Darren Lewis
Original Artwork in Oils and Mixed Media
A RETURN TO THE SEA
8th September 2023
This is Darren and Ross’ seventh joint exhibition at the Pie Factory Gallery in the past 8 years. following previous exhibitions, ‘Sand, Sea and Light’ 2016, In and Out the Sea’ 2017, ‘Thrills and Spills’ 2018, ‘My Sky – His Sea, His Sky – My Sea 2019, ‘Meet us Where the Sky Touches the Sea’ 2020 and ‘Our Ephemeral Coast’ 2021. Three of their past exhibitions were featured on BBC South East News Today.
This new exhibition, ‘A Return to the Sea’, signifies both artists revisiting their passion of Thanet’s coastlines. Both artists had time away from what they enjoy most. Ross spent most of 2022 recovering from injuries sustained due to the physical demands of his pursuit for the ultimate shot. Darren spent a significant period away from the sea as a subject matter, due to absorbing other creative projects.
However, Ross’ rehabilitation from injury and Darren’s focus in other painting interests has allowed both to reflect, re-energise and re-focus their love of the sea. The resulting exhibition displays both Ross and Darren’s previous work juxtaposed with fresh imagery of their chosen locations.
Ross continues to battle the sea’s natural elements intrinsically, to capture his unique imagery. Darren assesses from afar, waiting to capture the light, atmosphere, and mood of chosen coastal locations.
Me, Myself & Margate
17th September 2022
16th – 27th September 2022
Me, Myself & Margate
17th September 2022
This is Darren’s first solo exhibition at the Pie Factory Gallery following 7 consecutive years co-exhibiting at the gallery with fellow artist and good friend Ross Andrews.
This year provides an opportunity for Darren to display for the first time, a collection of intimate, personal, and private paintings that will be on view to the public for the very first time. For those that have visited past exhibitions, viewers will be familiar with the Margate Sunsets backdrops to his harbour paintings which he is gaining an increasing reputation for.
This exhibition, ‘Me, Myself and Margate’, offers you a glimpse into Darren’s personal life. The standard sunsets of Margate Harbour are woven between paintings of his family (including his pets). Other places of interest, such as the local bays of Botany, Kingsgate, Viking, Minnis and Walpole convey his passion for the sky, sea and sand. There are also paintings of past trips abroad, and in particular, his love of the Turkish Riviera. A childhood memory of Northdown Park and a rare self-portrait in the studio provide a more personal insight.
However, having lived by the sea for 50 years, visual coastlines are ingrained in his make-up.
Living in Margate, he paints the things he sees around him, the things he knows well and is comfortable with.
Our Ephemeral Coast
10th September 2021
Our Empeheral Coast
Exhibition by Darren Lewis and Ross Andrews
10th September – 21st September 2021
Pie Factory Gallery, Margate
This is Darren and Ross’ sixth joint exhibition at the Pie Factory Gallery following previous exhibitions titled, ‘Sand, Sea and Light’ in 2016, ‘In and Out the Sea’ in 2017, ‘Thrills and Spills’ in 2018, ‘My Sky – His Sea, His Sky – My Sea’ in 2019 and ‘Meet Us Where the Sky Touches the Sea’ in 2020.
Darren and Ross’ joint exhibitions have previously gained regional TV coverage. BBC South East News Today have featured three of their past five exhibitions with Natalie Graham and Rob Smith presenting in 2016, Marcella Whittingdale and Rob Smith in 2019 and Ian Palmer in 2020.
2020/21 has endured a unique period living with the various social restrictions of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Covid-19 has forced us all to re-evaluate the world around us. The experience of ‘lockdown’ provides a focus to appreciate the things we may, once before, have taken for granted. The changing light in the sky, the beauty of saturated sunsets, the motion of the sea are just a few to mention. Isolation has encouraged artists to focus deeper in celebrating the visual, with Ross and Darren’s creative endeavours increasing in output and intensity.
This new exhibition, ‘Our Ephemeral Coastline’ emphasises the forever changing elements which dominate their work, the sky, and the sea. Both artists often use the same subject matter but from very different approaches, perspectives, and disciplines. Darren wants to capture the light, colour and atmosphere of a particular fleeting moment and takes this memory back to the studio to re-imagine his visual sensation through a significant period of adjusting, re-evaluating through oil paint. Ross on the other hand, puts most of his efforts into the planning and organisation of visual elements coming together in his chosen location. Relying heavily on natural environments, waiting for, and capturing his perceived image with a click of the camera can often take years to come to fruition for that one optimum fleeting moment.
