Cornish artist Nick Williams creates richly textured oil paintings that transform colour, atmosphere and imagination into immersive visual worlds, inviting the viewer to admire the painting’s aesthetics, whilst at the same time exploring the story they tell.
‘NICK WILLIAMS ONE OF CORNWALLS MOST COLLECTABLE FIGURITIVE PAINTERS’
With a career built around developing some individual paintings over months and even years, Williams’ artwork is instantly recognisable for its heavily impasto surfaces, where layers of paint are built up, sanded back and reworked to create a robust, tactile finish. His paintings invite viewers to look beyond the image itself and explore the physical presence of the artwork.
Influenced by artists including Vuillard, Velázquez, Van Gogh, Vermeer, Anselm Kiefer, Paula Rego and Peter Doig, Williams combines traditional figurative painting with elements of magic realism, creating scenes that feel both familiar and dreamlike.
“I’m mainly trying to create a feeling of place and atmosphere,” explains Williams, whose work often carries a sense of mystery and narrative. His paintings explore imaginative environments, sometimes incorporating subtle social commentary and unexpected storytelling elements.
Williams’ work has been shaped by a fascination with storytelling and the power of visual imagination. His paintings often evoke warm, sun-drenched landscapes and distant places, creating the impression of memories collected from faraway journeys. His distinctive use of colour and texture has become the defining feature of his artistic identity.
This creative process is also deeply connected to experimentation. Among the unusual elements explored in his work is the use of snakeskin, inspired by his experience caring for two corn snakes over many years.
A self-taught artist who chose not to follow a traditional art school route, Williams has developed an original style outside conventional boundaries. His independent approach has led to significant milestones, including a solo exhibition at 54 The Gallery in Shepherd Market, Mayfair, in 2023.
Based in Cornwall, Williams stunning surroundings of his garden studio continue to inspire his work, developing a collection that celebrates colour, texture and imagination, opened up to visitors this year with The National Garden Scheme https://ngs.org.uk/ . This distinctive approach to his work, creates vibrant works defined by intense colour, layered surfaces and a unique sense of place, which continue to inspire and excite his viewers and collectors across the world.
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickgwilliams60
Website: www.nickgwilliams.com