About

The Art

Based in the South West of England, Niall is a contemporary artist whose work is deeply inspired by the dramatic coastline of the South Hams and the timeless beauty of Dartmoor. Working primarily in acrylics and oils, Niall explores colour, texture and atmosphere through a diverse range of materials and techniques.

His paintings reflect a strong connection to the natural landscape, capturing the ever-changing light, movement and character of the region. Drawing on years of artistic practice and a passion for experimentation, he creates distinctive works that evoke a sense of place while inviting personal interpretation.

As an established and successful South West artist, his work is held in private collections and appreciated by collectors who share a love of the area's unique landscape and heritage.

​

The Science

​

As the Director of Science at a local Secondary School, and as an artist, he often finds himself thinking about the different chemical compositions of paint and how they were created before being placed on the canvas. 

There are many different ingredients required to make acrylic paint, however for simplicity, below are the three main components:

1. A pigment- a compound which provides colour. These can be natural or synthetic.

2. Solvent- in acrylic paint this is mainly water based, which evaporate due to their lower boiling point, once applied to the canvas.

3. A binder- a compound which sticks the pigment to the canvas, once the water evaporates. In acrylic paint this is a polymer, hence the name ‘acrylic’ paint, derived from polymers involving acrylic acid (prop-2-enoic acid).

For a detailed breakdown of the science behind his artwork, Niall has published several popular articles on Substack regarding the science behind his artwork and the scientific history behind the pigments he utilises.

Niall Holbourn Art | Substack