Studio Editions Collection, Soho Fine Art

NIGEL COOKE
QUINTESSENTIAL ARTIST OF THE CITYSCAPE GENRE
The intense colours and dramatic textural juxtapositions displayed in the work
of Nigel Cooke have established him as the quintessential artist
of the cityscape genre.
Nigel travelled extensively around the world as a caricature artist, and these
travels inspired him to begin painting, elevating his illustrative style into fine art
and creating his unique vision of the urban landscape onto the canvas.
Nigel’s unmistakeable style has clearly been influenced by Abstract Expressionist
Jackson Pollock and his distinctive drip paint technique. At first glance, it may
look like a simplistic approach, but in fact it is a remarkably complex form of
paint application that requires a great deal of practice and control. The legacy of
Pollock has been translated into visionary contemporary cityscapes at the hands
of Nigel Cooke, as he creates beautifully textured scenes that have intricate,
layered details. This layering is an important aspect of Nigel’s work: the layers
create a surface patternation that is independent of its subject matter, and this
allows the eye to travel freely across the canvas which offers both a remarkable
sense of depth and a certain serenity to the work.
The fluidity of the paint juxtaposed with the rigidity of the buildings fuse
together to create cityscapes that are vibrant, striking and dynamic. The mood
and ambience of the city is captured beautifully; the energy of city life radiates
from the canvas, and the accuracy of the iconic architecture is secondary to the
vibe of the hustle and bustle of the iconic cities that Nigel portrays.
THE STUDIO EDITIONS PAGE 83