Inspired by the work of Master Fellwalker and artist Alfred Wainwright, Andy spent over ten years completing the major project The Wainwrights in Colour. This meant painting the Wainwrights, all 214 of them. Not only that, it meant producing a watercolour sketch of every illustration drawn by A.W. in his seven Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. Every single location of the illustrations has been meticulously researched so that Andy’s references are taken from the exact location where A.W. stood to take his own black and white photographs.
This was a unique undertaking. Whilst many others have taken a few comparison photographs of AW’s illustrations Andy went out and not only obtained all 1500 images but then went on to paint the Wainwrights as watercolour sketches.
Alfred Wainwright
The work of A. Wainwright in his seven Pictorial Guides was a thirteen year undertaking which to this day, approximately half a century later has not been bettered in its ingenuity, artistic content and detail. It is perhaps testament to the man that all 214 of the fells depicted in the volumes have become known under the collective name “The Wainwrights”
The Wainwright Project
As a keen hill-walker the fells of the Lake district is one of Andy’s favourite places and being so close to hand he is able to visit the area even on short day trips. These trips have been used to gather the required photographs for the project as well as ideas for other Lake District paintings. Due to the number of illustrations, more than one route on each of the 214 fells has to be undertaken and of course the weather conditions have to be favourable to allow the scene that A.W. depicted in his sketches to be viewed by Andy.
“It has never been my intention for the project to be seen as copying the work of A.W., an impossible task, more as a matter of interest as how his sketches compare to today’s scenes. Standing on the exact spot where he stood every time is not only a sense of achievement to me but also a feeling of closeness to the man and his work.”
The uniqueness of this project has meant that it has been featured in the media both locally and nationally. Check out The Wainwrights in Colour- as seen on the BBC– Click here.
Following the near sell-out Exhibition at Rheged in October and November 2009. Andy then went on to complete all of the sketches for this project for all 214 of the fells. All of the original works from this project are now sold. His task of painting the Wainwrights took about 10 years to complete.
The Wainwrights in Colour Book.
The book of the project was published in May 2017. It features all of the 214 Lakeland Fells. With all of the 1500+ watercolour sketches which Andy has produced to complete this body of work. Andy details the differences in the scenes from how they were when A.W. illustrated them in his guides. Also included are many articles relating to Wainwright’s work and life of the Lakeland Fells. It is a limited edition of only 5000 signed and numbered copies. Once sold there will not be a re-print or second edition. The book has 360 pages, all in full colour. It measures 33cm x22cm and weights 2.4kg (hence the reason that P&P is so expensive.) It has been printed and produced here in the UK. Each volume includes a 17 minute DVD of how the project was conceived and completed. The books retail at £39.00 each.
They are selling well so do not miss out on the opportunity to own one of these collectable volumes. Take a look at the page to read the rather impressive reviews of the book. Which has won “Outdoor Book of the Year 2017” in the TGO Readers Awards. Also the BBC Countryfile Magazine Book of the Year.
Buy your copy of the book here
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A gallery of selected sketches from the project is now online hereWainwrights in Colour sketches
Thank you.
