In this painting Newcombe’s technical virtuosity means he is able to reproduce all the subtleties and nuances of snowy landscapes. The artist is obviously painting this with the work of the great master Pieter Bruegel in mind.

From the image it is not possible to see the detail of this work, such as the  black crows overhanging the scene, perched up in the branches on the left hand trees. It is an incredible painting and well worth seeing at the gallery.

Peter Newcombe was born in Blisworth, Northamptonshire in 1943. He studied illustration and etching at Northampton School of Art, where he won a travelling scholarship. His work first came to public attention in 1968 with a set of twelve large drawings illustrating ‘The Shepherds Calendar’ by John Clare, which were featured on BBC television. In 1970 he was awarded a major art grant from the Elizabeth T. Greenshield Foundation in Canada. At this time he began exhibiting widely in London including at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of British Artists, and the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour. In 1979 he designed a set of flower stamps for the Post Office.

The subject matter of Peter Newcombe’s paintings is gathered almost entirely from the area of Northamptonshire in which he lived. His paintings are intense studies of landscape and flora in all seasons, and he had a particular interest in old buildings and wild flowers.