Upon Reflection: Nostalgia in Contemporary Art

Bob Barker

Inspired by the Yorkshire mill towns that shaped his youth, Northern Impressionist painter Bob Barker injects memories of his own childhood into his work, hoping that they will resonate with the viewer. Through images of childhood, family and romance, Barker depicts almost every aspect of humanity, touching his collectors by evoking memories of their own younger years.

Celebrating the bonds formed through shared experiences, Barker finds charm in the mundane, highlighting the familiar pleasure of an everyday scene. Seeing beauty where others may see soot-blackened brick and polluted skies, Barker captures a warm glow in his artwork that he refers to as ‘northern light’, inviting the viewer to indulge in the comfort of nostalgia.

Storytelling through his paintings, Barker shares personal memories with the viewer. Placing themselves in the shoes of the characters in the artworks, the viewer can step back in to their own treasured moments from the past.

“The echoes of my past become my future paintings.” – Bob Barker

In 2025 Bob Barker revisits his previously sold out carousel scene to kick start the celebrations of his 20th anniversary with Castle Fine Art.

Inspired by childhood memories of days at the fairground, Bob Barker delves into the youthful fantasy of riding away on a carousel horse. A dream come true for many children, Barker depicts the carousel horses coming to life and galloping into the woodland. Exploring the concept of freedom, ‘No Ties’ shows the horses finally released from their restraints and able to live like wild animals.

Whatshisname

Using somewhat provocative techniques, Whatshisname proves that nostalgia does not always have to be rose-tinted. Typically known for fusing themes of childhood nostalgia and pop culture to create artworks that inspire happy and joyful feelings, Whatshisname turns these ideas on their head in his The Malevolence Beneath collection.

Forcing the viewer to confront ideas of nostalgia and lost innocence, the collection is a visual metaphor for growing up and uncovering the unsettling truths behind once beloved images of four recognisable cartoon characters. Fuelled by the artist’s long-standing fascination with the dark side of childhood films, The Malevolence Beneath expresses the sense of disillusionment felt by many when they grow up and learn of the corporate interests behind their childhood favourites.

Whatshisname’s unique fusion of architectural visualisation and themes of nostalgia explore our adult psyches, causing us to question our perspectives of the past.

“Many of us hold on to something special and meaningful that we grew out of but still remember fondly.” - Whatshisname

Featured Art (L-R): 'Playtimes Over' and 'Unauthorised Mission'. Hand-signed embellished giclée on canvas limited editions by Whatshisname.

Nigel Humphries

Building strong feelings of nostalgia for wider cultural memories of youth, Nigel Humphries centres childhood icons, featuring everything from famous musicians and superheroes to soft cuddly toys.

Revisiting the awe and wonder of our younger years, Humphries is skilled at evoking the youthful joy of losing yourself in play and imagination. Incorporating elements of Renaissance technique into his fine artistry, he creates incredibly realistic representations of his subject with the hope of stirring memories of childlike glee in the viewer.

Passionate about recreating feelings of childhood nostalgia in his artwork, Humphries makes the iconic teddy bear the star of his May 2025 collection. Dressing the anthropomorphic bears in the styles of different subcultures, the artist uses layered sentimentality to evoke strong feelings of nostalgia. Combined with the aesthetics of subculture movements, the images of quintessential childhood teddy bears create a broader cultural nostalgia for bygone eras in a whimsical and playful way.

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Featured Art: 'Indie', a hand-signed giclée on canvas board limited edition by Nigel Humphries.