Residency dates
11th March – 23rd April 2021
Artist images
Residency images
Testimonial
"I had been looking forward to my residency at Xenia with great anticipation, hoping that it would be a restorative, de-stressing experience - where I could explore some new ways of making paintings, perhaps leaving with one or two things that felt really fresh.
As I settled in, it soon became clear that these expectations were going to be thoroughly exceeded (blown away) as I realised how utterly at ease I felt, how truly conducive the place is thinking and painting, and how unbelievably fortunate I was to have this singular opportunity. A sense of burnout accrued from a year of pandemic life in London quickly melted away, and I felt as unfettered, creatively limber and free to paint as I ever have.
What’s more, spending time with my young family here has been a dream. From the warmest possible welcome to the endlessly helpful and friendly community of people that live here (Jaye, Lucy, Filipe et al), finishing with a gorgeous Easter Sunday, it’s been extremely special. To be able to introduce our two-year-old, Florence, to shetland ponies, horses, deer, alpacas, pheasants, rabbits, hens and more, and live with such a feeling of well-being, amidst the paraphernalia of painting in the countryside has been a gift on top of the sense of creative endorphins kicking in.
As well as making drawings responding to the distinctive beauty of the surroundings, I embarked, as planned, on a series of large works on paper using gouache, acrylic watercolour and cut-out or collaged elements. I was more productive and made further ground in these than I might reasonably have hoped, opening up some areas that I really hadn’t foreseen. The touchstones - Richard Diebenkorn, Yasujirō Ozu, Satoshi Kon and Eric Carle - had been ruminated on in locked-down King’s Cross, but it was the peace and beauty of this place that allowed my response in painting to flow with a renewed energy. I feel revived and will treasure the memories of this wonderful time.
My heartfelt thanks to Bianca and Stuart for hosting us with such extraordinary generosity.
Warmest wishes,
Nicholas"
Bio
Born
1984,
Tokyo, Japan
Education
2012
Sainsbury Scholarship
in Painting and Sculpture
British School of Rome, Italy
2011
Postgraduate Diploma
Royal Academy Schools, London
2006
Ruskin School of Drawing
and Fine Art, Oxford
Selected
Residency dates
11th March – 23rd April 2021
Artist images
Residency images
Testimonial
"I had been looking forward to my residency at Xenia with great anticipation, hoping that it would be a restorative, de-stressing experience - where I could explore some new ways of making paintings, perhaps leaving with one or two things that felt really fresh.
As I settled in, it soon became clear that these expectations were going to be thoroughly exceeded (blown away) as I realised how utterly at ease I felt, how truly conducive the place is thinking and painting, and how unbelievably fortunate I was to have this singular opportunity. A sense of burnout accrued from a year of pandemic life in London quickly melted away, and I felt as unfettered, creatively limber and free to paint as I ever have.
What’s more, spending time with my young family here has been a dream. From the warmest possible welcome to the endlessly helpful and friendly community of people that live here (Jaye, Lucy, Filipe et al), finishing with a gorgeous Easter Sunday, it’s been extremely special. To be able to introduce our two-year-old, Florence, to shetland ponies, horses, deer, alpacas, pheasants, rabbits, hens and more, and live with such a feeling of well-being, amidst the paraphernalia of painting in the countryside has been a gift on top of the sense of creative endorphins kicking in.
As well as making drawings responding to the distinctive beauty of the surroundings, I embarked, as planned, on a series of large works on paper using gouache, acrylic watercolour and cut-out or collaged elements. I was more productive and made further ground in these than I might reasonably have hoped, opening up some areas that I really hadn’t foreseen. The touchstones - Richard Diebenkorn, Yasujirō Ozu, Satoshi Kon and Eric Carle - had been ruminated on in locked-down King’s Cross, but it was the peace and beauty of this place that allowed my response in painting to flow with a renewed energy. I feel revived and will treasure the memories of this wonderful time.
My heartfelt thanks to Bianca and Stuart for hosting us with such extraordinary generosity.
Warmest wishes,
Nicholas"
Born
1984,
Tokyo, Japan
Education
2012
Sainsbury Scholarship
in Painting and Sculpture
British School of Rome, Italy
2011
Postgraduate Diploma
Royal Academy Schools, London
2006
Ruskin School of Drawing
and Fine Art, Oxford
Selected