Publications
Up River, The Song of the Esk
View some of Darren’s paintings from Up River
‘Tuesday 16th January 2007. Instinct trusting a good forecast, I head up to the Borestanes to once again work from the source of the Esk. Heavy frost and wonderfully clear. Cloudless conditions lasting till dusk, when the low winter sun was dulled by a grey chilly haze. No sooner had I crossed the white, crisp banks of the North Esk Reservoir than my eyes focused on six Roe Deer feeding on the hill above. Rattle of tin palette I begin to paint, then amazingly, a hunting Short-eared Owl drifts past over the Roes. I am torn. I have waited so long to see Roes out in the open but here is my first Owl by the reservoir in the most ideal of light, I begin working without worrying, the page brimming with a mixture of Owl and Deer shapes, at one point both interacting, a young Roe inquisitively sniffing at a vole fattened Owl. Frustration at how quickly ice forms on my metallic mixing surface, transforming my delicate brush into a cement like laden bulb. Paint becomes hard to move around the page yet the most beautiful icy rosette forms on my depiction of sedges.’
Paragraph from ‘Up River, The Song of the Esk’.
Following the success of the Artist in Residence position around Carlops funded by The Orcome Trust, funds were gratefully provided by the Trust to bring the idea of the publication of a book to celebrate the event a reality. In September 2008 I met with Birlinn publishers in Edinburgh who were extremely enthusiastic about the whole project, suggesting a 160 page full colour book to be published in August 2009. Launches and exhibited work will be at The British Birdfair on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd August 2009, Carlops Village Hall 4th, 5th and 6th September 2009 and Waterston House, The Headquarters of the Scotttish Ornithologists Club, Aberlady from the 21st November 2009 – 10th February 2010.
With Forewords provided by both John Kennedy and Victoria Crowe and an introduction by Julian Spalding, the book describes the three year residency, as well as the environment and natural history found in the area. Diary extracts and painting transcripts give written accounts of the days in the field, supported by a collection of over 130 new paintings. I have included a section on painting in the field that also details materials used as well as approaches and results. I feel that the recent work has moved on drastically from the earlier paintings. The switch of environments has meant huge change in light, colours and subjects that I have been previously familiar with. The results of having to work within this new area have brought a vibrant intensity to the paintings and compositions, with large sections on fungi as well as many paintings produced during the varied moods and atmospheres of what is a very special area.
From Peregrines to Redstarts, Fritillary Butterflies to scratching Badgers and Ewes among whiteout conditions ‘Up River, The Song of the Esk’ aims to bring together all the work produced during my time as Artist in Residence within the Carlops area.
Contact Darren at about purchasing a copy. Books that are ordered direct will be signed and posted first class. Price £30 plus postage and packing.
From Dawn Till Dusk
View some of Darren’s paintings from From Dawn Till Dusk
From Dawn Till Dusk is Darren Woodhead’s voyage through the seasons with paper, brush and pencil. The book portrays the natural history of his home area in south-east Scotland and also farther afield. In a wealth of drawings and paintings, together with diary extracts and field observations, Darren distills his reactions to the activity and moods of the natural world around him.
All of Darren’s work is produced outside, directly from life. There is no studio. Instead he responds to what is happening before him, keeping an immediacy and spontaneity to his work. Working quickly, within the theatre of the outdoors, wind may buffet the pages, rain or snow may stipple the paint, but this is all part of the events of the day’s outing and helps provide authenticity to the resulting images.
The works in this book highlight the subtle changes of each successive season, from Mountain Hares painted in freezing conditions in the dead of winter where paint struggles to dry, to the flamboyant displays of charismatic Long-tailed Ducks as spring emerges. Darren depicts the vigorous bursts of colour provided by the butterflies of the summer and evokes the song of Wood Warblers in the Scottish oak woodland.
We are invited to contrast the cacophony of seabird colonies in the height of their frantic breeding activity with the solitary beauty of a White-tailed Eagle chick growing against a Hebridean backdrop. As the return of wintering Pink-footed Geese heralds the year’s full rotation, we are given a worthy finale to the cycle of seasons and the natural dramas enacted every day, from dawn until dusk.
The hardback, fully illustrated, 156pp book retails at £35 plus postage and packing. Contact Darren at info@darrenwoodheadartist.co.uk about purchasing a copy.
