Fletcher Sibthorp

Fletcher Sibthorp was born in Hertfordshire, England in 1967. After completing a Foundation Course at Hertfordshire College of Art, he undertook an Honours Degree in Graphic Design and Illustration at Kingston University, graduating in 1989. Fletcher has worked as a full-time artist for the past ten years, producing work in the commercial market, as well as selling paintings to private and corporate collectors. Rank Xerox, British Telecom, Chase Manhatten Bank, Railtrack and Kirin Brewery are just a few of the companies that own his paintings as part of their collections.

Initially, Fletcher was attracted by the concept of movement and its effect on the human form. This naturally lead to his interest in sport and abstract portrayals of gymnasts and athletes, culminating in an exhibition ' In Motion ' in London in 1992. Fletcher was approached by Sadlers Wells in 1995, to produce a painting for the Flamenco dance troupe Paco Pena. The movement and the expressive quality in his work complemented the passion of Flamenco. Fletcher was immediately drawn into the energy of the dance, producing many painting on that theme.

However, Fletcher has recently become more interested in the figure alone, its subtleties and the infinite expressions. As he says, " I'm interested in taking a figure, placing it in an abstract space and from these simple elements, creating a narrative. I like to think that when people view the paintings, they will add their own emotions and from these, create their own interpretations." The faces, although simple, have a complexity to them. A contemplative gaze, a person deep in thought, hinting of a secret which the viewer is permitted to share. "These are not portraits" Fletcher argues, "the models act as a reflection of my own and the viewer's self expression and vulnerability". Because the paintings are so simple, the viewer cannot help but add their own experiences. The viewer is invited to identify with the subject and project their own mood onto the painting.

Sometimes the narrative is hinted at by a title or a theme; themes that artists have tackled for centuries. Fletcher says, " I like the idea of the Classical subject, because they are so universally recognisable that only a few simple elements are needed to create the theme. Their simplicity makes them contemporary, but they are influenced by the ancient. I like the juxtaposition."

Recently Fletcher's work has concentrated further on his own personal creative vision. He is passionate about the direction in which his work is heading. "Even though the work, in its content, is becoming simpler, the paintings are harder to resolve, as the underlying expression becomes harder to achieve. Even I don't know how they will develop. They take on their own life, creating their own spirituality."