Colin Smith

I am a landscape painter based near Nottingham, England. My work is deeply rooted in a lifelong connection to the great outdoors, drawing direct inspiration from my explorations of local forests and waterways.

Working primarily in acrylics on cotton canvas and paper, my practice is defined by an observant, patient approach to the natural world. Having come to painting later in life, I began my formal artistic journey in 2025 under the guidance of a local fine art tutor.

My work is a celebration of the quiet, restorative moments found within the natural world. Having spent much of my life exploring the forests and waterways as a walker and angler, I am driven by a desire to capture the specific 'atmosphere' of the outdoors - the way light filters through a canopy or settles on the surface of a river.

My practice is less about clinical representation and more about the feeling of being present in the landscape. I am particularly interested in the transition of light; by focusing on the low, golden sun, I aim to evoke the stillness and peace I experience during my own time in the wild.

Through my paintings, I invite the viewer to step off the path and share in the sense of wonder that nature provides. My goal is to translate the patience and observation I have learned through fishing into a visual language that honours the beauty of the British countryside.