Michael Sole: "Whether it’s the business side, which I enjoy, or the actual painting I just count myself as very lucky.”
Published: April 28, 2021 | Updated: 9th May 2021
Michael Sole remembers only too well the sale of his first painting.
It was a watercolour of Lyme Regis Harbour and he received £50.
“To a 15-year-old receiving £2.50 pocket money a week that was a lot of money,” he said.
Fast forward 20 years and Michael’s paintings sell for anything up to £12,000.
His work is sought after across the globe.
One overseas buyer, in Greece, has no fewer than 11 pieces of his art.
But then it’s hardly a surprise.
Because his sea and landscape scenes are quite simply stunning.
Little wonder he has such a worldwide legion of fans with more than 10,000 Instagram followers, alone.
The Poole-born artist’s love of drawing started when he picked up his first pencil.
He said: “I just took to it immediately.
“But it was never really something you could think of pursuing as a career.
“At 18, though, I tried selling two oil paintings of Lyme Regis.
“I was asked how much I wanted and – plucking a figure out of the sky – suggested £750 for both.
“The dealer said he would be selling them for £1,750 each and that’s what they went for.
“That was when it really hit home that I could be onto something here.”
Michael, who initially lived in Swanage before moving to Lyme Regis, did a Foundation in Art and Design at the now named Arts University Bournemouth before attending Wimbledon College of Art.
He graduated from there in 2008 with a BA in Fine Art, going on to exhibit in group and solo shows across England, France and America.
His awards have included ‘Young Artist of the Year’ in 2009 and 2010 by the Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA) for his work exhibited in a group show in the Mall Galleries, London.
In 2013 he won The Arts Club Charitable Trust Award at the RSMA annual exhibition in the Mall Galleries.
A year later, two large paintings were accepted in the same exhibition.
In 2016 one of Michael’s paintings was chosen for the Lynn Painter-Stainers Award, again at the Mall Galleries.
It was also chosen as the cover for that year’s catalogue.
In 2017 he was invited to exhibit 24 paintings in a solo show at The Mall Galleries, his biggest and most prestigious show to date.
To gain inspiration the 35-year-old places himself into the environment he’s planning to paint for weeks at a time.
He then brings his thoughts, ideas, and the physical presence of the landscape back into the studio and onto the canvas.
About 70 per cent of his paintings are seascapes with landscapes making up the remainder.
Michael said: “I need to be rained on and feel the sea spray in my face.
““Nature is fascinating to me, especially in extreme circumstances such as storms.
“In painting I feel very strongly that energy must be met with energy.
“By this I mean big seas and powerful subject matter benefits from energetic, physical and confident painting which usually includes allowing the paint to have its own way, without using a brush.
“Dripping, pouring, throwing, lifting, shaking etc all add to these involuntary effects.
“Through these processes and techniques I hope to capture the power and atmosphere of the environment that I have placed myself into.”
Michael, who lives in Westbourne with his partner, Laura, and nine-month-old son, Nolan, paints his canvases on the floor with up to two paintings at a time being worked on in his loft studio,
He’s a big fan of pop-up galleries, featuring his work, and has staged ten in the last 11 years.
It involves taking over an empty unit for up to three months, often bringing new life – and footfall – into areas which may be struggling to attract tenants.
“It’s a win-win for the estate agents and for me and has the added benefit of avoiding empty units,” he said.
This month Michael will be hosting a pop-up gallery in Bournemouth when he takes over 26 Westover Road and displays 25 of his paintings.
The gallery will be open from Friday May 14 until the end of July from Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, with Mondays and Tuesdays set aside for appointments.
Michael said: “My mind never rests and it can be stressful at times.
“But whether it’s the business side, which I really enjoy, or the actual painting I just count myself as very lucky.”
