Browsing through the SEOS catalogue (South East Open Studios) I was surprised to find that only one artist’s studio was exhibiting in the Rye area. Usually, there would be a cluster to visit but because NR Hills’s studio in Rye Harbour is this year the only one I felt the need to support this artist. To have an exhibition of your work as an artist is very brave. You are, after all, baring your soul, your inner being, for all to see, to admire, to dislike or to dismiss.
NR’s work is mainly centred around his new book, Impressions of Rye Harbour.
He explained how he had come to live in the Harbour and how it had shaped his work. “I have been an artist all my adult life since graduating from Chelsea School of Art, working as an illustrator producing many book covers then working in a graphics’ studio and producing graphics for the short-lived phenomenon of CD-ROMs. When my dad died it made me re-evaluate everything and I moved into fine art as I wanted to spend my time doing what I wanted to be doing rather than what other people told me to.
“I have lived in Rye Harbour for three and a half years now. We often used to visit Rye itself for years before discovering that there even was a harbour beyond, but I clearly remember the first time we ventured down there and how magical we thought ‘The Point’ was, never dreaming that I’d one day find myself living there. The harbour is an ever-changing source of inspiration which has been the sole focus of my work since moving in.”
Who has influenced your style of art?
My art has been influenced by literally hundreds of artists over the years (and that really isn’t an exaggeration… you should see my bowing bookshelves!), covering many styles and eras. I think the more you see, the more of a subconscious visual vocabulary you develop. The weathering effect of Mother Nature has also always been a major inspiration. My love of weathered materials probably comes from when I was very young and fascinated by the old worn objects I found in my grandad’s garden. In Japan it’s common to celebrate ‘wabi-sabi’, the effects that time has on things and the faults that result from them. I think that things generally look much better with age, though I’m an exception to that rule.
What has been the best advice you have ever been given?
The best advice I have heard regarding art was that you should always look at your work through the eyes of an enemy, or in other words “be your own worst critic”.
What three words describe you best?
Three words I would say best describe myself are ‘idiosyncratic’, ‘reliable’ and ‘flippant’. I think my fiancee would describe me as ‘suave’, ‘irresistible’ and ‘faultless’… (is it too late to change flippant to deluded?)
What advice would you give to a young artist just starting out on their journey?
I would advise any young artist to expect many years of failure and rejection before things start to come together. You have to be patient and try to constantly improve yourself and not expect instant success… it can happen but is very rare.
What have you left on your bucket list to achieve?
I have still a very long bucket list but the top couple of things would be to finally visit Venice, something I’ve wanted to do ever since seeing the film Don’t Look Now about fifty years ago, then I’d love to go to Barcelona to see all those extraordinary buildings by Gaudi.
If you hadn’t become an artist what might you have pursued as a career?
If I wasn’t an artist I think I’d be a curator in some form and may one day try my hand at having a pop-up gallery. Perhaps my participation in SEOS this year as the sole artist flying the flag for Rye is a way of dipping my toe into those waters.
I’ll be exhibiting my new series of paintings and pastels inspired by Rye Harbour at my studio in the harbour over the final two weekends of June from 10am-4.00pm, when people can also exclusively buy my new book of those paintings, Impressions Of Rye Harbour which was printed especially for the SEOS event.
NR Hill’s Studio is located at 2 Ship Cottage, The Point, Rye Harbour and is open on June 22 and 23 and the following weekend June 29 and 30. Please do support him by visiting: you won’t be disappointed.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Kt bruce .