AN exhibition of new paintings by artist John Hurford called 'Wild Things' opens at the Monks Withecombe Gallery near Chagford on Sunday and runs until July 18.
Brought up on a Devon farm he has always been interested in wildlife. This has inspired him as artist.
As an adult he painted and also ilustrated books while living as a farmer. But the foot and mouth epidemic forced him to a crossroads. He gave up farming to paint full time.
'The work I am doing now seems to have reached a new level of intensity that I have achieved by being able to get up every morning with the knowledge that I can work all day painting,' he says.
His acrylics on canvas are strong, vibrant compositions. The figuratively well-executed subjects are often set against diffused and abstracted backgrounds giving an attractive sence of depth.