Sentinel Birches Guard the Large Copper by Riga Forbes

This painting is inspired by the powerful and emotive expression of trees. I have woven a personal narrative into this Silver Birch wood, suggesting that the trees themselves are Sentinels, guarding this path into the fiery autumnal woodland. In so doing I have aimed to capture a sense of the mysterious relationships, both seen and unseen, within the natural world.

‘I paint landscapes which express my somatic, emotional experience of being within the natural world and responding to its power, fragility, and temporality. Essentially, my work is about being in relationship with nature. My painting process involves invention and memory as well as finding inspiration by sketching and taking photographs outdoors before I begin painting in the studio. I work in oils because I love the brilliance and transparency of colour in oil paint. I want my work to convey a passionate sense of connection with the natural world, as a sanctuary for the human spirit.’