Meet Us Where the Sky Touches the Sea
20th August 2020
Pie Factory Gallery, 5 Broad Street, Margate CT9 1EW
11th – 22nd September 2020
This is Darren and Ross’ fifth joint exhibition at the Pie Factory Gallery following previous exhibitions titled ‘Sand, Sea and Light’ in 2016, ‘In and Out the Sea’ in 2017, ‘Thrills and Spills’ in 2018 and ‘My Sky – His Sea, His Sky – My Sea in 2019. The exhibition ‘Sand, Sea and Light’ gained interest by BBC reporter, Robin Gibson, and was featured on BBC South East News Today by presenters Natalie Graham and Rob Smith on Monday 26th September 2016. Likewise, BBC South East News Today were back in 2019 featuring Darren and Ross’s exhibition ‘My Sky – His Sea, His Sky – Sea’ presented by BBC reporter ………. On 13th September 2019 by presenters Marcella Whittingdale and Rob Smith.
2020 has endured a unique year living with the various social restrictions of the Coronavirus Pandemic. However, Covid-19 has also allowed us all to re-evaluate our previous existence. The experience of ‘lockdown’ has made us all appreciate the things we may, once before, have taken for granted. The simple things have become more appreciated, the changing light in the sky, the beauty of saturated sunsets, the motion of the sea. Isolation has encouraged artists to focus deeper in celebrating the visual, with Ross and Darren’s creative endeavours increasing in output and intensity.
This new exhibition, ‘Meet Us Where the Sky Touches the Sea’ emphasises the two main elements which dominate their work, the Sky and the Sea. Both artists often use the same subject matter but from very different approaches, perspectives and disciplines.
When I Dream of Margate
13th March 2020
This painting is of significant size and one I enjoyed working on. Reason being, it was based on a memory and paintings I had previously completed beforehand. Originally this was titled ‘Margate Harbour – Winter Sunset VII‘ but I renamed it ‘When I Dream of Margate‘ as I knew it was more about a visionary idea I had when attempting to encapsulate Margate Harbour in all its glory without any aid to visual references
Christmas Exhibition 2019
31st January 2020
at Lombard Gallery, Margate 6th – 17th December 2019 with Ross Andrews
My Sky, His Sea – His Sky, My Sea
31st January 2020
BBC South East News Today coverage featuring Exhibition by Darren Lewis and Ross Andrews at the Pie Factory Gallery, Margate 13th – 24th September 2019.
My Sky, His Sea – His Sky, My Sea Exhibition
Yetunde Youssef reporting
In the Studio
26th July 2019
Coastal Endeavours
4th April 2019
Coastal Endeavoursis a collective group of oil paintings by local artist, Darren Lewis, in the pursuit of capturing the unique light that surrounds our coastlines in Thanet. Local residents are only too familiar with the beautiful sunrises and sunsets that illuminate Thanet’s coastline throughout the seasons. Effervescent skies in reflective waters provide the perfect backdrop for Darren to record in oils varied colour spectrums as he searches for the sublime. Darren often returns to the same location, such as Botany Bay or Margate Harbour numerous times over. Each time the changing light and atmosphere provides new challenges to record and capture in paint. His familiarisation with his subject matter and location provides a confidence to explore both experimental tonal and colour combinations in response to what he sees in front of him. Darren’s main interest in his seascapes are light and colour, and being surrounded by the wonderful vistas of Thanet, this only offers fulfilment to his coastal endeavours. Exhibition is at New Kent Art Gallery from 23rd April to 5th May 2019.
Painting and Marriage
4th October 2018
I got married in August this year, in Fethiye, Turkey. It was a fabulous occasion and I can confidently say I believe it was enjoyed by all the 40 guests who travelled from England to be with us to celebrate our day. In my speech, I made reference to the patience, my now wife, has to endure with me spending most late evenings and often early hours of the morning in my studio, working on my next best thing. The past exhibition was 12 months of copious amounts of anti -social hours and I spent a relentless amount of time working towards my next exhibition. The challenge of a different style of painting in my Dreamland Series had taken a lot out of me. I had already decided once I returned from Turkey I would take things a little slower and work on something I wanted to do for me…………or should say, my wife.
This is a full life size painting of Andrea on our wedding day – in progress, but happy with the results so far.
It is a huge painting measuring 105cm x 205cm but I am determined to capture the moment as I remember, with her beauty illuminating in her gorgeous dress and that vivid last hour of sunshine before the most glorious of sunsets resting in the harbour of Fethiye. I am excited this is a completely new challenge to me and one close to my heart and therefore want to give it my all.
Here is the results thus far……..
