Galería Arrabal, Callosa d'Ensarria
1 de mayo - 1 de septiembre de 1993
Costa Blanca News
Getting Callosa into perspective
Earlier this year, the town of Teulada announced a painting competition, open to all aspiring artists in the area. The entries were judged last month and, while the first prize went to Valencian painter Manuel Mico Catala, the second prize was awarded to Paul Critchley, a young British artist who is at the moment living in the mountain village of Callosa d'Ensarria.
Actually I had already heard about the unusual work does and, when I found out that he was exhibiting various paintings at the Galeria Arrabal in Callosa, I decided to pay a visit and see for myself. In fact it was a case of two birds with one stone, as I had recently read an article about the gallery in the Spanish newspapers and it was somewhere I was looking forward to seeing for myself.
Paul, 33, is originally from Rainford, Lancashire, although he has spent the past few years travelling through Europe, spending time in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. He studied at St. Helens College of Art & Design and at Coventry Polytechnic, where he got a BA (Hons.) in Fine Arts. Since his first exhibition in 1979, his paintings have been shown at many international galleries in both collective and one-man exhibitions. Among other prizes he has been awarded the Stowells Trophy, the Spencers' Industrial Travelship, the Granada Foundation Award and Citibank Prize, and in 1984 he became a member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts.
His first paintings were mainly flowers and landscapes but throughout the years he has developed his own way of illustrating movement, dimension and perspective in unconventional and imaginative paintings of interiors of rooms, houses and (in his latest work) streets.
He describes his work as realistic but admits to using an artist's licence as to what is put in and left out.
Paul starts with sketches and then uses quite a lot of technical know-how by transferring them to the nearest millimetre on to hardboard covered with canvas. He achieves the textures by using plaster and wood before moving onto the oils. To emphasis the dimension and perspective, the irregular-shaped hardboards are curved, reaching different thicknesses which, together with dramatic use of light and shade, offer the viewer a sense of actually 'being on the spot'.
I was more than impressed with the paintings he showed me at Galeria Arrabal and it was easy to see just how much work had gone into each one. Although I am definitely no connoisseur of art, I do know what I like and what looks good, and I could easily discern why Paul has won so many prizes and trophies with his work.
While I was at the gallery, Paul introduced me to the owners Imme Reich (from Germany) and Frederico Van Ankum (from Holland). The Galeria Arrabal, which opened in 1964, is situated inside a building dating back several centuries, and history lends itself to the overall atmosphere, ideal for showing off the works of over 100 international artists. Between them, Imme and Frederico have hit upon the perfect setting for lovers of art of all types of art.
The building (originally three old town houses) consists of several rooms, all with high ceilings, typical wooden beams and wonderful light to show off the large variety of paintings, sculptures and even 'inventions' that abound at the gallery. Over the years, Imme has collected a number of antiques, many of which are also on display. And at the back of the building is a wonderful, tranquil garden where visitors can relax and unwind.
Six years ago, Imme and Frederico opened another gallery, the Atelier Artista on the Polop-Benimantell road, which has proven just as popular as their first venture. Once again, the original buildings are steeped in history and the main structure has been left more or less as it was.
7.5.1993
Getting Callosa into perspective
Earlier this year, the town of Teulada announced a painting competition, open to all aspiring artists in the area. The entries were judged last month and, while the first prize went to Valencian painter Manuel Mico Catala, the second prize was awarded to Paul Critchley, a young British artist who is at the moment living in the mountain village of Callosa d'Ensarria.
Actually I had already heard about the unusual work does and, when I found out that he was exhibiting various paintings at the Galeria Arrabal in Callosa, I decided to pay a visit and see for myself. In fact it was a case of two birds with one stone, as I had recently read an article about the gallery in the Spanish newspapers and it was somewhere I was looking forward to seeing for myself.
Paul, 33, is originally from Rainford, Lancashire, although he has spent the past few years travelling through Europe, spending time in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. He studied at St. Helens College of Art & Design and at Coventry Polytechnic, where he got a BA (Hons.) in Fine Arts. Since his first exhibition in 1979, his paintings have been shown at many international galleries in both collective and one-man exhibitions. Among other prizes he has been awarded the Stowells Trophy, the Spencers' Industrial Travelship, the Granada Foundation Award and Citibank Prize, and in 1984 he became a member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts.
His first paintings were mainly flowers and landscapes but throughout the years he has developed his own way of illustrating movement, dimension and perspective in unconventional and imaginative paintings of interiors of rooms, houses and (in his latest work) streets.
He describes his work as realistic but admits to using an artist's licence as to what is put in and left out.
Paul starts with sketches and then uses quite a lot of technical know-how by transferring them to the nearest millimetre on to hardboard covered with canvas. He achieves the textures by using plaster and wood before moving onto the oils. To emphasis the dimension and perspective, the irregular-shaped hardboards are curved, reaching different thicknesses which, together with dramatic use of light and shade, offer the viewer a sense of actually 'being on the spot'.
I was more than impressed with the paintings he showed me at Galeria Arrabal and it was easy to see just how much work had gone into each one. Although I am definitely no connoisseur of art, I do know what I like and what looks good, and I could easily discern why Paul has won so many prizes and trophies with his work.
While I was at the gallery, Paul introduced me to the owners Imme Reich (from Germany) and Frederico Van Ankum (from Holland). The Galeria Arrabal, which opened in 1964, is situated inside a building dating back several centuries, and history lends itself to the overall atmosphere, ideal for showing off the works of over 100 international artists. Between them, Imme and Frederico have hit upon the perfect setting for lovers of art of all types of art.
The building (originally three old town houses) consists of several rooms, all with high ceilings, typical wooden beams and wonderful light to show off the large variety of paintings, sculptures and even 'inventions' that abound at the gallery. Over the years, Imme has collected a number of antiques, many of which are also on display. And at the back of the building is a wonderful, tranquil garden where visitors can relax and unwind.
Six years ago, Imme and Frederico opened another gallery, the Atelier Artista on the Polop-Benimantell road, which has proven just as popular as their first venture. Once again, the original buildings are steeped in history and the main structure has been left more or less as it was.
7.5.1993
