Award-winning, Oxfordshire-based artist Freddy Paske is best known for his vibrant animal paintings. His art has been collected by royals, celebrities and dealers from across the world, and in 2022 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II appointed Freddy as her Artist-in-Residence for the Platinum Jubilee. He is currently preparing for a solo exhibition in London later this month featuring work inspired by his 2023 expeditions to Australia and Africa. We were delighted to have the opportunity to ask him more about his impressive body of work.
What originally drew you originally to wildlife as a subject?
I love everything about the animal kingdom and have done from a young age. My mother was passionate about wildlife and regularly rescued animals found out and about. It was not uncommon to find various chicks, lambs and rabbits she was nurturing back to life around the house. We even had an orphaned faun called Flick live in our kitchen for a year. She was adopted by the labrador but, as you can imagine, eventually outgrew the kitchen and went on to live a happy life in a wildlife park.
Tell us about your travels.
I was invited by a Kenyan safari company called Safari Series to be their artist-in-residence for a month during 2023. As it happens, this coincided with the arrival of our daughter, Ayla. Not wanting to miss such an incredible opportunity we decided to all go, as a family. We spent a glorious month living in a tent in the Lolldaiga Hills outside Nanyuki.
It was quite an experience being first-time parents with no running water, electricity or walls! We loved it so much we decided to all go on my next research trip to New South Wales, Australia. Both trips allowed me to build up enough work for an exhibition based on our travels.
Do you paint en plain air?
I like to film, photograph and sketch on the ground. My work is all about conveying an impression to the viewer, and therefore capturing the environment and climate is a big part of that. Using these references, I then develop finished paintings in a studio. For both trips I made temporary studios, so a lot of my recent collection was painted in country. This proved very useful as the collection developed so quickly it meant I could really focus and specific animals when required.
Talk to me about your technique. You have an uncanny ability to evoke atmosphere.
My inspiration for a painting will be a play of light witnessed or an encounter experienced. This is then supported by sketches, film and photographs. I would quite often spend hours returning to a watering hole at a set time each day to capture a specific animal in the right light. The poor guides were incredibly patient.
Back in the studio, my technique starts with creating an abstract background, built up of multiple layers of colour. Quite often I will use fluorescent spray-paint to really push the envelope. I will then paint just the highlights of the image in opaque oil to suggest form.
The result is a fantastic play of light which almost creates a three-dimensional sensation. By suggesting form, instead of describing it in great detail, the viewer’s mind is engaged as well as the eye.
As it’s our glamour issue, I have to ask which animal do you think is the most glamorous?
The Zebras! They are an absolute joy to paint, and stripes really allow my technique of vibrant colours to shine through.
We have to ask about your position as Artist in Residence to the late Queen Elizabeth II. How did this come about?
It was an incredible year. In 2022 I was asked by The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment to produce a series of paintings throughout the Platinum Jubilee. As I was planning the year with them I realised there were other important equine institutions involved which I was keen to capture as well. One of these was the Royal Mews, charged with the carriages of the Queen and Royal Family.
I was placed in touch with the Crown Equerry who loved the idea. Then things escalated quickly and before I knew it my portfolio was being shown to The Queen herself. I later received word that she would be delighted to support my role, and I was given the title of Artist-in-Residence during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
What exactly does the role consist of, and to what extent was Her Majesty involved?
I was given quite a free rein (multiple puns intended). Being a year about her, I based my collection around the Queen’s great love of horses. Any official equine subject was captured. It took me to some fantastic places, from the Royal Cavalry in Oman to the hallowed halls of The Guard Republican in Paris.
Sadly Her Majesty died before seeing the final collection. A very senior Royal ended up buying a part of the collection which was a lovely surprise, and I’m so pleased they have a part of something The Queen started.
Finally, what are your plans for the future?
There is lots in the air. I might be gracing your TV screens in the near future with one project which is quite exciting. There is also the possibility of more residencies abroad. Otherwise I have a huge amount of commissions to work through and more keep coming my way. It’s a fantastic position to be in but it does make it hard to concentrate on my next collection.
Safari by Freddy Paske will be on display at Gallery Different, 14 Percy Street, London W1T 1DR, 12-17 November 2024.
For more details and to see more of Freddy’s paintings and sculpture, visit freddypaske.com.
