Welcome to sml-creative
Original contemporary abstract paintings, mixed media and oil, custom prints and art photography by the late Martin Leigh.
"With both mediums photography and fine art, I endeavour to observe and create with freedom. Technical restrictions become secondary as I feel an image needs no calculation only an innermost thought; many of the images I observe and record need no more detail as to what the subjects actually are."
Martin Leigh
Explore the Martin Leigh collection.
Inspiration
Ageing
Colwyn Bay Pier, North Wales.
The rusting ruin of one of my favourite childhood haunts before its demolition.
Pier opened: 1900
Demolished: 2018
Using artist plaster to enhance the relief of the corrosion and using loose but identifiable brush strokes to convey the loss of symmetry.
In private collection M.Leigh, Wigan
Harvesting regardless
A picturesque village, looking out on the open sea. Expectations of treasure in the form of variety of fish.
Martins view of overfishing. We had an exhibition in Kendal called "exposed" and a newspaper article written by the West Moorland Gazette, you can find that in the Past and Present section. The article was called called 'Man with an eco mission'.
Martin almost never wanted to share his views and emotions of his paintings. On a hand full of other paintings he did give a interpretation, too.
This painting though, he felt the needed to share his despair of commercial overfishing. See his own words in the Past and Present section.
He felt the question: 'What do you want to say with your paintings' was irrelevant to him.They were his own emotions, working with and through them for himself whilst painting. Once finished a painting it was very important to him to evoke emotions in others, rather than interpreting the painter's view. He wanted the viewer to feel their own emotions not influenced by his interpretation.
Driftwood in the shallows
This abstract painting is a seascape with blackened gnarled driftwood embedded in the shallows of a shoreline against an acidic green sky creating a high contrast between the calm water and awkward angles of the gnarled driftwood
Debate
My father and myself mixed media on canvas with plaster texture.
Silhouetted figures in a large empty space with one stone wall.
Times from my youth when my father would try to express his own opinions of a career choice other than the road I chose to explore and create.
I chose to mainly paint in monotones, the contradiction being life isn't always black and white.
Soaring
Finding light in dark times.
A solitary seagull soars ever higher, the viewer looks up through the angry clouds.
Digital fine art photography.
Crashing waves
acrylic abstract painting of a crashing wave during a storm, smashing into a sea barrier defence. Depicting a volatile nature.
Brittle
Martin and my first ever project together as photographer and stylist. We continued working on all the shoots together throughout his and our life.
Shot on medium format slide. Two images sandwiched together and then digitally photographed. Although titled 'brittle' it has so much positive energy which radiates from this image.
As this image is very important to me I have chosen this to be the logo for all my platforms.
Rockpool with orange sky
Painting of an abstract rocky shoreline and stormy incoming tide with a backdrop of an orange sky suggesting a late evening and heavy sea.
Mono face
An acrylic monochromatic abstract painting of a face.
Executed quickly only using black and white to simplify the form-almost sketch like.
Testimonials
Our family chose these amazing paintings together, especially the kids love the 'Ynys Môn' Anglesey painting.
Martin's paintings give our home a wonderful atmosphere
B. and J.Koch, Cologne Germany
This print brightens up our mood every time we look at it.
Its beautiful bright colours really pop next to the bold blue.
We love it every day.
L. and J. Williams, Chorley, UK
These two paintings were the last ones Martin painted.
He painted them especially for a forthcoming exhibition in Jersey, but he sadly never saw the paintings curated in the exhibition space. I organised it for him in his honour with Idology in Jersey.
These two paintings were sold even before the opening of the exhibition and were kindly lent to us by the buyer.
Beautiful little print, which brightens up our conservatory.
E. and S. Kay, Manchester
This black and white painting fits perfectly into our monochrome space in the living room.