Witty, contradictory and whimsical are some of the words used to describe Gordon Mitchell’s work. Yet for a painter who is so reliant on satire, it is an irony in itself that he never intended to become an artist at all. As a child, drawing merely provided escapism for Mitchell, not a viable career option. Yet growing up he discovered that he possessed the unique gift of a photographic memory, which eventually led him to create the faultlessly executed works which we see today. After attending Edinburgh College of Art, “by chance”, Mitchell embarked on a career on the other side of the canvas, becoming a teacher and did not begin painting full-time until many years later.

Mitchell still lives in Edinburgh, working from his modest portacabin / come studio, where he savours being alone and allowing his thoughts to roam. For him each piece needs to be an experience, a complex thought process or a code which has to be cracked and his paintings are cleverly deceptive. At first glance one sees flowers arranged elegantly on a pristine table, but take a closer look and you’ll notice the outline of female forms etched subtly in to the cracks of the paint work in the background, their poses mirroring the angles in which each stem is slanted. The viewer is invited to look closer, read between the lines and question the narrative of each piece.

Like recurring dreams, sublime subject matter is often revisited. Familiar themes are birds, the female form and most typically - the sea. Empty beaches and oceans, whether they are calm or stormy, portray freedom and new horizons yet to be explored, offering Mitchell the opportunity to allow his imagination to roam. As he says, “When I paint the sea I can see it, smell it, taste it and hear it”.

Mitchell was brought up in a household with no art on the walls yet upon seeing the work of Rene Magritte as a teenager he recalls, “I was blown away by his work and then realised you could get away with painting anything you want.” But Mitchell also greatly admires abstract painters such as Rothko, Nicholson and Barns-Graham and his appreciation of colour, technique and application is evident in his exquisite canvases.

We are delighted to be holding Gordon Mitchell’s fourth exhibition at Portland Gallery. Flying fish, levitation or a ptarmigan skiing on a saucer - welcome to the world of Gordon Mitchell, where it seems, anything really is possible.

Portland Gallery
8 Bennet Street
London SW1A 1RP United Kingdom
Ph. +44 (0)20 74931888
art@portlandgallery.com
www.portlandgallery.com

Opening hours
Monday - Friday
From 10am to 6pm