ESCAPISM is Daniel Martins most recent body of work, exploring his signature style, producing a sense of calm amid the difficulties of the last couple of years. He describes how his craft has saved him: “I’d be lost without it, and I’ll never take what I do for granted. It felt fitting to have ESCAPISM as the title for my show.

With the birth of his daughter last year, Daniel expected to paint much lighter pieces, using a softer palette. However, the opposite became true, a year of sleepless nights makes his work the most atmospheric it has ever been. Daniel’s process remains the same: "I want my work to be as organic as possible, and I don’t often have any preconceived ideas of how exactly each piece should turn out. I start painting, I stand back and have what I call a silent conversation, which then helps guide me through the rest of the piece. But I always have Scotland and its moody skies in the forefront of my mind when working. Most pieces are of specific parts of Scotland, but the ones which aren't are still definitely Scotland inspired.”

Wood remains Daniel’s preferred surface, and he has been experimenting with repurposed scrap wood, which he sands and primes before getting to work with his oils.