Geoff is an abstract painter and art writer based at the Phoenix Art Space studios in Brighton. He has exhibited regularly for over 30 years, alongside a career as Foundation Studies course leader in Horsham and Worthing and in contributing to the fine art degree and PGCE courses at Northbrook College. He now teaches regularly on the short course programme at West Dean College near Chichester.
His paintings explore time and place in various geographic locations utilising a semi-figurative and abstract visual language. Typically, his work explores both colour and gestural expression. Although his images are essentially abstract, the links to specific locations are considered as a fundamental framework for taking a journey into this painterly and expressionistic abstraction.
In recent years, subject matter has been derived from regular visits to Cornwall and Wales as well as from the Sussex Downs. A long-term fascination with the Shropshire landscape, from his youth, is also an on-going interest.
Of his approach to teaching he says:
“I encourage students to work with a disciplined kind of freedom. As with writing you have to find your ‘voice’ and this often demands trial and error to build confidence. The painting and drawing media and various visual processes are on an equal footing with the apparent subject matter and so you have to mediate and discover the real subject through the physical process of painting and drawing – both outside and in the studio.”
Note:
Geoff Hands has his own art writing website named fineartruminations and he has contributed many articles for AbCrit, Conceptual Fine Arts (Milan), Instantloveland and Saturation Point. He has also written catalogue essays for Sussex based painters, Mary Grant and Jane Campling.