Max White - Colours and Shapes of Spring Exhibition Catalogue

MAX WHITE
Colours and Shapes of Spring
2nd - 30th July
HIGHGATE CONTEMPORARY ART

Front: Flowers by the Window oil on canvas 61 x 46 cm

MAX WHITE
Colours and Shapes of Spring
2nd - 30th July 2023
The exhibition opens on our website at 10am on Sunday 2nd July.
Appointments to see the exhibition in person can be made by using the online booking form on our
website, or by emailing us.
“Max White's artistic style is characterised by confident brushwork and his ability to capture the subtle
nuances of light and colour. He is adept at portraying the ever-changing moods of the world around, from
bustling high streets to the quiets of his studio shelf; the soft hues of a misty morning to the vibrant colours
of a golden sunset.
I am thrilled to be able to show you this latest collection of Max’s work.”
Hannah Ivory Baker
Director of Highgate Contemporary Art
*All work in the catalogue is available for sale upon receipt.
www.highgateart.com / info@highgateart.com / 07950 412 143
Unit C405, The Chocolate Factory, 5 Clarendon Road, London, N22 6XJ
Instagram @highgateart

BACKGROUND PAINTING STUDIO ETC

We are delighted to present this highly anticipated exhibition, ‘Colours and Shapes of Spring’ which features the superb
work of Max White.
This collection of twenty exquisite oil paintings takes us on a journey around London, from the busy, fast-paced scenes of
Bond Street and Regent Street to the leafy vistas of Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill.
We journey through, Highgate, along the Thames by Albert Bridge, and take a short stop to marvel at the the way the
sunlight pours through the windows into the hallway of The Ned’s sixth floor. When we get to High Street Kensington, a
pulsating hub of activity, unfolds before us. People sitting outside restaurants eating light lunches and drinking coffee whilst
shoppers pound the pavements, the newfound warmth of the spring sun coaxing people outside and lifting the spirits.
In addition to capturing external landscapes, Max provides us with intimate glimpses into his own creative sanctuary, his
studio. We take a peak through his studio door and spot a yellow vase of flowers sitting by the window. We glance at his
Studio Shelf which is busy propping up boards, holding up pots of brushes, frames and various objects. I can’t help but feel a
sense of nostalgia when looking at these interior paintings, it’s much like looking through old photographs; they capture a
day, a place, a time.
Max’s dedication to capturing the essence of place and those fleeting moments of light, is unwavering. Every single painting
painted en plein air immortalises the light which in reality may have only lasted for no more than a few minutes. We see an
example of this in the small, powerful piece that is, The Strand, Evening Light which was painted alla prima and mainly with a
palette knife. The light in that moment lasted around 15 minutes which meant that Max had to work quickly to capture the
way that it fell onto the buildings, as well as work out the variation of tones around it.
We see the use of the palette knife in two other paintings in this collection, Bond Street Flags and Shepherd Market Triptych.
The thick texture of the paint gives these pieces a very different feel, and also shows a new direction that Max is developing
in his work.
Max White demonstrates a profound connection with his subjects. That, coupled with his ability and love for painting enables
him to breathe life into his work. Through, masterful brushwork and meticulous attention to detail, Max invites us to
experience the colours and shapes of spring through his eyes.

