Graeme Black:
Eucalyptus

27th July - 28th August 2026

Within this new body of work Black has turned his attention away from the familiar woodlands of the Yorkshire Dales and has instead focused on the distinctive eucalyptus trees found on a recent painting expedition in South Africa in the Karoo desert. Though these trees are an introduced, invasive species to the area, the eucalyptus thrives in the environment and is a prominent feature of the local landscape.

These works explore not only the swirling bark but also suggest the internal structure of capillaries moving through the branches which circulate water and nutrients, enabling the tree to flourish. Both of these elements translate to gestural lines and textured layers within the paintings creating a dialogue between the exterior and interior structures. The colours Black uses are a mix rich umbers and yellows contrasting against against the intense blues mirrioring the harsh desert light. The brushrokes range between the pieces from swirling, expressive movements to controlled stippling of paint creating dappled light over the peeling bark.

The contested status of the eucalyptus in South Africa brings a tension to the pieces and asks the question of how something can be simultaneously out of place but so deeply embedded in the landscape.