A PAINTING by one of the heavyweights of the Cumbrian art scene is the focus of a series of standalone works at Brantwood.

Martin Greenland's To Grassguards is the centrepiece of the second of the One to One exhibitions in which the Coniston venue looks at just one work.

Although artists concentrate a great deal of time and energy in individual works, in the gallery or museum the individuality of the single work is often lost as the visitor goes from picture to picture comparing works and spending only a short time with each one.

Brantwood's One to One provides an encounter with a single work in a setting designed to concentrate the viewer's focus and allow them more time to engage with the picture.

Martin’s work speaks directly to the great tradition of English landscape painting, so it's particularly appropriate to show his work in John Ruskin's former home.

In 2006 Martin landed first prize at the John Moores 24 with his painting Before Vermeer’s Clouds and in 2013 was the North of England Regional Prize winner, Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London.

As for To Grassguards, Martin explains that it's heavily based on the view across the Duddon Valley to Harter Fell in late September, late afternoon, with a glimpse of Scafell on the extreme right.

"I chose to paint it because after quite a lot of experience of the Lake District I know that the Duddon Valley is one of my very favourite places and I have a very great attraction to and affection for Harter Fell.

"A number of years ago, while climbing the Walna Scar track, the growing view across to the mountain and also the detail of the collage of the foreground made me wonder why I just didn't come and paint it like it is. The dilemma of the appropriateness of approach, do I paint what I see, put nothing in, leave nothing out or do I invent, completely, gave me a lot of bother.

"To Grassguards proceeded as a work which would attempt to do the first and very slowly started to become, naturally, the latter. And I realise this is how it has to be, this is me; I carefully look at the world then I reinvent it as a believable reality, pay attention to its truths, acknowledge the science of it. To Grassguards is a real place but it is an invention, it is a painting."

One to One: New Work by Martin Greenland is on the display at Brantwood's Blue Gallery until May 18, open daily from 10am-5pm.

For further information telephone 015394-41396.