Lesser Spotted Dogfish

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A visually engaging contemporary naïve style painting depicting two Lesser Spotted Dogfish gliding in quiet formation beneath gently rippling waters, executed in oil onto panel by British artist Matt Rix.

Set against a softly modulated blue sea, the pair move horizontally across the composition, their elongated bodies and distinctive spotted markings rendered with clarity and playful precision.

Executed in a naïve style, the work embraces simplified form and flattened perspective. The fish are presented in profile, their proportions slightly stylised to emphasise pattern and silhouette over anatomical realism. The repetition of the two figures creates a pleasing sense of rhythm and balance, lending the composition a calm, almost decorative quality.

The palette is harmonious and restrained. The cool blue water is built from subtle tonal variations, with light, horizontal strokes suggesting surface movement. In contrast, the dogfish are painted in warm sandy tones, scattered with rhythmic brown spots that animate their forms. Fine linear details define the fins and gill markings, adding gentle texture without disrupting the painting’s graphic simplicity.

Brushwork is smooth and controlled, with flat, even applications of paint enhancing the bold outlines and clean silhouettes. Delicate, feathered strokes in the background provide atmosphere while allowing the spotted patterning to remain the focal point.

This oil on board is presented in a dark wooden frame. Both painting and frame are in excellent condition.

British artist Matt Rix spent his childhood in South Africa and now lives with his family on a small holding in rural North Wales. His paintings are uncomplicated, modernist representations influenced by primitive and naïve folk art from times past. Many of the subjects Rix paints are inspired by the animals he sees from day to day. Rix uses recycled materials including discarded paints, boards, frames and backing paper. Much of his work is therefore produced using waste materials resulting in sustainable paintings that evoke a time-worn, nostalgic essence.

To view the other paintings in this collection, click here.

Size: 35 x 45 cm (including frame)

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