Lawrence Coulson Autumn 2023

Lawrence Coulson is a master of painting the natural world, and the works in his new Autumn 2023 collection are a striking addition to his collection – in one case, literally! ‘Lightning Man’ portrays a lightning strike across a darkened sky, whilst ‘One Man Show’ sees a single figure witnessing an incredible sunset, which seems as if it’s been created by nature just for him.

Both pieces have strong focal points of a lightning strike and a beam of light, making Lawrence’s signature painted figures added elements rather than being the main narrative of the painting. Self-reflection and inspiration are the main subjects within the two pieces. They are a return to vivid colours after Laurence’s last collection, Journeys, which saw him explore monochrome landscapes, and he’s bubbling over with enthusiasm for his new pieces. “The colour palette is brilliant; I got carried away mixing colours and tones, it was exciting not to over think about it,” he explains.

“I feel I’m looking at my work through new eyes; it’s almost like I’m starting again as an artist, and I’m open to trying anything. It’s very liberating, and it means that you’re open to so many new ideas and changes. That’s what keeps the work fresh and interesting, both to me as an artist and to my collectors.”

Featured art (L-R): 'Lightning Man' and 'One Man Show' by Lawrence Coulson. Hand signed limited editions, available singly or as a pair. 

“The fork of lightning is dancing across the sky and producing the outline of what appears to be a human figure,” says Lawrence. “This figure echoes the character walking along the shoreline, but I deliberately placed them in opposing directions, as if each were unaware of the other and just going about their business”.

“'Lightning Man' could refer to either of the figures in the painting, but I feel that lending the lightning strike a human shape gives the painting a surreal element, a dreamlike quality. I didn’t want the lightning figure to look too cute. “I don't know where the inspiration came from, whether I've read it or seen it on film or TV, but to me it has the feel of a superhero, an invincible powerful character. Whether that character is the one in the sky or the one walking along the shoreline is open to the viewer.”

"The phrase ‘one man show’ came to mind before the painting was created; I built the painting around the title. I wanted to create a powerful image based on that phrase which can encompass the musical, theatrical and the visual art worlds.

“Within this painting, the solo figure appears almost as a conductor, seemingly choreographing the epic display in front of him. At the back of his mind, he knows that he is witnessing nature at its greatest but just for that moment it is his 'one man show'."