Exhibition: Meet the Artist Day - Overview

 Exhibition: Meet the Artist Day - Overview

Sunday, 28th May, 2023, Meet the Artist Day, Here: A Journey Along the Humber Estuary

Stables Gallery, Burton Constable Hall, HU11 4NL

What a great day at the Stables Gallery! In the photograph above I am greeting my guests at the afternoon reception.

It was a wonderful turn out for the event. Many fellow artists, including local art tutors and painter/print makers, friends and family made the trip from Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, London and Cumbria  to see the exhibition. 

I was able to speak with them about my work, explain my practice, the theme of the exhibition and my working methods. They took a great deal of interest in everything. Here are some photographs of me chatting with people about my paintings, answering their questions and general discussion about the show.

I will discuss different aspects of the day in the next few posts.

Exhibition Opens - Here: A Journey Along the Humber Estuary

 Exhibition Opens

Here: A Journey Along the Humber Estuary, Burton Constable Hall, East Yorkshire, 23rd May to 2nd July, 2023

Here I am, hanging the paintings. A lovely venue and all went well.

A busy day unfolded.

Watercolour Sketching on the Yorkshire Coast

 Watercolour Sketching on the Yorkshire Coast

Cayton Bay, looking south

I made some watercolour sketches of the beautiful scenery at Cayton. I wanted to capture the majesty of the cliffs and the colours which called out to be painted.

Cayton Bay, looking north towards Scarborough

Cayton Bay, looking north towards Scarborough

The lone figure, Cayton Bay

Untalkative, Out of Reach

 Untalkative, Out of Reach

Untalkative, Out of Reach, oil on canvas, 76cm x 101cm

I was inspired to paint this scene after a visit  to Cayton Bay on the East Yorkshire Coast on a sunny January day. I was walking along the beach with my daughter and her friend taking a video of the sea washing up against the shore when the friend stepped in front of me. The sun created a huge shadow of her figure which intrigued me and I kept filming. I have painted the above image at the moment she stops and looks ahead to the view before her of the vast sea and Scarborough in the distance. I wanted to catch that fleeting moment.

The solitary figure gazes into the horizon. What are her thoughts? The image creates an air of mystery.

I also made pencil sketches of the stunning scenery:

The North Sea, Watercolour Studies

 The North Sea: Watercolours:

When I got home from my trip to Hornsea I made some watercolour studies of what I had seen and experienced (above and below). I tried to capture the mood of the cold day in my choice of palette and using the paint, the movement of the sea. I also did some wave studies.

Above, watercolour studies, Hornsea Beach

Wave study

The North Sea: Oil Paintings

 The North Sea 

       Shapes and Shingle, oil on wooden panel, 41cm x 51cm

       Beyond a Beach, oil on wooden panel, 41cm x 51cm

On a cold February day I travelled to Hornsea a small coastal town in East Yorkshire. Walking on the beach, the waves crashed into the groins and lashed the shore. The sea was gloomy and brown, but the scene was atmospheric. A few brave souls walked their dogs and children, warmly wrapped up against the cold, ran along the sand. 

Thinking of Larkin's poem "Here" I was reminded of his words about the shapes of the shingle on the shore and the view of the sea beyond the beach. My two paintings echo those thoughts.

My mind also wandered to days gone by, when as a child I came to the same beach with my parents. My father had a motorbike and sidecar and I would sit in the back of the sidecar behind my mother for the journey. My father would go fishing from the shore and my mother and I would sit huddled on the beach beside a windbreaker. We would usually take a primus stove, make a "brew" and eat homemade sausage rolls and egg sandwiches. Those were the days!

Here Neglected Waters Quicken

 Here Neglected Waters Quicken

  Here neglected waters quicken, oil on canvas 76cm x 102cm

At Barrow Haven we see a boat waiting to be boarded when the tide comes in. Other small boats lie at rest nearby softly embedded in the muddy banks. Waters glistens in the sunlight as we look out across the estuary towards Hull in the distance.

Wandering between the reed beds is very restful. Birds can be your only companion. Their melodious singing and the gentle swishing of the grasses set the mood. I made some sketches nearby and some watercolour notes for my future paintings.

