James McGrath
by appointment

Join James McGrath for an exclusive teaching workshop at Old Battersea House, London — a walkthrough of the technique behind Ex Libris, from first ink mark to finished Baroque oil. A rare, invitation-only session for a small group of collectors and guests.

Old Battersea House, London · Date to be confirmed

Process

Ink to Oil

Each painting in Ex Libris begins as ink. Before oil, before canvas, before scale, the ink drawing resolves a room in a few charged lines — where the shelves fall, where a bird lands, where the drapery breaks the light. What survives that compression becomes the painting.


Ink study for Clouds after Lunch
Ink study2026. The picture-within-a-picture is decided here, before the horse has weight.
Clouds after Lunch, finished oil painting
OilClouds after Lunch, 2026. Oil on canvas, 140 × 190 cm.
Ink study for Strahov's Flowers
Ink study2026. The spray of flowers is drawn once, loosely, then held against the shelves.
Strahov's Flowers, finished oil painting
OilStrahov's Flowers, 2026. Oil on canvas, 103 × 140 cm.
Ink study for Folding Flowers
Ink study2026. The table and the landscape beyond it arrive before a single petal is fixed in colour.
Folding Flowers, finished oil painting
OilFolding Flowers, 2026. Oil on canvas, 90 × 140 cm.
Ink study for Floating Flowers #11
Ink study2026. Drawn without a vase — the flowers hold their own shape in the air.
Floating Flowers #11, finished oil painting
OilFloating Flowers #11, 2026. Oil on canvas, 90 × 120 cm.
Ink study for Unstable Archive
Ink study2026. The books give way to flowers gradually, shelf by shelf.
Unstable Archive, finished oil painting
OilUnstable Archive, 2026. Oil on canvas, 190 × 140 cm.
First ink pass for Ex Libris diptych
First ink pass2026. The shelves are established across both panels.
Second ink pass for Ex Libris diptych
Second ink pass2026. The flowers are added, panel by panel, until they crowd the books out.
Ex Libris diptych, finished oil painting
OilEx Libris (diptych), 2026. Oil on canvas, two panels, 180 × 270 cm overall.
Ink study for Heron and Books
Ink study2026. Brush trials at left; the heron itself is drawn once, without correction.
Heron and Books, finished oil painting
OilHeron and Books, 2026. Oil on canvas.
Ink study for Baroque Study in White
Ink study2026. The tail is one unbroken line, drawn last.
Baroque Study in White, finished oil painting
OilBaroque Study in White, 2025. Oil on canvas, 100 × 140 cm.