Artist Neil Canning in front of oil painting ‘Sperys Dasserhy’.

Cornish landscape on canvas, on campus

A vibrant oil painting inspired by the dramatic Cornish landscape is being donated to the University of Exeter’s Tremough Campus by internationally acclaimed artist Neil Canning.

As a contemporary artist who lives and works at Relubbus near Penzance, Neil’s paintings are stimulated by the effects of light and weather on the landscape and the sea.

This fascination with the Cornish landscape follows a long line of famous artists such as, J.M.W.Turner who was also seduced by Cornwall’s unique environment. Neil identifies strongly with the St Ives born artist Peter Lanyon, who painted abstract landscapes in the mid-twentieth century and was one of the leading figures in the St Ives group of artists.

The title of the 7ft wide by 5ft high oil on canvas painting donated to the University is entitled ‘Sperys Dasserhy’ in the Cornish language and means ‘Rising Spirit’. Neil commented on his work by saying, ‘The coast near my home is rugged and the sweeping brushstrokes in the painting, reflects the unrelenting Atlantic sea crashing onto the shore, while the thin black line denotes the Cornish granite.’

He added, ‘I love to experiment with brilliant bold colours in abstract oil paintings and am thrilled to give ‘Sperys Dasserhy’ to the University of Exeter where the added link to the Tremough Campus is important.’

The University has a long standing relationship with Neil Canning, through exhibitions and long term loans of his work. However, this will be the first time that Neil’s artwork will be exhibited at the Tremough Campus in Penryn. The original oil painting ‘Sperys Dasserhy’ will have a permanent home in Cornwall.

Gina Cox, University of Exeter’s Curator of Fine Art said, ‘It’s an incredibly generous gift and a tremendous addition to our fine art collection. The symbols of our heritage are captured into this remarkable painting which exudes energy and movement; the latter is a rare quality in a work of art.’

Date: 26 February 2009