Roger Rowley (b. 1965) is a Devon-based artist. His work is informed by examining the value and meaning placed on everyday objects and how such objects carry a persistence of the past into the present, evoking memories of people, places or events and fostering a means to develop and maintain a cognitive sense of self.

As a painter, Rowley is deeply engaged with the tactile and visual responsiveness of the painted surface, exploring how the act of painting interacts with the subject itself. His work examines the nuanced relationship between the object and its representation, emphasising how materials, brushwork and composition contribute to the viewer’s perception.

Many of the objects he depicts are placed within a neutral, undefined space—seemingly suspended in time and detached from a specific context. However, upon closer inspection, these spaces reveal delicate shifts in colour, tone and light, subtly animating the composition. This careful modulation creates an atmosphere of quiet contemplation, evoking a sense of familiarity and nostalgia while simultaneously introducing an element of ambiguity. The balance between presence and absence, clarity and obscurity, allows the viewer to engage with the work emotionally and psychologically, inviting reflection on memory, meaning and perception.

Rowley’s process is deeply rooted in repetition, as he continually revisits and reinterprets a carefully chosen collection of personal possessions. By repeatedly engaging with the same objects over time, he builds an evolving dialogue with his subjects, allowing their significance to shift and deepen with each iteration. This cyclical approach fosters a sense of stability and structure, creating a framework within which his ideas can develop organically.

For Rowley, this method is as much about observation and contemplation as it is about painting itself. The act of revisiting familiar objects provides moments to reflect, reassess and gradually refine his visual language. Through this sustained engagement, subtle details emerge and unexpected relationships between objects, colour and form become apparent. The process is not merely about replication but about discovery, as he seeks to uncover hidden layers of meaning, memory and emotion within the work. In doing so, Rowley constructs a visual narrative that transcends the objects themselves, inviting the viewer to share in a quiet meditation on time, presence, and perception.