Winter light, Farndon, Cheshire

James Longueville was born in 1943 at Waverton, Chester. Originally pursuing a career in journalism, he turned to painting professionally in 1972. His first major subject was his native South Cheshire landscape and as his style developed throughout the decade, he also travelled and painted in Italy and Sardinia.

Working in oil, pastel and watercolour James successfully captures the sense of luminosity and atmosphere of the Venetian canals, the sense of light, glory and hustle and bustle of the Thames and London’s City, the dramatic and rugged coastline of Wales, and the tranquility of Norfolk’s salt marshes. His work is traditionally figurative, taking strong inspiration from the likes of Seago, Constable, the New Romantics and equally from the great European landscape painters. In his land and cityscapes Longueville has assimilated these influences and developed his own distinctive palette and style as a way of expressing the atmosphere of his subjects.

During the 1980’s Longueville’s popularity grew and he exhibited widely around Britain and Ireland. He travels frequently seeking new subjects and enjoys portraying different light qualities. France is a favourite location with it’s strong light and unique panoramas.

James is a senior member of the Pastel Society, having been elected in 1983 and has won the Patterson Pastel Award twice. He has exhibited in Ireland, Canada and Holland.

His work hangs in public and private collections around the world. He has exhibited regularly in the Mall Galleries, London and with the Royal Society of British Artists, the Royal Society of Oil Painters, the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour and the Pastel Society of which he was elected a member in 1983. He has shown in the Royal Academy and his work now hangs by invitation in the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists collection, he was elected a full member of the RBSA in 1989.