In conversation with... Imogen Hawgood

So Imogen, tell us a little bit about yourself Have you always been a painter?

I’ve been painting now for about six years, since the second year of my degree at Norwich University of the Arts, where I studied Illustration. During the Covid lockdowns, like everyone, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I taught myself to paint with oils, having previously only worked in gouache and acrylic. This was a big turning point in my development as a painter, as oils opened new areas of experimentation and began to help shape my style.

 

 

Your visit to Los Angeles had a profound impact on your work. Can you tell us more about what drew you to the iconography of the American West and how it became such a strong influence?

My interest in Los Angeles came about really by accident. I did an Art and Design Foundation course before starting university which involved a study trip abroad- it happened to be to LA. I grew up in the English countryside, worlds away from the wide streets of LA, so I became fascinated by the dramatic neon marquees of movie theatres and huge outlandish signs which adorn the building facades along Hollywood Boulevard. I think it is perhaps because there is nothing remotely similar in the UK, that I have been painting the landscapes of Los Angeles ever since.

 

How has your creative process evolved since your visit to Los Angeles? Do you find yourself working differently or focusing on different techniques and materials?

Following my most recent visit to California, I have been able to collect my own reference photographs and paint from my own experiences. Prior to this I was gathering reference material online and using Google Street View to explore LA. I have found that paintings based on my own experiences feels much more authentic and the end is result is often more successful.

How does your experience of the American West contrast with other places you’ve visited or lived? Do these comparisons appear in your work?

Having grown up in the English countryside, Los Angeles felt like an entirely different world, far removed from what I am used to, and certainly far beyond my comfort zone. My husband often calls me a ‘country mouse’- I’m far more at ease in nature and I tend to find cities overwhelming. Strangely though, when it comes to my painting, I am far more interested in painting city scenes than I am landscapes. I have loved visiting the American West, and plan to go back to explore more cities and landscapes, however I will always return to my rural studio to properly explore these places through my paintings.

Do you see your exploration of the American West as a long-term influence on your art, or do you think other places and themes will soon take centre stage in your work?

I can see the American West appearing in my work for a long time to come. Whether that be in more paintings of Los Angeles, other American cities, or other landscapes I am yet to visit, I certainly haven’t reached the end of this interest. Lately, however, I have been finding inspiration closer to home, for example in my festival series depicting glowing food trucks and fun fairs at British festivals. I find it much easier to paint from my own experiences, so I hope that I’ll continue to find inspiration in unexpected places.