Raymond Hedley

PAINTER: Born Bromley Kent England.1938. Although no formal training, as a painter of the outdoors and a lover of desolate land and seascapes under threatening skies, his work is collected internationally
and will be found in homes all round the world.
In 1960 he produced some large three dimensional works/ collages of every day images,found objects in mixed media. Apart from those that were sold the remainder were destroyed by fire in 1980. Only the slides still exist.
This interest in Pop Art and Post expressionism seemed to loose its influence on his work as he became absorbed with the movement of skies and the ever changing light. “Every-one should spend five minutes a day looking at the sky”
Eventually he returned to this love of natural surroundings,now living in an oast house in West Malling,he paints sea and landscapes along with the occasional life study.
Ironically he found much searched for expression in the simple act of "slapping paint on canvas’’ while looking, for example at the interface of sky and sea and the changes in aspect by weather.
Raymond writes,
“Working from sketches,photos as references and then just memory, I believe my memory is the most satisfying reference library available to me.It is like a camera. I note something that interests me,sometimes objectively and sometimes subconsciously . However, the image lays there,in my memory until it reappears on my canvas.
But preferable, is the interaction of eye, interpretation, and the application of the medium whilst actually studying the subject.”
“Initially I work fast using much knife work on my sketches”
These I will hang (sometimes framed) and fault them. Improvisation and accident also play an important part in any creativity.
Studying my errors and achievements in this way will I hope help me in my constant search for some undefined goal. The substance of which will no doubt remain a mystery."
“The main thing of course is, I hope that others will share with me my vision, or simply enjoy my efforts and see something of my intentions.
Thank you.”
Raymond Hedley.

Visitors are welcome to visit his studio in West Malling
Kent by appointment.
<raymond.hedley99@virgin.net>