About Sheffield Artist Doug Jackson

Today it’s quite hard to escape the computerised and digitised world that we all populate. This is a very 'cold' technology and seems only to highlight the joy and simplicity of 'old fashioned' drawing. I use computers a lot in my work and the simple pleasure of sitting down with a fresh piece of paper and making marks feels unfiltered and liberating, compared to using digital methods. The interface feels both instinctive and somehow private. Creating is everything and the quality and character of the mark making remains for me a fascination.

I primarily work with pen, ink and watercolour. I enjoy the immediacy of starting straight away with pen, with no pencil underneath. This may mean I have a few failed attempts but I appreciate that sometimes you have to think out a drawing as you go (like life!). It can be somewhat high risk although as a wise artist once told me, ‘Its only paper!'.

Qualifying with a BA(Hons) in Industrial Design I worked for five years as an industrial design consultant working on a diverse portfolio of projects, from tractor cabs to stationery. I spent almost ten years drawing, day in day out. I changed careers soon after leaving that consultancy and became a press photographer. For the last fifteen years, I have run a successful freelance photography and video business from my base in Sheffield. Drawing and painting, for me, is a form of meditation that is a lovely counterpoint to other more complex aspects of my work.

As well as using Daniel Smith watercolour paints, I love working with inks. Inks and especially chromatic inks can give wild and crazy effects and although there is a large degree of serendipity in the results, it can be very effective. I have far too many fountain pens to list but they feature a variety of nibs: fude, flex and traditional.

I create a lot of art in sketchbooks and although I've tried pretty much every brand out there, my preference is for Seawhite of Brighton and Rhodia Touch pads. When creating art for sale I use fine grade 100% cotton papers.

I have been strongly influenced by other artists such as John Harrison and Brian Ramsey who both believe in the liberal use of blank space in their art. For me its all about high contrast and giving the lines and colours breathing space.

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