Travel Japan: 1984-1987

A trip to Japan in 1984 was in stark contrast to my earlier impressions of South East Asia’s restless vibrancy.

In Japan all was structure and this was coupled with a deep reverence for its cultural and historical past, the preservation of its architecture, gardens and lifestyles everywhere to be seen.

Integrated into this tightly packed fabric of small shops, cottage industries, bars, housing, parks, temples and shrines was also a remarkable love for modernism and flashing neon signage particularly in Tokyo. Somehow it worked.

Travelling again with just watercolours I recorded impressions of the cities and landscape during a three week train journey that meandered through the deep valleys of Central Honshu down to the rural Island of Kyushu then back up to Kyoto for an extended six week stay when Autumn was at its finest. Each day travelling to different shrines and temples throughout the city and countryside.

I felt only watercolours were right for the paintings I went on to do and these became a sideline project which I returned to a number of times, finally exhibiting them in 2008