Published Jun 5. 2006 - 17 years ago
Updated or edited Nov 12. 2020

Rod Sutterby

Rod Sutterby gave us a taste of his beautiful paintings in the book Atlantic Salmon done in cooperation with Malcolm Greenhalgh. In connection with a new series of articles about "Fishy artists" here on GFF we contacted the artist.

Night move -
Night move
Rod Sutterby

I first really noticed Rod Sutterby's paintings in the book Atlantic Salmon done in collaboration with Malcom Greenhalgh. where his beautiful illustrations make this book a special experience. In connection with a new series of articles about "Fishy artists" here on GFF, I contacted Rod, and he returned with answers to my questions and some samples of his beautiful art.

This is what Rod tells about himself:

I was trained as a "Fine Artist" and made large abstracts but I had a young family.

In the real world I became a jobbing illustrator for books and magazines and was asked to paint a minnow for an encyclopaedia of fishing.

I later progressed to painting all the fishes for "The Fisherman's Handbook and Advanced Guide" and whilst initially not owning a fishing rod, I became fascinated by all species of angler's quarry. My paintings became somewhat like cave art - they were animals from another world which I hoped to catch, perhaps even by magic.

Coho salmon

Loch Leven trout

Rainbow trout

River Tyne henfish

Rod Sutterby
Chalkstream trout

The artist

Rod Sutterby - Simon Danby

When studying a preserved fish specimen at The Natural History Museum in London I discovered that there was sparse information about trout and salmon, other than decaying Victorian specimens. I now had a couple of rods and reels and set about trying to rectify this lack of fresh information, setting out to precisely record Salmo specimens. However, with only limited fishing skills, this would clearly take time and I quickly sought skilled anglers and authors to find fish for me and in this way learned about the hidden lives of these species.

The conservation of wild salmon and trout and respecting their life strategies has become of enormous importance, especially now, given such great global changes. These motives now lead my artwork but like the cave artist I hope I paint fishes with a hunter's eye. I have never killed a fish for the purpose of painting but sometimes of course for eating.

Cockfish with kype -
Hen and cock -
Hens and cocks
Rod Sutterby

I use traditional materials and methods for my works: Water-colour, Oils, Acrylic, Pastel and Pencil.

Hill in the spring thaw

Rod Sutterby

Painting is my main source of income. Recently I have painted large landscapes from my local environment together with new specimens when they occur. I work in a converted hay-barn, in the remote hills of Northumberland with the River Tyne and it's tributaries nearby.

There is a permanent exhibition of my salmon paintings at The Fondation Saumon, Chanteuges, Auvergne, France.
I shall be exhibiting a one-man show of paintings at the Customs House Gallery in South Shields, Newcastle upon Tyne, from 20th October until 25th November 2006.

Contact me at my email address for enquiries, a catalogue of paintings for sale, or adding to my mailing list for forthcoming exhibitions. rodsutterby·at·beeb.net
You can find my web site here.

Atlantic salmon holding

Spring salmon

Under the ice

Rod Sutterby

Comments

I love your painting...

I love your paintings, which I've just found here by chance on the Web...

Martin Joergensen's picture

Angela, Rod shoul...

Angela,

Rod should be available on rodsutterby@beeb.net - that is the address I have used to reach him.

Martin

Hi Trying to sen...

Hi

Trying to send an email to Rod Sutterby can you confirm his email please

CARLOS's picture

ASTOUNDING!! What...

ASTOUNDING!!

What an artist!

.

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