The Dreamland Series
4th October 2018
Most of 2018 has been focusing on my Dreamland Series where I wanted to capture the fun and excitement of coming to Margate for all the Thrills and Spills it has to offer. There are current and historical pieces I wanted to record as best I can providing memories of visiting Dreamland Theme Park. Dreamland are continuing to update there park on a regular basis and there is always something new to focus on or a new ride being installed. Here is my Dreamland work to date
Looping Star – Dreamland circa 1989
Big Wheel – Dreamland
Swing Chairs – Dreamland
A Day Out at Dreamland
Helter Skelter at Christmas – Dreamland
Dreamland Waltzers
Dreamland Waltzers II
Dreamland – Margate
Waltzers at Dreamland
In and Out the Sea 2017
4th October 2018
22nd September – 3rd October 2017
Pie Factory Gallery, Margate
This is Darren’s and Ross’s second joint exhibition at the Pie Factory Gallery following their successful exhibition titled ‘Sand, Sea and Light’ in September 2016. The exhibition gained interest by BBC reporter, Robin Gibson, and was featured on BBC South East News Today on Monday 26thSeptember 2016.
This new exhibition, In and Out the Seabrings together the two artists using the same subject matter from very different approaches, perspectives and disciplines. Darren is OUT of the Sea using traditional methods in oil paint to capture the changing light, mood, colour and atmosphere of the surrounding coastlines of Thanet. Having lived by the sea for 45 years visual coastlines are ingrained in his make-up.
This is also true of Ross Andrews. Ross prefers to be immersed IN the Sea, choosing an unusual photography approach of similar subject matter to Darren. Ross is an artist that uses the natural environment as his canvas. He draws monumental configurations in the sand and uses ‘extreme’ photography to push himself physically in capturing the life and power of the sea. Ross immerses himself in the coast. His wealth of knowledge, science and years of experience of local coastal surroundings provides a sound basis for his creative endeavours. In and Out the Seadisplays regularly the same chosen locations from very different perspectives
Thrills and Spills Exhibition 2018
4th October 2018
14th – 25th September 2018
Pie Factory Gallery, Margate
This is Darren and Ross’ third joint exhibition at the Pie Factory Gallery following their successful previous exhibitions titled ‘Sand, Sea and Light’ in 2016 and ‘In and Out the Sea’in 2017. The exhibition ‘Sand , Sea and Light’ gained interest by BBC reporter, Robin Gibson, and was featured on BBC South East News Today on Monday 26thSeptember 2016.
This new exhibition, Thrills and Spills brings together all the fun experiences and aspects of our coastline. Darren depicts, with traditional methods of oil paint, the Thrills of the obvious fun seeking activities within Margate’s Dreamland Vintage Theme Park, including past childhood memories of white knuckle rides at the height of its success in the then named Bembom Brothers Theme Park during the 1980’s. As one of Britain’s oldest seaside resorts, Margate has already enjoyed two centuries in the spotlight as a place for fun seeking excitement. Margate has been welcoming day trippers and holidaymakers since the early 1700’s. But Dreamland is not the only thrill-seeking experience on offer, many come to the town to experience and observe the famous Margate light and jaw dropping sunsets which Darren records in his paintings. The thrill of being within the landscape, be it, a Theme park ride, a sunset illuminating into Margate’s serene harbour or a cliff top view of the expansive sea and sand is captured in Darren’s paintings. Ross offers extreme photography to record the power of the sea at its most exhilarating, capturing the thrills of being in our sea from a unique viewpoint. Ross experiences his own version of white-knuckle rides by physically immersing himself within the power of the sea providing unique imagery as he rides the waves and spills surrounding us. The two artists sometimes use the same subject matter but from very different approaches, perspectives and disciplines.
Thrills and Spills Exhibition 2018
4th October 2018
14th September – 25th September 2018
Pie Factory Gallery, Margate
This is Darren and Ross’ third joint exhibition at the Pie Factory Gallery following their successful previous exhibitions titled ‘Sand, Sea and Light’ in 2016 and ‘In and Out the Sea’in 2017. The exhibition ‘Sand , Sea andLight’ gained interest by BBC reporter, Robin Gibson, and was featured on BBC South East News Today on Monday 26thSeptember 2016.
This new exhibition, Thrills and Spills brings together all the fun experiences and aspects of our coastline. Darren depicts, with traditional methods of oil paint, the Thrills of the obvious fun seeking activities within Margate’s Dreamland Vintage Theme Park, including past childhood memories of white knuckle rides at the height of its success in the then named Bembom Brothers Theme Park during the 1980’s. As one of Britain’s oldest seaside resorts, Margate has already enjoyed two centuries in the spotlight as a place for fun seeking excitement. Margate has been welcoming day trippers and holidaymakers since the early 1700’s. But Dreamland is not the only thrill-seeking experience on offer, many come to the town to experience and observe the famous Margate light and jaw dropping sunsets which Darren records in his paintings. The thrill of being within the landscape, be it, a Theme park ride, a sunset illuminating into Margate’s serene harbour or a cliff top view of the expansive sea and sand is captured in Darren’s paintings. Ross offers extreme photography to record the power of the sea at its most exhilarating, capturing the thrills of being in our sea from a unique viewpoint. Ross experiences his own version of white-knuckle rides by physically immersing himself within the power of the sea providing unique imagery as he rides the waves and spills surrounding us. The two artists sometimes use the same subject matter but from very different approaches, perspectives and disciplines.
