Up North 

Mark Beck painted "Up North" sometime in the 20th century, using oils on what appears to be canvas. It’s clear that Beck has really engaged with the materiality of his medium. The consistency of the oil paint gives a thickness and depth to the image, with the brushstrokes clearly visible. The painting feels like a moment captured in time – the light, the shadow, and the colours all work together. What’s interesting here is how Beck has adopted an aesthetic that seems at once contemporary and traditional. Oil painting is a technique that goes back centuries, yet he’s brought a modern eye to the work by choosing such a familiar scene to create something timeless. Ultimately, considering the materials and processes used in "Up North" allows us to appreciate the artist’s skilled use of oil paint. It also encourages us to look beyond the surface of the painting and to consider the wider cultural and historical contexts in which it was made.