Page 27 - Phonebox Magazine July 2007

Enter the free competition and win a signed print by local artist Gordon Barker
BiOGRAPHY
I was born in Gibraltar in 1960. My father was in the army so we moved a few times over the years until we finally settled in Northamptonshire when I was twelve.
I’ve always been interested in art even from a young age, but it wasn’t until I came to secondary school that I was given the encouragement from my art teacher to paint and draw in many different ways, although in those days my work was very abstract. Although my art teacher wanted me to go to Art College in London I chose to start work instead.
On leaving school I continued to paint in oil, but I was always experimenting with different materials such as glass. I had a few local exhibitions but also ventured to London with my work.
In 1981 I began to paint landscapes for the first time. Initially these were mostly sunsets and silhouettes, but in time I began to paint pictures with more colours and many different subjects.
In late 1983 I sold my first painting to a recording company in Milton Keynes. This gave me the confidence to promote my work to a wider market. This was just the start. Over the next few years I sold about five hundred originals to companies like MTV Europe, The Gap and also many private collectors, many of these being commissions which have helped to develop my unique style of painting.
The landscapes I paint are mostly ones that I’ve created in my imagination. I like to ensure that the pictures are ‘busy’ so that each time they are looked at the viewer notices something else going on. I prefer bright vivid colours that grab people’s attention. ❑
BREES welcomes new planning committee
BREES (Bucks Renewable Energy and Environment Society) campaign to support proposed wind farms in the region
Mark Handford from BREES said: “Now that the elections are over and the new planning committee is established, we at BREES would like to welcome councillors to the
new committee. We look forward to them making the right choices and approving local wind farm applications to help provide energy security and address climate change. Climate change is an urgent issue as we’ve seen recently with the documented decline of Britain’s sea birds, largely due to climate change. This is just one example of how climate change can devastate our ecology.
Wind power is part of the solution to climate change. Polls show that 80% of the population support wind power. If people want to get active in supporting wind power to help address climate change then we urge them to visit our website: www.brees.org.uk This site will also answer any questions and concerns that people might have about wind power.
BREES claim that wind power can provide around 20% of UK electricity, making significant cuts in the emission of carbon dioxide. They don’t claim that wind power is
the only solution to the problem, but is a vital part of a renewable energy mix of wind, wave and solar.
“There are a lot of myths surrounding the negative impacts of wind power. These just seem to be a fear reaction to something new. The only real issue seems to be whether you like the look of them or not. The truth is that they are quiet and each turbine provides electricity for around 1000 homes. The proposed wind farm at Emberton, for example, could provide electricity for up to 9000 homes. ❑
PHONEBOX MAGAZINE – 17,300 COPIES PRINTED AND DELIVERED DOOR TO DOOR
Phonebox Magazine 27
Your chance to win a signed limited edition Gordon Barker canvas print worth £74.99
‘Sunday Cricket’
qUESTiON
How many different prints does Gordon feature in his gallery at iD-WALL.com?
Send your entries to:
Phonebox Magazine Gordon Barker Competition Unit 2 Stanley Court
Olney
Bucks Mk46 4EB
To reach us by 18th July 2007 visit www.id-wall.com
Wollaston artist Gordon Barker