When visionary artist and wood engraver Colin See-Paynton decided to once again knock on the secret door of his art materials supplier in London – he could never have predicted how such a simple encounter would transform his career.

It was during one of his regular visits from mid Wales to the premises of Mr. Stanley Lawrence’s Bleeding Heart Yard, where access was granted only to those the proprietor truly recognized with the phrase “Oh, It’s You!”, where he first discovered the magic of using wood engraving as the vehicle for creating exceptional art.

Not only did his cherished art supplier introduce this new concept to him but supplied some materials and tools to enable Colin to launch himself into this exciting new artistic avenue.

Now nearly five decades later, Colin See-Paynton, who has been a member of the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art since 1993, has returned to their gallery in the heart of Conwy to launch a retrospective of his wood engraved prints capturing the breadth of work during his distinguished career titled “Here’s The Proof.”

Today he is recognized as probably the UK’s finest exponent of this highly specialized art-form with roots that date back to the early 1800s.

Since moving to Wales in 1972 as a young budding artist, he has seen his art achieve acclaim around the world. His career has also seen the glowing endorsement of his avian alphabet – “Of A Feather” – receive the personal endorsement of Britain’s greatest ever natural history and wildlife broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.

Not only did he agree to write the foreword to the publication, Sir David attended the book launch and engaged in a robust exchange of views about the origins of some of his colourful and imaginative collective nouns for birds in his alphabet.

Many artists will explain how their work is a labour of love and tireless work and dedication to their craft.

For Colin See-Paynton that is the essence of what he creates with the detailed engraving by hand for some of his more detailed work taking many weeks to finalize before it becomes a limited edition of black and white prints.

Speaking at the launch of his retrospective at the RCA in Conwy, Colin explained: “This has been my passion for 50 years and I wanted to collect a series of work that truly captures and represents what I have created during that period.”

Explaining why he works solely in black and white, Colin added: “The prints are black and white only because of the way I work with the wood. In simple terms the marks that I make in the wood print as white and what remains comes out black, but I am able to create differing shades of black and grey through the implements I use and to enable more texture, context and detail in the completed work.”

For Colin See-Paynton’s wildlife and the natural environment are inspirational sources for his work from the natural landscapes of Wales, especially the Eryri National Park and the diverse wildlife to be found across the Principality.

These include the hares to be found in the garden of the mid Wales home he shares with his wife Susan and many are featured in his work alongside imposing mountain views, birds and fish.

Among the exhibits on display are artworks where the visitor will see birds on the water’s surface and fish underneath. A concept that came to Colin, a keen fisherman, when seeing swallows swoop to feed on mayflies on the surface as fish were simultaneously jumping to capture the seasonal feast.

As a long-term member and ambassador for the Royal Cambrian Academy of Arts, he hopes that the public will visit and enjoy his latest exhibition and extended his thanks to the dedicated team of volunteers who commit their time to the RCA to install, manage and bring exhibitions like “Here’s The Proof” to life.

Here’s The Proof will run at the RCA until 14^th November and admission to the gallery is free.

For more information on the exhibition:
https://rcaconwy.org/exhibitio...

For more information on Colin See-Paynton RCA:
https://rcaconwy.org/members/c...

To find out more about the wood engraving community:
www.woodengravers.co.uk