Paul Noble (b. 1963)

Noble is a painter, draughtsman and installation artist. He is best known for drawings of sprawling, imagined townscapes, such as Nobson Newtown, which has appeared in a series of large graphite drawings worked on over 15 years. Noble’s precise and detailed style has much in common with the aesthetics of architectural drawing. He has exhibited in numerous international museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art (NY), White Columns and MOCA(LA). His work is included in the collections of the British Council, FRAC des Pays de la Loire, France, Museum of Modern Art, NY and Tate. In 2012, Noble was nominated for the Turner Prize.

Metalpoint is a drawing technique where the artist uses a metal stylus, usually made of silver, on an abrasive preparation so that traces of the metal are left on the surface, resulting in a visible drawing. The fine point allows for precise lines so that stunningly detailed drawings can be achieved. Metalpoint lines cannot be easily erased and the artist needs to carefully plan the design or run the risk of having to start all over again.
This silverpoint drawing was inspired by the Drawing in Silver and Gold exhibition at the British Museum in 2015, using a stylus received as a gift many years earlier.