I've see the terms 'vibrant' and 'colourful' used before, usually in promotional material that tries to encourage people along to exhibitions of pretty pictures where, invariably, the paintings have nothing else to offer.  To use the above adjectives when describing Mr Russell's paintings on exhibition at New Collectables is misleading.  To do them justice, the work should be called 'relaxed' or 'amazing, or more appropriately, 'inspirational' as these paintings have a great deal more to offer than mere prettiness.

Vibrant usually denotes a sense of quivering movement or shimmering on the surface of a painting that, if it doesn't excite, can be annoying, while colourful means lots of different colours are used.  But as Russell is an expert 'colourist' he is able to create stunning effects by manipulating a limited number of colours through a range of values to give his paintings a steady glow.

In most of his paintings he produces a sense of quietude that can never be mistaken for dull.  There is colour, movement and life in these works but it is tempered, measured to encourage a sense of inner reflection.  The pictures consist of landscapes as seen from a room 'with a view' and although we stand outside the painting, we are put into this room to look out over a world of tranquility, a place that is safe enough for our thoughts to wander through.  It is a dreamy world consisting of rounded trees, hills and rippling streams all neatly constructed of daubs of colour in the 'pointillist' manner.  The sky is a mosaic of short brush marks that define sunshine or moonlight.  If and when a figure - a sleeping girl or black cat - occupy the scene they seem to belong and don't intrude on our reverie.

Russell has the ability to create a world so well that no matter how fantastic it appears, we readily accept it and want to believe it as fact.  In this respect, the artist sends us back to our childhood and permits us to indulge in our innocent dreams of how a fractured world can indeed be seen as perfect.

The Gallery had a few examples of earlier works by Mr Russell in the 'stock room' area.  I found it interesting to compare his past efforts with the present display and must say the artist has improved and refined his style with the paintings in With a View.