On Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th September the Luton Hoo Estate is taking part in the English Heritage Open Days. At the heart of the Estate lies a six-acre octagonal walled garden.
Established in the 1770s by John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, who was a friend and advisor to George III and a consultant in the planning of Kew Gardens. It fell into disrepair in the 1950’s and is currently being restored by the volunteers of the Walled Garden Project.
Karin & I actually live in the Ornamental Dairy just opposite the garden and so with the kind permission of Charlotte Phillips we are holding our first ever ‘at home’ and are donating 10% of all sales to help in the restoration of the Walled Gardens.
The Ornamental Dairy and Tea House was built in 1890 after Madame de Falbe commissioned the architect John Birch to build a rustic cottage as a retreat to entertain her guests from the mansion.
It is unique amongst the Estate buildings in being the only one dressed in knapped flints.
Film buffs may like to know that it has been used in the BBC’s production of Bleak House and more recently in the period black comedy, 'Burke & Hare', directed by John Landis of 'American Werewolf in London' and Michael Jacksons 'Thriller' video fame.
This selling exhibition will include gallery artists and specially invited guests some of whom will be creating on site.
We will be displaying sculptures by Kate Denton, Terry Ryall, Helen Sinclair, Guy Portelli, Stanger Moore, and a selection of Zimbabwean sculptors. Frank Taylor will be showing his original paintings and a wide selection of limited edition prints of his work. Anna Perlin, Steve Parkes and Rory Browne will be exhibiting and hopefully also painting on the spot. Outstanding draughtswoman Rydal Hanbury will (I hope) also be outside somewhere with her 'birthday card' drawing the crowds! (you’ll have to come to see what I mean !)
You can watch jeweler Wendy Jones creating her pieces, while picture restorer David Roxby Goller will be letting slip a few of his trade secrets and our own Sarah Sharp GCF will be in our workshop to answer your picture framing questions. There are also a few other irons in the fire so come along we'd love to see everyone at what promises to be a great show.
I thought this exhibition would be our 6th Annual 'Rory-Fest',
but I see from the reference book 'Artists In Britain Since 1945' that they are listing Rory as having a show with us in 2001 ! so maybe this is our 9th !
Either way, as always, Rory has created work to inspire wonder & peace and provoke contemplation.
Exhibition runs 1st - 31st July.
This Summer Steve has a mega exhibion entitled 'Views from the Anglesey Coastal Path' at Oriel Mon, Rhosmeirch, Llangefni, Anglesey. This is the culmination of 4 years of work comprising 140 landscapes from around the coast. We wish him the very best.
We are therefore very pleased that he has still found the time to create these more intimate impressionist beachscenes featuring his signature kids playing in the sand & surf for his exhibition.
to see more:
www.akwilsongallery.co.uk/gallery.php?cat=00003926
Bill has just delivered 5 new paintings, click here
www.akwilsongallery.co.uk/gallery.php?cat=00003737
to see them !
David has just sent us a big parcel of unframed watercolours !
I'm loading them onto the website as we speak, so to see the new work click here:
www.akwilsongallery.co.uk/gallery.php?cat=00012741
The listings below here go backwards from recent events into the mists of time.....
A new artist to the gallery, MJ Forster will be unveiling his suite of new wave watercolours.
Born in Oxford in 1975, MJ Forster initially studied a foundation in the arts at Newcastle College of Art and Design before pursuing a degree in Sports Science. The artist spent much of his spare time continuing to paint and draw and upon graduation, quickly resumed his artistic career.
Continuing his artistic progression, MJ Forster has developed a distinct style and technique associated with the medium of watercolour, reinvigorating what is traditionally perceived as a conventional medium. The work has an almost graphic quality, and contains a feeling of enhanced hyper reality, perhaps intimating something close to a utopian ideal. The fascination and inspiration for the contemporary paintings though, is deeply rooted in the artist’s immediate and wider environment and in particular the unique and varied British landscapes.
The winner of the signed limited edition print of Matt Forsters 'South Coast' is Mr John Williams of Harpenden
It was the out pouring of public affection towards Cadbury’s following their recent take over that prompted artist Peter Ado Kotka to consider how attached people can become to their favourite brands.
Peter is a painter of classical still lifes, who specialises in wine related pieces.
“In my still lifes I’m usually painting bottles from a particular vintage or chateau, so I knew people had strong loyalties to particular wines, I just hadn’t realised that these passions also ran to custard powder and marmalade!!”
So he sat down to paint the nations most iconic products, so far he has immortalised in paint, Birds custard, Marmite, Colmans mustard, Bisto, Robertsons Golden Shred and Bassets Jelly Babies.
But still on his shopping list are Lea & Perrins , Tetleys Tea, Branston Pickle and HP Sauce, in fact hundreds of goodies to be committed to canvas.
Peters exhibition runs until the end of March.