Phil Gillam: Art for art's sake?

I used to love mixing up the paints to create new colours, laying out a fresh piece of paper and applying those colours, just to see what would happen next.

Can't say I was particularly good at it.

And maybe that's one of the reasons I admire artists so much: because they have a self-belief and a determination to create something new.

Which is where the subject of this week's article comes in.

Now, as you will know, dear reader, every now and then in this column I like to zero in on a local artist who has caught my attention.

On this occasion it's Shrewsbury painter and author Roderick Shaw, who lives in Meole Brace.

Roderick creates dazzling paintings that often explode with light and colour, energy and mystery.

They're quirky. They're different. They stop me in my tracks.

When I asked him to tell me a bit about himself, Roderick replied: "I'm a Shropshire man and I have three daughters. I live off Upper Road, Meole Brace. My age? - Let's just say I have a pension and am well past the sell-by date!"

Okay. Point taken.

And how would you describe your art?

"My art .... Well, my paintings are very diverse from themes of legend and mystery to nudes to landscape... People can visit my website – www.roderickshaw.co.uk to get a better idea.

"My career? On graduating in Graphics and Ceramics, I moved to London and worked as an illustrator with clients like British Rail, the Radio Times and BBC TV.

"I followed this by working as an art director with major London agencies like JWT and Young &?Rubicam, before returning to my native Shropshire. I've exhibited in mixed shows in West End galleries, MOMA?(Museum of Modern Art) Wales, and Chester City Art Gallery.

"I was included in The Voice of the Century Show at MOMA Wales. I had a one-man show at Gallery 3 as part of The Shrewsbury Summer Festival and The Place in Telford.

"And I was also included in an exhibition to celebrate A.E.Housman's A Shropshire Lad. Recently I exhibited with Sculptor Jeremy Schrecker and Ray Pearson, Silk Screen printer, at The Haystack Gallery, an exhibition which was later shown at The Salthouse Gallery in St Ives under the title Three Elements."

I met Roderick at one of his exhibitions recently - staged at the Riverside shopping centre in Shrewsbury - and I really liked his paintings.

Roderick's talents are not limited to paint and canvas, though, as he has also published a novel.

"Yes, I also write fiction and have a book out at the moment - entitled 'No Picnic For Sam'.

"Centering on an English village, the story covers three generations from pre-war into the 1990s.

"It encompasses a tragic love story, World War II, undying love and unexplained happenings.

"The book was inspired by a letter I found from my uncle - RSM John Hazlehurst in France - to my aunt Pat Hazlehurst who went on to be a senior police officer who was awarded the Queen's Medal for outstanding police service. But it became fiction from that point on."

As Roderick says, check out his website to find out more about his artwork. Meanwhile, his book, No Picnic For Sam is available from amazon.co.uk