Friday, 28 July 2017

Introducing...Ashley Jones

As is common with many artists, Ashley was drawing before he could walk.


"Pen, pencil and brushwork have always been part of my working day - not always appropriately," he says. "Many long staff meetings in later life were eased by marginal drawings on Important Bits of Paper."


He attended Farnham School of Art for Foundation year, Exeter for Graphic Design and worked initially in marketing and advertising, before taking a career change to work in Learning Disabilities.

"I later qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse and worked in acute psychiatry and then specialised in Addictions and Substance Misuse therapy."
"During this time my art took a back seat but my interest in pen- and ink-work and illustration had a role in therapy with my patients."

Ashley is now a full time artist and also has his own range of greetings cards and prints.


"The paintings I do now are a new and surprising development as I always considered my self an illustrator," he says. "The theme of the coast, beach and figures in a sometimes semi-abstract setting seem to have a resonance with my earlier work in therapy and often strike an emotional chord in the viewer."


Whilst many of Ashley's paintings are traditionally peopled, he is also exploring "the idea of space, horizons and spirituality within these small canvases".

"A British Summer" continues until 2nd September.




Sunday, 23 July 2017

Robert Eadie: inspired by the natural world



Robert Eadie just loves painting! As a full-time painter since 2010, he enjoys painting in a variety of styles and mediums, including painting and drawing from life (still life, landscape and model) and also abstract work.

He has a BA in Painting and Drawing from the Byam Shaw School of Art in London, where he was awarded the Bateson Mason Drawing prize but pursued a career in the antiques trade before returning to his art seven years ago.



The inspiration behind the paintings in this exhibition comes from the natural world: the meadows, fields and landscape of West Sussex and the South Downs.

"The paintings are quite abstract and are not intended to depict specific locations or to 'copy' or 'illustrate' nature," says Robert.

"Rather, from a multitude of visual memories, I create an impression of the colour, light and movement that I find in nature."



Robert likes to allow accident and spontaneity to be part of his paintings, allowing greater expressivity and creating a feeling of surprise and movement, just as in nature.

"I like to think of these works as visual equivalents to poems or musical compositions."



"Some show a build up of paint layers, which lends a textural element," he continues. "This emphasises the painting's presence as an object, rather than a window through which you look!"

Robert's paintings form part of our exhibition, "A British Summer", which continues until 2nd September.





Wednesday, 5 July 2017

A British Summer: from beach huts to Brexit and Wimbledon to wild flowers!


Just as Henley Royal Regatta was drawing to a close and Wimbledon was preparing to open, we launched our Summer Exhibition with a party on Saturday and a heady mix of sunshine, prosecco, nibbles and, of course, Pimms!


Entitled "A British Summer", our exhibition features the work of eight artists: five painters, a print-maker, a wire sculptor and a photographer who between them cover subjects as iconically British as the seaside, Brexit, Brighton, wild flowers, funfairs, beach huts, Wimbledon and seagulls!


Artists Emma Bird, Robert Eadie, Jo Hodder, Ashley Jones, Sophie Mutter and Julain Sutherland-Beatson all called in to the launch party to see their work displayed.


Drinks were enjoyed and old friendships renewed...



Special thanks to talented florist Eva Hall, for her spectacular flowers!


"A British Summer" showcases the work of Emma Bird, Gill Copeland, Robert Eadie, David Fawcett, Jo Hodder, Ashley Jones, Sophie Mutter and Julian Sutherland-Beatson and runs until 2nd September.