Porthleven 100

Representing the next wave of British Modernism through the landscape, KMA Gallery is pleased to present Ashley Hanson’s Porthleven 100. About Curated by Kellie Miller, Porthleven 100 celebrates Ashley's 100th painting of the Cornish town of Porthleven, the southern most port in the UK. A bohemian hub of art, food, sunset swims and surfing, Porthleven has long attracted plenty of visitors to its protected harbour. During storms in the great sailing age it acted as a safe haven for sailors and fisherman, and is now a destination for walkers on the South West Coast Path, as well as artists inspired by its picturesque views. Originally inspired by the Cornish modernist Peter Lanyon’s own depiction, semi-abstract artist Ashley Hanson has been capturing this energetic meeting point between land and sea since 2008. A small town with only a few thousand residents, Ashley depicts Porthleven from all angles, representing everything from the clock tower to the local pub. His thickly textured paintings make great use of gesture and movement to capture the thrum of energy that is apparent in the town, his bold use of colour amplifying the impact. Known for its sweeping sunsets where the sun cuts right down through the centre of the harbour, his paintings often immerse you in deep warm tones reflecting this sumptuous view. Tracing the history of the modern British landscape from Constable and Turner to the St Ives School with Ben Nicholson and Peter Lanyon, Ashley’s work is the next dynamic chapter of capturing the feeling as much as the image of British shores. Read more Toggle Painting