By James Bovington
West Leeds artist Mel Davies turns 70 this year but promises there’ll be no let-up in his prolific work output as WLD caught up with him to discuss his latest work Rain.
Davies was one of the first artists to set up a studio 15 years ago on the top floor of The Spinning Mill in Farsley’s Sunny Bank Mills complex.
“I fancied doing something abstract,” said Mel, who also lives in Farsley. “I like vivid colours which clash and fight with each other for attention, such as orange and green which reflects on the colour their respective places on the colour spectrum.
“Orange is a favourite colour of mine, it gives definition. Like many people I find bright colours uplifting and I shy away from overuse of colours I find gloomy.
“I began painting aged five and have always been deeply affected by colour. It came as no surprise that I’ve a mild form of synesthesia so I attach colours to days of the week. Monday means white and Tuesday green.
“I don’t think I’m anymore affected by the weather than the next person, but the genesis of Rain partially lies in all the precipitation we’ve had recently. I’ve painted horizontal ripples on the lower half to make it clear that the rhythmic vertical strokes are rain. Had I adopted landscape format and dispensed with ripples, Rain could well have been Wind. That’s the fun of abstract painting.”
Mel Davies spent approaching 40 years working as a lawyer, including at courts in Leeds.
“I had a stroke four years ago and seriously thought that my painting days might be over,” he told WLD.
“I was determined to continue even if all I could do was throw paint on a canvas. I recovered, fortunately. I don’t always like the finished work and it’s goodbye even good riddance to some paintings.”
“However, I’ll miss The End of Summer when it’s sold. It’s an autobiographical painting evoking my memories of the half dozen halcyon weeks ending late September.
“The time when the pink rosebay willowherb took over the derelict industrial sites of my childhood as this Wetherby lad trudged to Holbeck Baths of all places. Then there’s brambles reminding me of hours spent blackberry picking and getting it finished before the Devil brushed remaining berries with his tail as September died.”
“I’m reluctant to take on commissions,” explained Mel. “But I enjoy collaboration with other artists. I’m working closely with North Yorkshire artist Kim Coley in simultaneous painting of a single canvas and we’re planning a joint exhibition in September. We only show our work here.
“There are now nearly 50 disparate creatives in the whole complex meaning we’re a sizeable community. Art and design underpin everything Sunny Bank Mills has become. We’re internationally recognised. It’s good for us and it’s great for Farsley.”
Mel and other artists are looking forward to welcoming as many as possible to the next Open Studios weekend at Sunny Bank Mills on 7 and 8 March.
- For further information, visit www.sunnybankmills.co.uk or contact Davies by e-mail meldaviesart@icloud.com or follow him via Instagram @meldaviesart.
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