My Story
Here at hamishbaird.com, I invite you to join me in diving into the depths of nature's beauty and the boundless realms of creative inspiration. Let me share with you the story behind my brand and the journey that has shaped my work over the last 15 years.
The Bus Life
2009 - 2011
This adventure began in 2009 when my life fell apart. I left Bristol and have spent the last decade living as close to nature as possible.
During this time, and for the first time since my teens, I picked up my brushes and started to paint again.
Fed up with the madness of the world, I bought an old bus and travelled around the countryside relishing this powerful and intoxicating sense of freedom.
I immersed myself in nature for two years, channeling the experiences and beauty of the environments I visited into my work.
Yurt Lush
2012 - 2013
Seeking solace and a deeper connection with the natural world, I traded four wheels for a magical little yurt nestled in a wild flower meadow in Devon.
Surrounded by beautiful countryside and the gentle melody of birdsong, I found inspiration at every turn.
In the quiet solitude, I painted non-stop for a year - selling the occasional batch of paintings and prints to survive and slowly uncovering the foundations of my developing style.
Nomadic Wanderings
2014 - 2018
Having spent an incredible year in the yurt, I bought a 4x4 Mitsubishi Delica and set off on a number of artistic adventures around the UK.
From the Welsh mountains to the Scottish Highlands, I photographed and painted my trips, capturing nature's raw energy on canvas.
This energy began to be reflected in my work, oozing from the landscapes and highlighting the connection between all things.
Solitary Shoebox
2019 - 2022
On a roll now for living in small and affordable spaces, I decided I should try the caravan experience.
I spent a couple of years living in this comfortable yet uninspiring shoebox and found the lack of space started to throttle my creativity.
The cloud of Covid also dampened the experience, heightened the solitude and I longed to head out on the open road again. I craved more adventures.
A new Journey...
2023 - Present...
Turning the page on that last dark chapter, I have been fortunate enough to find myself with a traditional brick and mortar home.
I have a job, studio space and a level of security now that has afforded me the opportunity to build this website and pick up my brushes again.
My plan for the immediate future is to take regular trips around the country and share with you the fruits of my experiences.
I hope you enjoy the work and that it inspires you to throw caution to the wind and head out on your own adventures.
My Work
The process of creating a new painting can be long, as there's usually a lot of organisation, travel and then studio-time that needs to be given to nurture the seed of an idea or project.
Living in a world that seems to have completely lost its mind, I find it necessary to return to the wild frequently - not just to source ideas for my next painting, but to recalibrate my energy and to bring back into focus my clarity of purpose.
Detail
Over the course of this unusual adventure, I've created a visual language - developing a library of techniques that help me to convey the energy that animates the landscapes that surround us.
Music also has a huge influence on my work, as it enhances the emotional connection to my work.
Real Places Translated Into Paintings
Capturing the energy of a location is always an underlying goal and while I work from the photos I take, it's always thrilling to compare the difference between the two.
Real Place
Painting
The Studio
Throughout this journey, I've had a variety of 'workspaces' of varying shapes and sizes. I'm extremely fortunate to be in a period where I have a stunning studio with lots of space and more space generally means more creativity.
I look forward to sharing this part of the journey with you.
Resonance
I aim to create paintings that capture the energy, tranquility or spirit of a location.
I would like my paintings to be an invitation or reminder to occasionally return to the wilderness.
Depth of field
Creating the illusion of depth of field using impasto in the foreground gives them the illusion of 3 dimensions. This heightens the feeling of being there.
Serenity
My work is very much a meditation in itself for me. The act of creativity, pushes thoughts to the back of the mind, enabling you to become a conduit between thoughts and action.
No people
Adding people immediately and irreversibly creates a dialogue or story with the viewer, so I leave them out as I want the landscape itself to speak to the viewer.
Cartoons
I have drawn cartoon characters from a very early age. I also worked as a 2D Animator for ten years in Bristol, so it has been a form of creativity that has always been close to my heart.
While my paintings are about sharing my love for the countryside, cartoons offer an outlet to exercise my daft sense of humour.
Illustration
I've always used creativity to channel the experiences of my life. This process is my form of meditation - a way to calm the mind and to alchemise negative experiences into positive ones.
It's a wonderful experience to have created a platform to share my work with you. I hope you find it inspiring and feel the warmth I extend to you through my work.
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