, inspire awe and this pleasant feeling of smallness in the face of nature is important to keep in mind when faced with the works on display.

Both Nixon and Collantine work in oil paint. Nixon utilises its rich textures to convey more figurative compositions, capturing light, the sky and elements that inhabit the landscape. Collantine’s approach is more abstract, focusing on form and colour inspired by her observations but translated into her own visual language.