JULIAN MASON
Twoyears have passed since Julian Mason made his debut as a Beckstones’ exhibition artist with his very successful, inaugural, one man show. We have been moaning ever since at the lack of subsequent work from him, but now we finally understand why as we reveal this impressive body of work comprising 54 paintings.
Always working ‘en plein air’ withstanding whatever the weather throws at him, ‘Paint the day’ is Julian’s mantra and, as he sits on the shore of a lake or perches on top of a fell, that is exactly what he does, capturing the transient nature of the landscape and Lake District weather with a sense of movement so beautifully observed and executed that it is quite remarkable. You really are there with him in the moment and his paintings are full of light, motion, mood and colour.
We have watched Julian develop over the last 15 years and continue to be thrilled to be part of his journey as his star continues to rise. His work is so exciting and different, and it is so much more than mere observation of the landscape. His paintings are well and truly alive and painted with such passion and a skill so rarely seen.
Born in 1971 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Julian still lives in Staffordshire with his wife Tess and two daughters. Julian particularly loves to paint the drama of the Lake District but also paints Scotland, the Peak District and Cornwall. As one of our leading landscape artists, Julian still considers his successful career to be an absolute privilege and feels he is very fortunate to have a job that he truly loves
We are honoured to be Julian’s chosen Lake District gallery and we cannot wait to share this collection with you, it really is something special.
1. Late autumn colour, Derwentwater
“Originally intended to go up to Haystacks, but still and hot and not much cloud. Walked from Buttermere to Low LIng Crag.”
2. Crummock reflections 50 x 50 cm £1,700
2. Dusk, River Eden near Temple Sowerby 20 x 40 cm
“Painted between Crummock and Buttermere looking towards Fleetwith, hot day.”
3. Morning light at Long How 50 x 50 cm £1,700
“No matter the weather, they must be a keen sailor. I’ve painted the boat almost as many times as the view down Ullswater.”
4. A good day, Ullswater
40 x 40 cm
£1,400
5. Fleetwith Tarn 40 x 100 cm £2,600
6. Snow on Harter Fell, the Kentmere Round 30 x 80 cm £1,500
“Pleasant afternoon on a quiet (today) track.”
“Down to Crummock with a huge canvas. Warm, cooling off with breeze. Clouds moving in for 4ish.”
£4,600
8. Light over Crummock
76 x 122 cm
7. Rannerdale pathway
60 x 60 cm
£2,600
£850
£850
“Paint the day, Matterdale End, windy but bright.”
“Every morning I pass this view. Decided to stop and paint it.”
10. Spring showers, Matterdale End
30 x 30 cm
9. Spring at Matterdale
30 x 30 cm
“Last bit of energy on this one. Good end to the day.”
£750
£750
12. Coppertips at Long How, Crummock
26 x 26 cm
11. Below Scales, Buttermere Dubs
26 x 26 cm
“These trees have survived three consecutive storms that brought down a lot of others.”
£2,200
“Some great subjects on the lane, but how not to get run over? Sunshine and warmth once again.”
13. The gathering at Crummock Water
51 x 61 cm
14. Farm below Whiteside near Crummock
51 x 61 cm
£2,200
46
£1,900
“Nuthatches, woodpeckers at High Force sheltering, like me, under the trees from the rain”
16. Above High Force
30
£850
“A view that came and went, came and went, came and went...”
17. Into the light,
24 x 48 cm
£900
Ullswater
15. Rough Crags, Kentmere
x 61 cm
x 30 cm
“First painting after the last exhibition. Great subject.”
18. Autumn at Fell Foot 60 x 60 cm £2,600
“Back up to Crags. Similar afternoon to yesterday. Good, became cloudy, became rain.”
19. View From Satura Crag
51 x 61 cm
£2,200
“Last bit of light in the day. So fleeting, such a cloudy day. Only light at the end of the day. Finished in the dark.”
40
£1,400
20. Dusk at Barrow Bay, Derwentwater
x 40 cm
21. Stockley Bridge and Grains Gill 40 x 40 cm £1,400
“Painted on Derwentwater on a very cloudy day. Waited for some light. Rewarded eventually.“
£750
£900
22. Buttermere rooftops
26 x 26 cm
23. Derwent calm
24 x 48 cm
“A brief spell of sunshine, scattered showers. Eventually clouded and rain.”
24. Foxgloves above Brotherswater 51 x 61 cm £2,200
“Rain again, but hope for the afternoon. A bright spell forecast. Superb, best I’ve seen for a while. Dulled at the end, but good.”
