Remember to Remember - 40 x 50 in
About Adam James Butcher
I’m Adam James Butcher, a British painter living and working in Toulon, on the Mediterranean coast of France.
My paintings explore colour, light, memory and the relationship between the places we experience and the impressions they leave behind.
This is where I share new paintings, works in progress and occasional reflections on art, creativity and the sometimes unpredictable business of making things.
My paintings often begin with a loose structure of lines and boundaries, but gradually move between what can be seen and what can only be sensed. Memory, chance and intuition all enter the work. I’m interested in what emerges when structure meets uncertainty, and in what may lie beneath the small part of experience available to our senses.
Writing has also begun to find its way into my practice. Sometimes a painting prompts a few words; at other times, writing helps me notice something in a painting that I hadn’t previously understood. Both offer different ways of exploring similar questions.
About me
My relationship with painting began early. As a child, I attended workshops at the St Ives School of Painting in Cornwall with my grandfather, encountering the work and legacy of artists including Peter Lanyon, Patrick Heron and Ben Nicholson.
I went on to study Fine Art at Wimbledon School of Art before spending many years teaching art in the UK, including working as a head of art.
In December 2014, my family and I moved to Mexico, where I founded The Heart of Learning, a personalised learning centre.
During nearly twelve years in Mexico, the extraordinary light, colour and landscape of the Mexican Caribbean profoundly affected my painting, helping move the work away from direct observation towards a more intuitive abstraction.
In October 2026, my wife Virginie and I moved to Toulon, beginning a new chapter in France.
From February 2027, I’ll be undertaking a year-long artists’ residency at L’Atelier des Artistes in Sanary-sur-Mer. It’s an opportunity to develop my painting practice, exhibit my work and become more involved in the artistic community of the region.
What you’ll find here
I share finished paintings and works on paper, glimpses of paintings as they develop, and occasional writing about perception, memory, intuition and the creative process.
I’ll also be documenting aspects of my forthcoming residency in Sanary-sur-Mer, including new work, exhibitions and experiences along the way.
Paintings and works on paper are available for acquisition. A catalogue of currently available works, including details and prices, is available on request. If you’re interested in a particular piece, would like to see more of my available work, or simply want to get in touch, please feel free to contact me directly. You can also follow my latest paintings and studio updates on Instagram.
Adam
Follow along
If you’d like to follow my painting practice, you’re very welcome to subscribe. I’ll be sharing new paintings, thoughts on the creative process, and occasional glimpses into life in the studio, including my forthcoming artists’ residency in Sanary-sur-Mer.
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