Artist captures Norfolk and Norwich Festival scenes in paint

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Transe Express performing the festival's opening spectacle.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

On the first day of the festival Mr Mathers painted French company Transe Express turning Norwich into an open air opera house with giant singing dolls and drummers that took to the sky on an elaborate mobile, and since then he has created illustrations of many more scenes from the 17-day arts extravaganza.

Mr Mathers, a 37-year-old graphic designer, illustrator and artist who lives in Norwich's Golden Triangle, said: 'I always have a sketch book with me, and when my other half and I went to the launch I did some sketches while we were in the crowds and I put them on Instagram.

'It was through the festival seeing them that they asked if I would like to do more pictures for them.'

Since then he has been a regular at pop-up festival venue the Adnams Spiegeltent, in Chapelfield Gardens, where he has painted pictures of Barely Methodical Troupe presenting their circus show Shift as well as performances by West African female supergroup Les Amazones D'Afrique and saxophone-drum duo Binker and Moses.

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Binker & Moses at the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

'What I like to capture is the energy and the atmosphere,' Mr Mathers said.

'All the artworks are carried out on location and none of it is done at home. I look at the scene and I just draw it as it develops in front of me with pen and watercolour washes.

'The majority of the drawings I have done for this particular project are done in 15 to 20 minutes, they are quite quick. At Binker and Moses I did five or six drawings in an hour.'

Mr Mathers, who graduated from Norwich School of Art and Design, now Norwich University of the Arts, with a BA Honours degree in graphic design in 2003, will also be out about over the next few days capturing moments from the final weekend of the 2018 festival.

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Les Amazones D'Afrique performing in the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

'I'm going to Wells on Saturday for Wayfaring,' he said.

'I also hope to go see the sculptures at the UEA and the Damien Hirst exhibition at some point.'

The festival runs until Sunday. Visit www.nnfestival.org.ukMr Mathers will also be having an exhibition at Studio 20 in Wensum Street from July 6 to 8. For more about Mr Mathers work, visit www.owenmathers.co.uk and follow @OwenMathers on Instagram and Twitter.

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Binker & Moses at the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Barely Methodical Troupe performing Shift in the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is the Adnams Spiegeltent bar.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is the Adnams Spiegeltent bar.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Binker & Moses at the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Binker & Moses at the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Binker & Moses at the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Binker & Moses at the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Les Amazones D'Afrique performing in the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Les Amazones D'Afrique performing in the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Barely Methodical Troupe performing Shift in the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Barely Methodical Troupe performing Shift in the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)

Artist Owen Mathers has been painting scenes from the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.Pictured is Barely Methodical Troupe performing Shift in the Adnams Spiegeltent.Image: Owen Mathers (Image: Owen Mathers)