MANY landscape artists take photographs to help them in their work.
Dalton watercolourist David Morrell snaps away at scenes he thinks might make a composition and then gets to work on them straight away.
This means he usually has no problems remembering where the pictures were taken.
But the 71-year-old retired art teacher has just produced a watercolour of what he believes is a local scene – and has been unable to give it a title as he has absolutely no idea where it is.
“I took some photographs about eight or nine years ago with an old Olympus camera and put the prints to one side because I didn’t think I could work with them,” said David. “Then I came across them recently and thought that with the right lighting I could make quite a decent composition.
“I usually work from photographs fairly soon after I have taken them. But on this occasion I just can’t remember where I took the pictures – unfortunately I don’t write the location on the back of them.”
David has completed a watercolour of the scene – based on a composite of two photographs – and is inviting readers to see if they can identify the location. He thinks it is in the Holme Valley.
It is typical of his work, which is influenced by mid 19th century artists such as JWM Turner, John Varley, John Glover, Thomas Girtin and Peter De Wint.
“I used to do oil paintings,” says David, who taught at Holmfirth High School, “but in the 1980s I started taking watercolouring seriously. I like the way it can be a subtle and delicate medium.”
David’s work is best described as English impressionist Romantic and has been shown at a number of galleries in the region, including the AC Gallery in Huddersfield.
To see more of his works check out www.dmorrellwatercolourlandscapes.co.uk And if you can help put a title to his latest watercolour then let me know – hilarie.stelfox@examiner.co.uk
