London Grilling: Artist Paul Kenton on capturing London's energy in paint

From the shimmering reflections of the Thames to the bustle of Trafalgar Square, artist Paul Kenton has built a reputation for transforming cityscapes into vibrant, expressive works bursting with movement and light. His latest exhibition, Urban Echoes, brings together original paintings and a new collection of limited edition prints inspired by three iconic cities: London, New York and Venice.

Ahead of the exhibition at The Bomb Factory Foundation, we caught up with Paul to discuss why London continues to inspire him, how he captures the pulse of a city on canvas, and the one view he never tires of painting.

Urban Echoes celebrates London, New York and Venice. What drew you to these three cities, and what connects them in your eyes?

I've always been fascinated by the way light moves through these cities – how it bounces from one side of a street to another, cascades down buildings and creates reflections, unexpected colour and a real sense of energy. Their architecture is equally inspiring. Each city has its own iconic skyline and distinctive streetscapes that continually draw me back to paint them.

London is one of your recurring subjects. What is it about the city that continues to inspire your work?

I love London. I've spent countless hours wandering through its streets, and it feels as though there's a potential painting around every corner. It's the city I feel closest to. Every visit brings a different atmosphere or moment, and that experience naturally finds its way into my paintings.

Your paintings are known for capturing movement, atmosphere and light. How do you translate the energy of a busy city into a still image?

It's about the relationship between my eye and my hand, and the way I use abstract marks to create movement. Keeping the paint loose gives the work a sense of flow – almost like a sequence of film frames rather than a single frozen moment. Throwing and flicking paint also helps convey that feeling of constant motion and energy.

Are there particular places or moments in London that consistently spark ideas for new work?

I'm always captivated by the reflections in the Thames. The river is constantly changing and never looks the same twice. The way it mirrors the skyline and catches the light creates endless possibilities, and it's something I find myself returning to again and again.

This exhibition brings together both original paintings and new limited edition prints. What do you hope visitors take away from seeing them side by side?

The prints are remarkable because they retain so much of the texture, detail and vibrancy of the original paintings. Displaying them alongside the originals really shows just how closely they reflect the artworks they're based on.

How do you decide which original paintings become limited edition prints?

I always seem to have a new favourite, and those are often the pieces that naturally become prints.

Is there one piece in Urban Echoes that feels especially personal to you?

Currents of Light is particularly special to me. I love the movement within the painting, especially the way the sunset sky is reflected in the water and the warmth it creates. It's also featured as part of a special immersive installation within the exhibition, which brings another dimension to the artwork.

London is constantly evolving. Has the way you see or paint the city changed over the years?

The skyline is always changing, so there's constantly a new perspective to paint. At the same time, my own style has become looser and more instinctive, evolving alongside the city itself.

For someone discovering your work for the first time, what do you hope they experience?

I hope they see the variety within my work – the different techniques, styles and approaches I enjoy experimenting with. More than anything, I hope they leave feeling inspired.

Finally, if you could paint one London scene that perfectly captures the city's spirit today, what would it be?

The view from Trafalgar Square towards Parliament always stands out to me. I love the energy of the crowds, the buses weaving through the streets and the lions watching over the base of Nelson's Column. I've painted that view many times, but I never tire of capturing the long perspective towards Parliament with all the life and movement surrounding those iconic landmarks.

Urban Echoes is showing 10-26 July at The Bomb Factory, London.

Please see here for more information.