John Lewis Store - Cardiff 2009.
With such large and expansive spaces to fill, Gareth Thomas, Retail Director, John Lewis, knew he need to identify an artist who could do justice to the new department store.
"Neil has done that incredibly effectively, and partners can be proud to show the resultant work, which I am sure our customers will enjoy and love being around."
Gareth, a regular visitor to Cornwall where Neil works, had known and admired his work for a number of years. "I approached Neil a couple of years before the opening date for
Cardiff, having agreed with colleagues in Design and Development that it would be great to have his work hanging in our new shop.
Neil was excited at the prospect of being part of our project, and programmed in time after producing work for a major show in London to do this series of paintings for us.
His work is incredibly dynamic and full of energy. He draws inspiration from nature and the elements and, although his work is essentially abstract,
it's not hard to see and feel the link with the natural world around us."
Central Library - Cardiff 2008.
Five canvases were commissioned for this contemporary new building in the centre of Cardiff.
The five paintings, all oil on canvas were digitally photographed and the majority were enlarged to 2.5 x 9 metres.
The images were then printed on to acoustic panels which were installed on each of the Library's five floors. The five original paintings can also be seen on the ground floor of the building.
The quartet approached Neil and invited him to provide the art work for a series of CDs they were intending to release.
Rather than use existing images the decision was made to create the work in response to specific pieces of music, played by the quartet.
After attending a series of concerts work started in the studio. Some paintings were created whilst listening to live recordings made by the quartet, others
relied upon memories of the original concerts.
I remember my first encounter with the work of Neil Canning.
It was fifteen years ago, during the London Art-Fair. As I made my way up and down the aisles, my eyes were irresistibly drawn to the power of his paintings; the emotion they conjure up: water, earth, air and sky come together, sometimes with vigour, always in harmony, with that light, shimmering, blazing, sparkling, exploding.
Since this encounter, UNESCO has regularly published reproductions of Neil Canning's work. Always with success, a success which cannot be denied. Neil is without doubt one of the most recognised artists amongst the many painters of all nationalities whose work we publish.
Take a look and just breathe.... Here you’ll find open spaces, a new found energy, raw nature transfigured and redemptive colours ...
Invited by Tate to design a bone china mug.
Other artists include Patrick Heron and Anthony Frost.
