Martyn Woods is a visual artist living in South London UK
Paintings are in oils, acrylics or Ink and wash depicting human figures as the main subject showing inner emotional concerns coupled with patterns and geometric motifs.
Common themes include comprehending the infinite, social anxiety and the communication challenges I face on a personal level.
I have a blind minds eye known as aphantasia where I cannot generate images in my head therefore for me imagination is a conceptual abyss, but I still need to express my ideas feelings and sensations, and use my imagery and designs as a way to articulate what I find so difficult to communicate.
My artworks are rendered with clean lines and strong colour in a semi representational style with influences ranging from 90s graphic design and 70s alt rock album covers to the Fauvists and the Surrealists.
Apart from specific portrait paintings the figures are meant to be placeholders for any person.
Insight
After an early life in Newcastle was swapped for a teenage in South Wales due to parental divorce I had trouble fitting into life in the valleys, it was tough and we were poor but I had my drawings.I only passed two exams at school but managed to finish well on an Illustration HND and had what some would say is a wonderful life until a good dose of Covid made me remember that I must make as much of my art as I can, while I can.
History
- 2026
- 2025 Brixton Urban Art Josephine Avenue Brixton London
- 2025 Art Now Fair Exhibit Here Copeland Park Peckham London
- 2023 Joint show with Steve Wilde Box Park Shoreditch London
- 2023 Brixton Urban Art Josephine Avenue Brixton London
- 2022 Brixton Urban Art Josephine Avenue Brixton London
- 2022 Parallax Art Fair Kensington Town Hall London
- 2021 New Artist Fair Truman Brewery Shoreditch London
- 1995-2020 Commercial Artist - Various London
- 1994 HND Illustration Cardiff University Wales
- 1973 Born Colchester England UK