Here Silence Stands Like Heat

 Here Silence Stands Like Heat

  Here silence stands like heat, oil on canvas 76cm x 102cm

The Humber from the South Bank, pencil sketch

On a sunny morning in early summer I travelled over the Humber Bridge and drove eastwards towards Barrow upon Humber. Here there is a small haven where boats moor up and a timber yard. I walked along the the bank towards the Humber and took in the view. I could see across to Hull and beyond. The air was still and nothing moved. I felt a long way from civilisation. The tide was out and two vessels rested on the mud. I depict this scene in the painting above and hope that I have captured the peaceful mood of the day.

The Boatyard

 The Boatyard

The Boatyard, oil on canvas, 76cm x 102 cm

Leaving Hull behind, there are many inlets and havens where boats can moor. At South Ferriby there is a small marina on the River Ancholme. The area has in the past been badly affected by flooding, but recently the banks of the Humber have been reinforced along this point.

The surrounding land has provided many local industries in the past. The Romans made tiles here and tileworks still exist along this part of the estuary today. In the image above we can see a boat moored up alongside the marina. The overhead cables and carriage system were used to transport chalk from neighbouring fields across the river to be made into cement at the Cemex Factory. At the time I visited the carriages were trundling along bearing their load. It was a strange sight in such a peaceful area. The factory chimney is prominent when looking across from the north bank. Frequently, brown clouds would be emitted from it and be blown along by the wind.

Some Old Photographs:

The Amy Howson, 1980s

Drypoint Prints:

Barge-Crowded Water

 Barge-Crowded Water

Barge-Crowded Water, oil on canvas, 76 cm x 102 cm

As we travel along the River Hull inland we can see boats and barges moored up. In days gone by the river would have been heaving with rivercraft. Larkin referred to it as "barge-crowded water" (Here", 1961).

Today, the aged wooded staging stands exposed, but it still serves its purpose as mooring for the few craft which now navigate the passage.

Old maritime buildings line the route, such as the former Trinity House Buoy Shed. Built in 1901 the buoy shed demonstrates its prestige as a rare example of a building owned by the ancient guild of mariners. It is a Grade II Listed Building. Fronting the river we can still see the Trinity House Coat of Arms.

I aimed to capture the atmosphere of the scene, reflecting today, but also with memories of  the past.

Pencil Sketches

The Coat of Arms, Former Trinity House Buoy Shed:

Spes Super Sydera (Hope Beyond the Stars), etching

Sketching the Journey to the River Hull

 Sketching the Journey to the River Hull

The entrance to Hull Marina, watercolour sketch

I captured the entrance to Hull Marina on a blustery day when the clouds were flying across the sky. Lincolnshire can be seen in the distance.

The Deep, iconic aquarium at the confluence of the Humber and the River Hull, pencil sketch

The magnificent architecture of the Deep rises up from Sammy's Point like a great sea creature, looking out over the majestic waters of the Humber. Steel and glass glisten and the water below sparkles in the sun. 

The Tidal Barrier and Pedestrian Swing Bridge over the River Hull, pencil sketch

The view above illustrates the series of bridges and roads at the entrance to the River Hull. The river cuts the City of Hull in half and there are a series of bridges along its route to allow vehicular and pedestrian access. Before the installation of the Tidal Barrier the centre of Hull suffered serious flooding.

The Surprise of a Large Town

 The Surprise of a Large Town

The Surprise of a Large Town, oil on canvas, 76cm x 102 cm

Travelling down the Humber from St Andrew's Quay we pass the entrance to Hull Marina, formerly Railway Dock and Humber Dock, before sailing into the River Hull, the entrance now overlooked by the iconic and internationally renowned aquarium the Deep.

As we leave the vast estuary we pass along the River Hull corridor, lined with muddy tidal banks and wooden stages, navigating tides and overhead bridges and roads, going deep into the City. In the poem "Here" Larkin described this experience as "the surprise of a large town". Kingston upon Hull was in fact made a City by Queen Victoria, but many locals still refer to it as a "town".

In the painting above, I wanted to capture the image of "looking through" and "into" the route of the river and its fascinating infrastructure and natural environment. The day was sunny, causing lovely reflections on the water and bouncing off the architecture overhead.

Pencil Sketch of the View 

St Andrew's Dock - Photos, Memories and Nostalgia

 St Andrew's Dock - Photos, Memories and Nostalgia 1960s

Aerial View

As can be seen, the dock in its heyday was extremely busy.

Four abreast

Lord Line Building

Landing the Catch

The Catch 

Life on board was hard and many crew members were lost at sea

Memorial 2022

Photographs: With thanks to the Hull Bullnose Heritage Group

https://hullbullnoseheritagegroup.co.uk/photographs/st-andrews-docks-2/