









































Til the Morning - Oil on Canvas (103 x 80cm) 2025
Two Harbors
Each piece in this exhibition explores the relationship between nature and memory, capturing remote landscapes shaped by both personal experience and human influence. Catalina Island, in particular, has become a recurring subject in his work since moving to California. Through sketches, photographs, and written and verbal recordings, Yates documents the histories of the places that shape his work. Light plays a central role in his practice, serving as a way to conceptualize California’s climate to create an evocative sense of place. He explains, “I believe light is my new medium, as I feel it has had a large impact on my work since moving from Scotland last year.” His paintings aim to conjure a feeling of being “somewhere else,” capturing the intangible through shifts in atmosphere and perception.
Fishermans Cove - Oil on Canvas (137 x 105cm) 2025
This body of work utilizes materials such as sustainably sourced wood gathered during his travels through California, from Catalina Island to the Santa Monica Mountains. Working with a limited palette derived from natural pigments he collects, Yates employs a subtractive painting technique, removing layers of oil paint with a cloth to reveal imagery that emerges from his monochromatic compositions. His work invites viewers not just to interpret but rather question the landscapes depicted, reflecting on our consciousness and connection to the natural world, especially the environments we often take for granted.
Poster - Two Harbours - March 29th - 4th May 2025
Paintings available here