stephen redpath | amongst thin places

Resipole studios is delighted to present Amongst Thin Places, a solo show of new paintings by Aberdeenshire based artist Stephen Redpath. Works on display are inspired by the Celtic idea of Thin Places - caol áit or áiteanna tanaí - where points in the landscape are thought 'profound spaces where the spirit realm is considered to be close to earth'.

Stephen was first introduced to the idea when reading Kerri Ní Dochartaigh’s book Thin Places. In his own words:

I was taken with this idea, not because I am particularly spiritual or religious, but because when I have been out in the landscape, there are places where I have felt an overwhelming connection with the natural world and in some way lifted out of myself.

I wanted to paint these experiences, so over the last 18 months, when I stumbled across such places, I stopped and spent time observing the world in front of me and within me. I sketched and took photos, but mostly I simply sat and absorbed. Then, later, sometimes much later, in the studio, I watched as responses emerged.

A reflection of thin places. Glimpses of inner spaces. Hope. A reminder of our place on this earth.

These paintings from Aberdeenshire, the west coast of Scotland, the Northern Isles and Andalucia are the result. They raise many questions for me about connection and the link between inner and external worlds – questions that I will continue to explore.

Stephen Redpath, March 2024

Stephen Redpath is an Aberdeenshire based artist who originally grew up in west Wales, where he developed a deep affinity for the natural world. Studying wildlife and landscape as an ecologist for 30 years, he turned to painting full time in 2019. His evocative landscapes are created using watercolour, a medium he prefers due to its  ‘luminosity, immediacy and unpredictability.’ Building on direct observations in the field, his paintings are developed through memories, feelings and an emotional response to the natural world. Relying extensively on the experiences gained from working in a variety of landscapes, his paintings lie  in the liminal space between representation and abstraction. Revelling in the opportunity to play and explore with paint, Stephen lives for the exhilarating moments where observation, emotional response and paintings become interwoven.