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Nicholas Borden’s Winter Paintings

April 24, 2014
by the gentle author

Junction of Vallance Rd & Three Colts Lane (Click to enlarge)

This new picture by Nicholas Borden from last Winter shows the exact spot I first met him in Vallance Rd, painting in the snow, over a year ago. Since then, Nicholas has been extraordinarily productive with two successful shows in Spitalfields and another coming up at the Millinery Works in Islington in the Summer. “When I began, I was at a low point and I needed to help myself, that’s all it was – I didn’t have an audience,” he admitted to me, “but now I have a lot more confidence in my work, it’s allowed me to look at what I do seriously and realise there is a future in it.”

Now we can say for certain that Winter is over, it is possible to take a look back at the oil paintings Nicholas has achieved, working outside while the rest of us were huddled by the fire. “I spend as many days as I can out on the street, if the weather allows I am out seven days a week,” he assured me, “but I can’t work for more than several hours at a time.” Hardy by nature and an experienced fisherman, Nicholas is not discouraged by the weather as these dozen paintings testify. In fact, he is a connoisseur of our cloudy Northern skies which overarch most of his canvasses.

“I’ve always known I wanted to do this,” Nicholas confessed to me as he contemplated his new paintings in modest satisfaction, “but it’s not a social reflex, I don’t have a political agenda – I just feel a compulsion to record what’s around me.”

Shoreditch High St (Click to enlarge)

Mare St (Click to enlarge)

Crescent on Essex Rd (Click to enlarge)

Morning Lane, Hackney (Click to enlarge)

Kings Cross Rd (Click to enlarge)

Kings Cross Station (Click to enlarge)

St Pancras Station

St Pancras Hotel

Covent Garden Underground Station

Charlton Place, Islington

Barbican Towers – work-in-progress

Nicholas Borden

Paintings copyright © Nicholas Borden

You may like to take a look at more of Nicholas Borden’s work

Nicholas Borden’s East End View

Nicholas Borden, Artist

15 Responses leave one →
  1. April 24, 2014

    I really like this work. Although the people wear contemporary clothes, the images seem somehow timeless.

  2. April 24, 2014

    What beautiful works these paintings are! Therapy works in mysterious ways helping you turn into mini masterpieces. A very strong touch of Utrillo, one of the lesser known Impressionists. Your paintings are wonderful and very pleasing to the eye. Keep going!

  3. April 24, 2014

    Love his paintings, hope he manages many, many more! Thanks for sharing. Valerie

  4. claire permalink
    April 24, 2014

    Such good work, especially like ‘ Kings Cross Station’. Best wishes.

  5. April 24, 2014

    Another grand Artist of London’s architectural places — very special!

    Love & Peace
    ACHIM

  6. April 24, 2014

    Can you add me please to your mailing list for your next exhibition at The Millinery Works in the summer.

    Many thanks.

    Great stuff.

  7. Robert permalink
    April 24, 2014

    An enjoyable collection of London street scenes. I’m a fan of the brutalist barbican towers. He has faithfully reproduced the concrete jungles that is the Barbican…

  8. Sarah Perry permalink
    April 24, 2014

    Reminds me of Hopper’s work somehow. Wonderful street scenes.

  9. April 24, 2014

    bravo! nicholas borden! i especially love the long “panoramic” formats. much good luck to him.

  10. April 24, 2014

    LOVE these paintings – thank you for sharing!

  11. April 24, 2014

    I like the life and movement he gives to the buildings themselves – part of London’s appeal.

  12. April 24, 2014

    Wonderful work Nicholas. You have captured the moment and the character of the places
    through your dedication and unique style.

  13. Sonia Murray permalink
    April 25, 2014

    Charlton Place, Islington is great – the perspective is spot on!
    Thanks, Nicholas!

  14. Donald Carlton Burns permalink
    April 26, 2014

    A splendid talent, alive with color and movement.

  15. Shawdiane permalink
    January 17, 2015

    Makes me eager to bring out my paintbox. This artist’s work is full of shape & vivid colours. A natural with the flick of his brush, one tiny stroke transforms the whole scene. Suprised we do not hear more about this excellant recorder of our historic Capital.

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