Boat by Albert Bridge
oil on board 30 x 20cm

Bond Street Flags
oil on board 25 x 20cm

Regent Street Shoppers, Grey Day
oil on board 30 x 24cm

The Ned’s Sixth Floor
oil on board 41 x 31cm

The Strand Evening Light
oil on board 14 x 20cm

Piccadilly at Night
oil on canvas 61 x 76cm

Shepherd Market Triptych
oil on board 3 x 20 x 14cm

High Street Kensington
oil on board 20 x 30cm

Highgate from Parliament Hill
oil on board 31 x 41cm

Hampstead Path
oil on board 20 x 20cm

Highgate from the Heath
oil on board 20 x 25cm

London from Hampstead Heath, Haze Effect
oil on board 24 x 30cm

The West End from Hampstead Heath
oil on board 20 x 25cm

London from Hampstead Heath, Sun Effect
oil on board 21 x 41cm

Trees from Highgate Hill
oil on board 20 x 25cm

The Studio Shelf
oil on board 61 x 51cm

Through the Studio Door
oil on board 41 x 31cm

Flowers by the Window
oil on canvas 61 x 46cm

Flowers in the Yellow Pot
oil on board 30 x 24cm

Pink Peonies
oil on board 41 x 21cm

BIO
Max White (b 1998) is a contemporary figurative painter based in the south east of England
working primarily in London. Sketching from an early age and taking up oil painting at 14. Max
went on to study architecture in Cardiff whilst exhibiting in Kent based galleries in the
summers between terms.
Having graduated in 2019 Max made the decision to plan for a future career as an artist. Whilst
working part time in his local town of Oxted he focused on developing his technique through
self-study in his home studio painting urban scenes taken from 35mm photographs, and
painting the local Surrey hills en Plein air. This continued through the pandemic of 2020 and
Max's focus shifted almost entirely to plein air painting within the urban environment of
London.
Max White’s influences include the original impressionists, Monet, Boudin etc and their
predecessors, Whistler, Corot, Constable, and the old masters. Max also takes inspiration from
the latest pioneers of British Plein Air painting such as Ken Howard, Fred Cuming, and Peter
Brown.
Max has exhibited with multiple societies within the Federation of British Artists and has
exhibited in various initiatives and group shows in the past few years. He plans to continue
developing his skills and techniques in order to progress his work.

CV
Education
BSC - Architecture - Cardiff University
IB Diploma - Sevenoaks School
Solo Exhibitions
Island Fine Arts 2022
“Inspiration in the time of Covid” – 2020 – (Online) Grierson Galleries
“SOLO SHOW” – 2017 – Grierson Gallery Sevenoaks, Kent
Group Exhibitions
Hampstead Art Society 2023
Chelsea Arts Society 2022 / 23
“New English Art Club Annual Exhibition 2022/23” - Mall Galleries
“ROI Annual Exhibition 2022” - Mall Galleries
“Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition 2022” - Mall Galleries
Green & Stone Summer Exhibition 2021 / 22 - London
“Royal Institute of oil painters exhibition 2021” - Mall Galleries
“Art For Youth London 2021” - Mall Galleries
“New English Art Club Annual Exhibition 2021” - Mall Galleries
“Royal Society of British Artists Annual Exhibition 2021” - Mall Galleries
“Ranleigh Arts Summer Show” - 2021 - Duo Show with Svetlana
Cameron
“The Wilderness Exhibition” - 2021 - St Pancras New Church, London
Awards
Elected member of the Wapping Group of Artists 2023
Green & Stone Prize - Chelsea Art Society 2022
The New Generation Award - Royal Society of Marine Artists 2022
Royal Institute of Oil Painters Emerging Artist Prize 2021

PRICELIST
The Strand, Evening Light oil on board 14 x 20cm £325
The West End from Hampstead Heath oil on board 20 x 25cm £500
Trees from Highgate Hill oil on board 20 x 25cm £500
Highgate from the Heath oil on board 20 x 25cm £500
Bond Street Flags oil on board 25 x 20cm £500
Hampstead Path oil on board 20 x 20cm £500
Boat by Albert Bridge Bridge oil on board 30 x 20cm £600
High Street Kensington oil on board 20 x 30cm £600
Flowers in the Yellow Pot oil on board 30 x 24cm £675
London from Hampstead Heath, Haze Effect oil on board 24 x 30cm £675
Regent Street Shoppers, Grey Day oil on board 30 x 24cm £675
Pink Peonies oil on board 41 x 21cm £825
London from Hampstead Heath, Sun Effect oil on board 21 x 41cm £825
The Ned’s Sixth Floor oil on board 41 x 31cm £850
Shepherd Market Triptych oil on board 3 x 20 x 14cm £875
Through the Studio Door oil on board 41 x 31cm £925
Highgate from Parliament Hill oil on board 31 x 41cm £925
Flowers by the Window oil on canvas 61 x 46cm £1,650
The Studio Shelf oil on canvas 61 x 51cm £1,950
Piccadilly at Night oil on canvas 61 x 76cm £2,450

Reverse: Detail of High Street Kensington oil on board 20 x 30cm

HIGHGATE CONTEMPORARY ART
Unit C405, The Chocolate Factory, 5 Clarendon Road, London, N22 6XJ
www.highgateart.com / info@highgateart.com / 020 8881 9117
Instagram @highgateart