25. Seathwaite Farm 40 x 40 cm
£1,400
26. Looking South West, Helvellyn from Satura Crag 91 x 122 cm
£4,200
“Full sun, some high cloud, hot day. Trees on Long How. Bright on subject till 12:00. Tawny owl in the night”
27. Evening light, Crummock Water
30 x 120 cm
£2,600
30. Applethwaite 15 x 15 cm
£350
29. Whiteside 15 x 15 cm
£350
28. Kirkstile Inn, Loweswater 18 x 13 cm
£350
31. Lights on, Grange 15 x 15 cm
£350
“Up to Stickle Tarn, wet and windy. Ended up on path at head of Stickle Tarn. Spoke to plenty. Busy!”
32. Stickle Tarn 51 x 61 cm £2,200
“Painted west beyond bridge. Out of sight unless on the bridge. Fantastic, normally cloudy and wet. A rare day.”
33. Grains Gill, Borrowdale 40 x 40 cm £1,400
34. Colours of Derwentwater
46 x 61 cm
£1,900
“A traipse up from Glenridding in search of snow. A few miles. Red squirrels. V cold, not windy.“
35. Glenridding Beck below Helvellyn 50 x 50 cm £1,600
“Originally headed for more waterfalls, with smaller canvases. Got brighter, so tried to fit the entire view on a small canvas.”
“Painted in heavy mist at cottage. A little brightness pushed through.”
36. Gowbarrow
30 x 30 cm £850
37. Grange 20 x 40 cm £800
“Early start. Bright, cold, thick fog. Going for Fleetwith. Once up, started to clear, but white cloud moved in for afternoon.”
38. Morning on Fleetwith 91 x 91 cm
£4,000
“Painted above High Wood overlooking Crummock. No wind, full moon tonight.”
39. Shimmering light over Crummock 50 x 50 cm £1,700
“On the pathway between Crummock and Buttermere. Full sun, consistent, no wind, no clouds. Plenty of butterflies.”
40. Butterdubs 40 x 40 cm £1,400
41. Foxgloves, Wastwater
10 x 10 cm
£300
43. Cottongrass, Blea Tarn
10 x 10 cm
£300
44. Narcissi, Ullswater
10 x 10 cm
£300
42. Snowdrops, Dockray
10 x 10 cm
£300
“Up to Brock Crags, dull start, some fleeting bright moments, skylarks. Heavy rain towards evening.”
45. Skylarks over Gray Crag 60 x 60 cm £2,600
“Still have a cold, sneezed with an echo all day. Good subjects at Blea Tarn, went for this one. Good amounts of cottongrass.”
“Walked up past footbridge on to Langstrath Beck. -6, -2, no wind.”
46. Langdales from Blea
51 x 61 cm
£2,200
47. The
51
£2,600
Tarn
quiet light of Langstrath
x 77 cm
48. Friars Crag, Derwentwater 24 x 48 cm
£900
49. Autumn, falls at Watendlath
24 x 24 cm
£700
£750
50. Between showers, Middlefell Cottage, Langdale
26 x 26 cm
51. Scales, Seathwaite
26 x 26 cm
£750
“Ran out of the house to paint this one before rain set in again.”
“Last one of the day, white cloud moved in.”
52. Langstrath Beck below Eagle Crag 50 x 50 cm
£1,600
53. Watendlath 40 x 40 cm £1,400
“Raining on the morning, rain all day. 4ish sun promised. Evening light from Crow Park. Dark at 17:15. Eek!”
54. Evening glow, Derwentwater 61 x 76 cm
£2,700
“For me, the joy of painting lies in the landscape itself. Working ‘en plein air’ offers a privileged glimpse into the power and ever-changing mood of Lakeland - sometimes shifting from moment to moment. One day may be bathed in sunshine before breaking into wild storms; another begins drab and drizzly, only to close with a glorious sunset. The landscape itself keeps you on your toes: storms fell trees, gentle brooks swell into torrents, tarns marked on maps vanish. The landscape is never still - it constantly reshapes itself, offering new views and perspectives with every passing year.
This exhibition is centred on that variety. I have always tried to paint in response to nature - allowing it to lead, rather than imposing my own ideas upon it. These works trace a kind of timeline: a series of windows onto the landscapes I have encountered
I hope that as you move through this exhibition, you enjoy the wander as much as I did.”
Best
wishes Julian
how
TO PURCHASE
The works illustrated are available for sale prior to the exhibition immediately on receipt of this catalogue.
To check availability and place orders:
• telephone 01768 483601
• visit our website beckstonesartgallery.co.uk to buy online
• visit the gallery in person
• email enquiries@beckstonesartgallery.co.uk
All paintings are oil. Sizes shown are in centimetres and give the dimensions of the actual image excluding the frame.
The exhibition runs from 10am on 4 October to 5pm Sun 19 October 2025.
The full catalogue can also be viewed nearer the date online at beckstonesartgallery.co.uk
We regret that paintings cannot be held on reserve for approval.
Please note that paintings are available to purchase immediately
Beckstones Art Gallery · Greystoke Ghyll, Nr. Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0UQ · Tel: 01768 483601
beckstonesartgallery.co.uk