λ Peter Coker (British 1926-2004) Salmon nets, Bardentarbat Oil on canvas Signed with initials (lower right); further signed and dated 1987 (verso) 90 x 151cm (35¼ x 59¼ in.) Provenance: Mulberry Gallery, Wantage, Oxfordshire (acquired directly from the artist) Exhibited: London, Royal Academy, 1991, no. 465 London, Flying Colours Gallery, 1991, no. 2 Literature: David Wootton, Peter Coker RA, London, 2002, p. 139, no. 528 (illustrated in colour p.103) In contrast to his earlier Mediterranean views, in the mid-1980s Coker turned his attention to the more northerly landscape of Scotland. Visiting initially in 1985 shortly following the sudden death of his son, Coker threw himself into exploring the landscape and the work that he produced is frequently considered among his best. In 1987, on his third visit, Coker encountered fishermen drying and mending their salmon nets and this theme became central to his body of work. The manner in which these nets were draped and hung divided and bisected the view in a way that he had not seen before and provided a new framework in which to envisage the landscape. The resulting works range from the entirely realistic to boldly abstract depictions to all manner in-between. In his book on the artist, David Wootton describes the present work as "unrestrained expressionism" (op. cit. p. 103). The common theme of all the works from this series is the juxtaposition of the upright poles against the curve of the ropes and the cross-hatching of the nets. The artist also never loses sight of the sense of place - the spirit of these remote settlements and the wildness of the scenery.