5 – 20 October 2024

Beckstones Art Gallery is absolutely delighted to introduce this new collection of 26 oil paintings by legendary landscape artist Peter Symonds. As he enters his sixties, Pete’s lust for life is as vibrant as ever and his enduring passion for this beautiful part of the world remains undiminished. This exhibition marks a 25 year partnership between Beckstones and Peter and we consider it an absolute privilege that all his beautiful paintings of the Lake District have passed through our hands, on their way to homes where they remain cherished by their owners.
Self-taught and painting exclusively in oils on canvas, the starting point for any Symonds masterpiece is walking in the fells in search of that elusive composition. Not known for a gentle stroll, Peter rapidly covers endless miles whenever in the lakes, revelling in having the perfect excuse to conquer all the Wainwrights in search of material, whilst all the time observing and absorbing this beautiful landscape.
Then it’s back to his purpose-built studio in Surrey where the magic slowly starts to happen, as Peter is somehow able to capture on canvas all that he has experienced here. With immense skill, exquisite brushwork and an incredible use of light, Peter’s work moves beyond mere topographic detail and instead conveys to the viewer all that is the very essence of the Lake District, stirring the emotions and gladdening the heart.
With endless lakes, fells, rivers, valleys and becks, the majestic beauty of this area is almost impossible to capture in paint, but Peter’s gentle, atmospheric, timeless landscapes have quite rightly earned him the reputation as one of the finest landscape artists of his generation, and this collection is certainly no exception.
Peter lives in Surrey with his wife Vanessa and, when not painting, he likes to spend hours on the golf course or cycling. As a keen walker and climber, holidays tend to include as much activity as leisure and favourite places other than the Lakes include Scotland and Cornwall.
Beckstones is rightly proud of its long term partnership with Peter and it is our absolute pleasure to be able to finally share this wonderful collection with you.