Thrills and Spills
4th September 2018
This is Darren and Ross’ third joint exhibition at the Pie Factory Gallery following their successful previous exhibitions titled ‘Sand, Sea and Light’ in 2016 and ‘In and Out the Sea’in 2017. The exhibition ‘Sand , Sea andLight’ gained interest by BBC reporter, Robin Gibson, and was featured on BBC South East News Today on Monday 26thSeptember 2016.
This new exhibition, Thrills and Spills brings together all the fun experiences and aspects of our coastline. Darren depicts, with traditional methods of oil paint, the Thrills of the obvious fun seeking activities within Margate’s Dreamland Vintage Theme Park, including past childhood memories of white knuckle rides at the height of its success in the then named Bembom Brothers Theme Park during the 1980’s. As one of Britain’s oldest seaside resorts, Margate has already enjoyed two centuries in the spotlight as a place for fun seeking excitement. Margate has been welcoming day trippers and holidaymakers since the early 1700’s. But Dreamland is not the only thrill-seeking experience on offer, many come to the town to experience and observe the famous Margate light and jaw dropping sunsets which Darren records in his paintings. The thrill of being within the landscape, be it, a Theme park ride, a sunset illuminating into Margate’s serene harbour or a cliff top view of the expansive sea and sand is captured in Darren’s paintings. Ross offers extreme photography to record the power of the sea at its most exhilarating, capturing the thrills of being in our sea from a unique viewpoint. Ross experiences his own version of white-knuckle rides by physically immersing himself within the power of the sea providing unique imagery as he rides the waves and spills surrounding us. The two artists sometimes use the same subject matter but from very different approaches, perspectives and disciplines.
Dreamland – The Big Wheel
7th June 2018
This is one of my biggest challenges. The Big Wheel at Dreamland, Margate on a huge canvas. The drawing has to right on this one and requires a different way of working for me. The painting has to be more planned and built in stages. I am happy with the drawing so far. There is a long way to go, adding people and reworking the sky and other areas. Hopefully it will be ready in time for the ‘Thrills and Spills’ Exhibition at the Pie Factory from 14th September – 25th September 2018.
4 Day Exhibition at the Botany Bay Hotel 4th – 7th June 11:00 am – 8:00 pm daily
23rd May 2018
Myself and Ross Andrews will be holding a 4 day exhibition at the Botany Bay Hotel commencing Monday 4th June – Thursday 7th June. Original Paintings, Limited Edition Prints from myself with significant reduced prices from my website. Ross will also be showing his extreme photography images from the sea. If you are in the area, come and take a look and grab some lunch or dinner at the fabulous Botany Bay Hotel restaurant.
Dreamland – A new series of paintings
13th January 2018
Having painted Margate Harbour intensively for the past 2-3 years, I am embarking on a new series of paintings concentrating on Dreamland Theme Park. I have childhood memories of Dreamland, then called Bembom Brothers in the 1980’s, and wanted to capture the thrill of the new Dreamland Vintage Theme park that is returning once again to its former glory. I want to create a series of paintings of the old and new rides that have an identity with Dreamland. Here’s a few to begin with…….
Dreamland 2017 – 51cm x 20cm – First Dreamland painting completed
Here is another larger version – in progress
Looping Star – Dreamland 120cm x 84cm oil on canvas – in progress
This ride is no longer at Dreamland but was one of the main attraction rides during the 1980’s. I have used various old photos to piece together and recreate an image from memory, including adding the crowds as I remember them visiting Dreamland in summer holidays as a teenager. I want to evoke childhood memories and the thrill of being at Dreamland.
In the Studio
13th January 2018
The Studio can be a cold existence, especially in the winter months, so I make sure I am wrapped up for the occasion.
Completion of ‘My Margate’
13th January 2018
My Margate – Completed 136cm x 136cm
This painting has taken over 9 months to complete and finally I can remove from the studio to free up valuable space to work on new paintings on the easel. This is an significant painting for me. I have completed 5 previous paintings of the same subject, all now in new homes, but I feel this one really encapsulates the essence of Margate.
Here is me in front of the finished painting
