A Roof Over Our Head
Slate has been quarried for centuries in Wales, going back as far as the Romans. With the industrial revolution came the expanding of this business.
It is uniquely light and strong and therefore became high in demand. This was very evident when the phrase Welsh slate “roofed the 19th Century world” was commonly used.
Vast quantities of it were sent to Cardiff Bay to be shipped around the globe, further embedding the docklands riches as ships were loaded from the quaysides, packing the decks and bows, bringing more prosperity to Cardiff and Wales.
The quarry workers who cut and formed the slates often injured their hands and arms, working with no protection. Relying on their repetitive skills to shape the slates to specific sizes, the dust would find its way into the nooks and crannies of their skin, becoming an integral part of the colour, just like coal.
Workers were easily recognised by their gnarly, sinewy grey hands, which they carried as trophies of their honest hard-working living to ensure that they provided a roof over the heads of their family and community.
Ian MacKenzie
Ian Mackenzie is an artist based in South Wales. He works in rich detailed oils on canvas. He has a unique eye for colour and precision and as such many of his paintings represent a photorealism style.
Ians influence to paint comes from the study of the subject, the emotion involved and the interaction with the surrounding environment.
Many of his commissioned pieces have enthused not only the recipient, but also the painter himself by the overwhelming emotion of their positive reaction.
Ian says "this reaction drives me to achieve more. In the first instance art allows me the escape we all desire. But it is the journey of creating a piece of art for someone else that intrigues me giving consideration to the response of the recipient come the final brush stroke"
His work is influenced by the contemporary paintings of Mitch Griffiths, closely followed by Mathieu Bassez and Istvan Sandorfi. He is also an admirer of the master of light and dark, Caravaggio.
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International Deliveries
At Blackwater we are able to arrange international delivery on all of our artwork. Please contact our team on +44 (0)2920 349 819 .
Alternatively you can contact us via email at hello@blackwatergallery.co.uk