KEITH HARRIS: Fine Artist working in Oils

Keith Harris’s inspiration is man’s effect on the landscape, including in industrial and urban settings.  He is attracted to scenes that have a strong form, such as brilliantly lit locations in Spain.  He tries to capture the inspiration with a sketch done on the spot, preferably using ink to gain immediacy and avoid the temptation of using an eraser; “mistakes” are part of the excitement and become part of the finished sketch.

In translating the inspiration into a painting Keith is guided by the need to retain the spontaneity of the original vision.  If necessary he reworks the sketches done on the spot, sometimes with the help of a few reference photos, to create a finished oil painting in the studio. He also works in oils directly en plein air to produce either a relatively small and finished piece there and then or a near-finished piece that he later completes in the studio.

Most of his studio paintings are on calico or fine canvas glued to MDF board using traditional rabbit-skin glue and hand made gesso. His plein air paintings are on canvas board or primed plywood panels.

Samples of Keith’s sketchbooks are shown in the Sketches page.

The artist is an exhibiting member of Leeds Fine Artists, also a member of Huddersfield Art Society, is an Invited Artist at Holmfirth ArtWeek and exhibits regularly in the Yorkshire region. He contributes to the UK Plein Air Society and takes part in the Urban Sketchers Yorkshire group.

Keith was originally educated and trained as an electrical engineer, latterly as a software engineer and spent his career as a university lecturer teaching electrical engineering and computing subjects. He studied art at adult education classes and on specialist short courses, but otherwise he is a self-taught artist.

Please contact the artist via the email links to enquire about prices and commissions.

Keith Harris

Email: click to email

Tel: 01484 687339