IF ENERGY and power could be transferred to canvas, Guy Wilkinson is the man to do it.

Rich in colour and texture, the Brighouse-based artist’s work is dramatic and exciting.

Guy works on large-scale, eye-catching installations for interior design projects as well as his own canvasses.

His vast acrylic paintings make use of different colour-blending techniques to produce absorbing images.

“The medium I always use is acrylic paint but some pieces have small elements of spray paint,” he says.

He mainly paints on canvas, but has also created designs over stone busts. “These always draw a lot of attention wherever they are exhibited.

“I choose acrylic due to its versatility - you can basically do anything you want with it. The mixing of colours, experimenting with movement and, most importantly, creating amazing texture gives the work the utmost interest.”

He adds: “Texture is so important - without it the painting is flat in every sense. Texture creates depth and fuels curiosity. It invites you into the painting mentally and gives the viewer an urge to touch.”

Guy grew up in Halifax and Brighouse, attending secondary school in Sowerby Bridge. “I didn’t study art at any serious level,” he says, but he always harboured an interest in art and creative expression.

“I liked art, design, fashion, colour and basically anything creative and different. In my early twenties I was searching for a new outlet, a new way of expressing myself, and it was then that I received a gift,” he says. “It was a blank canvas, pencils and variety of paints. I began experimenting, using an array of styles and techniques.”

Guy then moved to London. “The experimenting carried on and, looking back, I believe London gave me the confidence in myself to pursue and live art.”

His abstract works are both captivating and thought-provoking. Guy chose to adopt his childhood nickname of Guigs for his work, which is known as ‘GuigsART’.

On moving back to West Yorkshire a few years ago he introduced his skills to his home audience.

Working from a studio at his Brighouse home, he experiments with different styles. He loves the unpredictability of abstract. “It’s the endless possibilities, with no boundaries,” he explains. “The journey you go through from start to finish is fascinating - the painting can change and develop so many times.”

He adds: “I once came across a quote from an unknown author: ‘In opposition to the world today; where everything is organised pre-planned and scheduled, it's nice to know that the accidental things are still essential in order to make life more effervescent.’

“I find the concept of accidental creation and the idea of beauty by coincidence fascinating. Can I produce work by ‘accident’? How do I engineer coincidence?

“I enter the studio not knowing what may happen and let the paintings just run away with themselves, ever evolving, ever changing, with lots of layers and movements of all description. I use any instrument within touching distance and make no direct decisions as to colour mixing or placement. I simply have fun until the desired effect and creation feels complete.”

Guy loves being immersed in his work. “I lock myself away in the studio and enjoy having the freedom to create something of beauty, with no outside influences of any kind, just me some paint and a canvas. My work is a great outlet, a release and there is a huge sense of achievement and satisfaction when a piece is completed.”

He adds: “I’m not directly influenced by any other artist or person, but self-inspired.”

A painting is rarely completed on the first sitting. “Nearly all of my paintings have been revisited over time some taking many years to make it into the public eye. I also never have just one painting on the go at one time but multiple pieces which I work upon until I'm truly satisfied. Even then it has been known that I become dissatisfied and start all over again…”

His bird-themed collection came about in the same way as many of his paintings, through play and experimentation.

“It came about while I was painting another piece and noticed on the studio wall a shape resembling a bird. I uploaded an image of it on social media, which got a great reception so I set about creating and developing the collection.”

Earlier this year Guy exhibited at Harrogate’s Smart Gallery and Redbrick Mill in Batley.

He is full of pride when his paintings are hanging in an exhibition. “But there is sometimes a little niggle in the back of my mind saying ‘maybe I should have done that bit or another bit slightly differently. I will always remember my first ever sale of an original piece - I've never felt so pleased and proud of myself, there’s no better feeling.”

*W: GuigsART.co.uk; Instagram.com/guigsart E: Guigs100@hotmail.co.uk; T: 07855875671