Ray sheldon

As a small boy Ray Sheldon walked to school past the Minton factory and exclaimed each day that he would work there when he grew up. He was born in Josiah Wedgwood Street , Etruria , Stoke on Trent and went on to become art director for Minton as well as designing for Wedgwood, Ralph Lauren, Liberty’s of London, Schumacher New York and Hankyu Tokyo. He now paints full time and his work incorporates pottery and ceramics in an abstract form. His work clearly shows the early influence of Ben Nicholson and would look very at home in Kettles Yard, Cambridge. Needless to say we were very excited to be giving him his London debut at Connect Art Fair at Mall Galleries in January 2020.

We recently spent a morning with Ray Sheldon in his studio and selected a wonderful group of recent paintings that we have now uploaded to our website. Chatting away to him, it is clear to see not only his passion for his artwork but also his love of design and ceramics shines through . His work is simple yet highly complex and it has a depth that makes you look again and examine the abstract in detail to find the subject . He completes series of work based on a theme before his work morphs in a slightly different direction . He really is a very talented artist and his aesthetic eye produces work that you just want to hang in your own home.

Ray Sheldon, former President of Society of Staffordshire Artists , says the following about his work

‘My work explores the dynamics of seeing and representing, I strive for simplification, reducing a composition to its essential characteristics. for me painting is a balancing act, each work is reworked many times. The spaces are as significant as the objects themselves. I explore the dynamics of seeing and representing, with the constant play between the flat surface and the illusion of depth and solidity.

I have so many influences, but I would start with Ben Nicholson . When I went through the galleries in my student years I was particularly interested in his unfinished surface, The constant editing , for me he was the essence of (less is more). Giorgio Morandi he showed me how to paint and keep busy with just one theme.

I don't feel restricted by my subject I use my thoughts and imagination, I never set up a conventional still-life composition I get hooked on an idea I develop it and it will take me to other works creating a different interpretation, the work often takes on a life of it's own . I find my work is increasingly becoming autobiographical I love to paint simple every day objects and manipulate the space between them.’