Latest News and Progress

13 May 2019

Contemporary Passions at Harbour House

This year’s Contemporary Passions exhibition, at Harbour House, Kingsbridge, will be open to the public 16-28 July.

New works by members of SHAF

As a member of SHAF (South Hams Art Forum), I’m exhibiting along with eight other artists.

Teresa Barlow
Nick Cotter
Jane Davarian
Crystel Dauth
Brett Hornby
Cherry Lyons
Jane Mahood
Elaine Sibley

The theme for 2019

The theme for the contemporary Passions exhibition, this year, is ELEMENTS. This can be interpreted in many ways.

A small but significant amount of feeling or quality
An essential or characteristic part of something abstract
Each of more than 100 substances that cannot be chemically converted or broken down
The fundamental constituents of the world in ancient philosophy: earth, air, water and fire
Strong winds, heavy rain or other kinds of bad weather
A person’s or animal’s natural or preferred environment – in their element

Water is colourless and yet …

Glass of water — ID 64787443
© Tauha2001 | Dreamstime.com

My take on this theme is, unsurprisingly, water. In particular, I’m focusing on the fact that water is colourless, and yet …

Of the 140+ paintings I have produced in the past decade or so, the water has never been colourless.

You might think it would be blue, but I’ve witnessed every colour (almost!) under the sun, and then tried to capture that in my images.

So, the paintings I have selected for this exhibition will aim to show the variety of colours that colourless water takes on.

Meet the Artists: 6-8pm Tuesday 16 July

There will be an opportunity to meet all the artists – and to see the Contemporary Passions exhibition, and to discuss with them their individual interpretations of the theme ELEMENT – on Tuesday 16 July: 6-8pm.

I hope to see you there.

Salcombe-Art blog: Featuring the artists

I will be featuring some of my fellow artists in the coming weeks. Each exhibitor will explain the process they use in creating their art, and you’ll get to see examples of the work that will be on show in the Contemporary Passions exhibition ahead of time.

29 April 2019

SOLD! Tranquility

Tranquility was painted in 2012 and has been on display at Beacon House since the gallery was set up five years ago. It had become part of the furniture!

When I painted Tranquility, though, we were living at Great Gates and this was our view across the estuary.

Idyllic? Yes … with Mill Bay empty of visitors and the water calm and the sun shining …

For the purchasers, friends of ours, this view reminds them of visits to the other side of the estuary in their boat. They saw the painting for the first time at the preview evening on Friday 5 April and were struck how it captured many happy memories for them. Now, Tranquility hangs in their home in Salcombe and can be enjoyed by them every day and all who visit.

My paintings are mostly bought as souvenirs of holidays in Salcombe. To have one bought by ‘locals’ who enjoy these views daily – they are on our doorstep – is a real honour.

And, while we will miss this particular painting, we know we will see it again and again, gracing the walls of our friends’ home, whenever we visit them.

When can you visit Beacon House?

Beacon House Gallery is also our home and is not open to the public on a daily basis.

However, we do open our doors to the public during the SHAF (South Hams Art Forum) Arts Trail in October, daily apart from Tuesdays, from 10am until 5pm.

This year, the Arts Trail is 12-20 October and our Preview evening will be on Friday 11 October. The preview evening is by invitation, but, if you’d like an invitation, let me know.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to come to view my collection, contact me to arrange a time convenient for you and for us. You will be made very welcome.

15 April 2019

Tidal Gallery: Wild Spring exhibition

Today, this evening from 5.30 to 7.30pm, is the launch of the Wild Spring Exhibition at the Tidal Gallery, Kingsbridge.

Once again, Anna Ventura has brought together a fascinating group of artists:

Richard Thorn
Ayse Rifat
James Savage

I own a Richard Thorn watercolour and much admire his work. This painting hangs in my sunroom, and is always an inspiration to me when attempting watercolour. The intensity of colour he achieves is breathtaking.

Richard currently holds the title of South West Academician (SWAc) and has won awards by the Royal Institute for painters in Watercolour in 2016 and 2017. I am very much looking forward to meeting him and seeing more of his work at the Tidal Gallery.

Ayse Rifat is wildlife artist working in oils and acrylics. Her aim is to capture each detail and she produces final pieces with intense realism.

Ayse Rifat: work of art at Tidal Gallery

Ayse is a fellow member of the South Hams Art Forum (SHAF) and works as a freelance designer – her projects range from web design to brand creation. A very talented lady!

James Savage is a ceramics artist and his works are reminiscent of the colours of local stone. Beautiful!

James Savage: works of art at Tidal Gallery

Where is the Tidal Gallery?

1 Victoria Place, The Promenade, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 1JG

There is free parking on the opposite side of The Promenade and, at a cost, in a nearby carpark. More details, including directions, are available on the Tidal Gallery website.

When is the exhibition open?

The Wild Spring exhibition is on from tomorrow until 15 July, so you have plenty of time to pop in during the next couple of months if you are not able to attend this evening’s launch.

If you have an exhibition that you’d like me to promote via my blog, contact me and I’ll do my best to support your artistic endeavours.