Jeffrey Hammond
Narrative Painting
Jeffrey Hammond
Following 5 years of intense collaboration with close friends in the world of music, Jeffrey retired to a quiet, contemplative life in the country. Not everyone has the good fortune to rise most days and do exactly what they want to do. This sense of freedom was welcome but had to be combined with the discipline that any creative art form requires. The almost blinkered focus of still life painting became a route to follow, allowing the artist to have nearly total control of his subject. With an increasing confidence came a relaxation into the joy and fun to be had with the subject – Still (but full of) Life.
Building on these foundations and stepping out of the studio a number of paintings of the house and garden were followed by pictures of quiet local towns. This provincial life and its accompanying scenes began to be complimented by information gathered from family holidays, journeys and adventures that increasingly had prospective subject matter in mind. France, Italy, USA, Iran and Turkey were fruitful destinations. Interesting locations were found; these often becoming more populated and with a story to tell.
These physical journeys revealed the desire to find a harmonious balance of the aesthetic setting with a more overt narrative. Whilst not being a news reporter, a feeling developed that more universal and topical stories needed to be directly addressed. Climate Change, the Pandemic and Mental Health have featured in more recent paintings.
Born in Blackpool 30th July 1946 Jeffrey Hammond attended Blackpool Grammar School. In the 6th form he met Ian Anderson and John Evans and together they formed a band “The Blades” which morphed into The John Evan Band and from which later Ian Anderson went on to form the internationally successful Jethro Tull.
Following a foundation course at Blackpool Jeffrey was accepted at Central School of Art and Design in London on a three year painting course. He was encouraged to apply for a Post Graduate course at the Royal Academy Schools. Shortly after they failed to offer him a place he was asked by his friend Ian Anderson to join Jethro Tull playing bass.
From 1970-75 he toured and recorded with his closest friends, Ian Anderson, John Evans, Barrie Barlow and Martin Barre. Acknowledging that he wasn’t a musician, rather possibly a painter, he left the band to begin a lifetime of teaching himself to paint. This he pursued firstly in west Gloucestershire until 2003 when he moved back to within four or five miles of his birthplace and now lives and works in west Lancashire.
www.jeffreyhammond.co.uk
info@jeffreyhammond.co.uk
info@jeffreyhammond.co.uk