James Leggat works mainly in oils. The figure is an important part in the narrative of most of the paintings - but the degree of which abstraction takes over varies.

Sometimes they even develop quite far into realism but are most successful when, unknown to the artist, they develop an abstract uncertainty which always throws up surprises time and again through looking at the work.

Again, because it is mostly painting, the quality of the paint itself and the use of colour are very important to the work.The effect of living with one of the works develops a relationship with it and refuses to just become a tableau on the wall.

The paintings are not designed - they just grow out of abstract thought. Many of the paintings are related to one another as they live side by side in the studio during their growing process. Themes have remained constant but the results have expanded over the years.

James Leggat in Studio