Nick Hersey set to bring Matlock masterpiece to Derbyshire Open Arts Exhibition

 

Renowned ‘modern culture’ artist, Nick Hersey, will be displaying his exciting and innovative spectrum of art at the Derbyshire Open Arts Exhibition on May Bank Holiday, 28, 29 and 30 May. The UK born artist who was exiled in the Far East for nearly ten years will be displaying his latest project ‘Portrait of a Community’ alongside his other pieces.

 

Nick studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Kingston University before working with various advertising agencies and design companies in the UK. His creative inspiration for many of his pieces at the Derbyshire Open Arts Exhibition 2011 stem from his foreign experiences in Brazil, Thailand and China, over a nine year period. Nick still has connections in the Far East, as he is represented by the Island6 gallery - a working studio and artistic collective in Shanghai.

 

The artist’s work explores social relationships and modern culture and how this can change the way communities express themselves. Nick fell in love with Derbyshire when returning to the UK from the Far East on regular camping trips; he loved it so much that he, his wife and two children, decided to relocate to the county when finally re-settling in the UK. This is where the inspiration for his latest project ‘Portrait of a Community’ comes from.

Nick says “My intention in this project is to celebrate the community into which I have immersed my self by moving to Derbyshire. Since arriving in summer 2010, I have been struck by the open, friendly and cohesive nature of this community. From the assistants in the shops to the refuse collectors who take the rubbish on an early morning, from the retired neighbors to the parents at Saturday morning football, I have witnessed a smiling, polite and kind population, with little pretension or negative attitudes. Politicians may talk of ‘Big Societies’ and hitch community spirit to political manifesto, but outside of Westminster, of London and outside of the South East, big society without capital letters has been thriving for generations.” Nick also adds “To celebrate this impression, I aim to capture in portraits a broad spectrum of characters from this society.” 

Amongst the subjects for his paintings is local MP and conservative chief whip Patrick Mcloughlin. This painting will be displayed in the cellar at Nick’s fascinating home, Carson House on Rutland Street in Matlock. He is also hoping to get Lord Manners and Duke of Devonshire on board to continue his project. The artist has also given his home village of Matlock a touch of his fantastic work by painting the local piano tuner and a local newsagent.