Jiří Ptacek

Born in Prague, Czech Republic, in 1977 and having started his painting career at a young age, Jiří studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague and graduated with a Master's Degree in Fine Art in 2001. Exhibitions of Jiří’s work have been held since 2002 in Prague, extensively throughout the Czech Republic and in Berlin.

Jiří’s first visit to England was in 2006 and he was instantly struck by the sheer beauty of this country, discovering that nowhere was very far from the sea – a sharp contrast to his experience of having lived his life so far in a landlocked country in central Europe. Inspired by the coastline of the south west he interprets the natural beauty, atmosphere and spirit of this special part of the world in his paintings. This is represented by the endless movement, rhythm, energy, power and ineffable sensual effects of waves, focussing the viewer’s imagination on the taste, smell and feel of the fresh salty water and air. Working with strikingly bright coloured acrylics offers him the freedom to exploit his imagination and creativity and to indulge in a world of beauty, calm and surreal perfection.

Jiří divides his life and work between Prague and South Devon where he paints from his home overlooking Lyme Bay.