Martin Rolt 2020

Martin Rolt 2020

Residing in West Sussex and largely self-taught, Rolt create’s original and beautiful seascapes and beach scenes, rich in atmosphere and texture, taking inspiration from 10 years spent living just a stone’s throw from Hove beach. Sometimes dark, the paintings offer the viewer a sense of beauty, solitude, space and calm. The viewing experience is as much about the feelings and moods evoked, implied and suggested as the actual paintings themselves. Rolt’s paintings have sold to private collectors both domestically and internationally, including British film and TV actor Adrian Lester (Hustle), as well as in the corporate world.

Since setting out on his artistic and creative journey, Rolt have made many personal sacrifices to allow his work to progress and develop. His early abstract work was generally non-representational, though sometimes inspired by things seen in the natural world, abstract in form, vibrant in colour and experimental. Emphasis was strongly placed on flow and movement of paint, balance and textures, often set against a geometric backdrop. The spontaneous and energy sapping nature of the process he had developed, and worked one step from beauty and one step from disaster. Rolt enjoys the elements of the unknown and the unpredictable within these works.

These two distinct and unique styles of work, while wholly different, compliment each other both visually and emotionally. For Rolt, as an artist, they allow greatly contrasting processes and outlets for his creative and artistic outpourings. He is constantly looking for new materials to use and to see which direction they may take his work. Rolt has recently discovered a new ultra-black acrylic paint which absorbs up to 99% of visible light, which he has been marrying with gold leaf to great effect and will exhibit some of these works at the Chester Arts Fair.

As a sufferer of severe migraine attacks, the painting process and the end result provide a great antidote to the stresses that can cause this debilitating illness. Rolt has forged a close link with the charity organisation the National Migraine Centre in London. They have a permanent display of his seascape paintings, which bring comfort and relaxation to fellow sufferers.