Self-portraits 2014/18
Born in Dublin in 1952, Judith Appleby qualified as an
architect and spent most of her career teaching architecture. Her Masters
degree developed new ways of teaching creativity. She has a PhD from Nottingham
University. Judy took up
full time painting in 2006 and as a self-taught artist has applied herself intensively to studying the work of other artists and discovering her own concepts for painting.
Judy’s work demonstrates a distinctive
style and she is emerging as a significant local artist. Individual paintings
have been shown in various locations around the North East and have attracted
enthusiastic interest. Her first solo show was at The Sage, Gateshead in
October 2010 and she is currently contracted with The Biscuit Factory, UK's largest and probably its most striking commercial art space. The Old School Gallery in Alnmouth usually shows a good range of Judy's work but particularly her paintings of the Farne Islands and North Northumberland. Since 2020, ScotlandArt.com gallery in Glasgow has been agent for Judy's Scottish paintings, particularly her distilleries and harbours series.
Judy lives with her husband Ian in Gosforth, and has a painting studio at The Bbox in Newcastle.
"The historic
landscape of Northumberland is a constant source of inspiration. I have been
developing an approach that exaggerates the natural geometries of
rocks and skies, and then overlays these with stylised interpretations of
powerful structures. The effects have suggestions of cubism and some abstracted images are reminiscent of the elegance of Art Deco. It is a demanding technique and
progress is slow as individual shapes must be masked for painting. In contrast to this I also work with a more expressive broad brush approach, but still emphasising the patterns and geometries of natural and man-made structures in the landscape."
From 2006 to 2012 Judy and Ian spent winters in South Goa which meant a distinctly different response to place in Judy's paintings
"Winters in
tropical India provide a dramatic contrast with the subdued light of North East
England. Reds and rich earth tones become dominant, they vibrate against the
dark greens of tropical foliage, and the midday heat makes the colours and
outlines of buildings shimmer. The streets are usually bustling with people,
traffic and animals. Everyone is pressed closely together, especially on the
ferries or the buses. The temples often provide a welcome tranquil oasis. I
have tried to capture the intensity of colour and light and the complexity of
everyday scenes."
Judy's more recent work explores abstracted images of industrial ports and riversides. A commissioned project led to development of a fusion of abstract forms overlayed onto landscapes moulded by man's intervention. A new series of Northumberland Coast paintings moves from realism to abstraction in sets of three paintings. A further diversion in 2020 produced a pair of historical paintings of North East coast shipwrecks. These paintings have a strong narrative, based on research into shipping records, and expressed in mixed media forms and script.
"Northumbrian Landscapes 2011-2014" is available as a signed, numbered copy from a limited edition of 40. (sold out)
"100 Paintings" illustrates paintings completed between 2014 and June 2017 signed copies available. (sold out)
Both books are large format 30cmsx30cms with all colour illustrations.
"Selected Paintings" is a paper-back 17cms square format book of colour illustration and text for a selection of paintings showing a range of work from 2011 to 2019. Not for sale, but included with purchase of original paintings from galleries as available.
"Selected Paintings 2" takes Judy's work up to date December 2021. It is paper-back 17cms square 17 pages full colour illustrations.
Included with purchase selected original paintings as available.
