Exhibition: Nunnington Hall, "From the Earth"

Exhibition: Nunnington Hall, "From the Earth"

Lock Gates, Water Surge, oil on canvas, 71cm x 91cm

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

I have selected some photographs of my work from the exhibition. My two paintings concern “the power of the sea”.

Overview of Exhibition and publicity

From the Earth:

An exhibition by East Riding Artists

At Nunnington Hall, York, YO62 5UY 

Saturday 23th March until Sunday 12thMay 2024.

 With climate change high on the world-wide agenda and evidence of nature’s fragility everywhere we turn, few would question that our Earth is changing dramatically and, in some cases, irrevocably. 

Yorkshire in particular features some of the most stunning – and potentially vulnerable - landscapes in the UK and it’s with this in mind that East Riding Artists are working in conjunction with Nunnington Hall to present a 10-week exhibition called ‘From the Earth’, a celebration of our strong relationship with nature both in the UK and across the globe.

From the rugged cliffs and sandy beaches of its extensive coastline and the rolling hills of the Wolds, to the bleak, open North York moors and picturesque Dales, Yorkshire contains a rich and varied menu of nature at its best and most resilient. 

Featuring the work of painters, potters, and creatives, ‘From the Earth’ celebrates everything natural, from the power of the sea and the breath-taking beauty of our landscapes to the food we grow and the flowers we cultivate, demonstrating that there is still a great deal to celebrate in our ever-changing world.

 About ERA:

East Riding Artists (ERA) is a growing and vibrant platform for painters, ceramicists, jewellery-makers, sculptors and mixed-media creators who live and work in this expansive and beautiful part of Yorkshire.

Stretching from Bridlington to Spurn Point on the east, Stamford Bridge to the west and down as far as Howden and Goole at the end of the Humber estuary, this vast area covers 950 square miles of coastline, Wolds and market towns which are a constant source of inspiration.

Run entirely by enthusiastic volunteers, ERA supports and encourages visual artists across the whole of the county through a programme of events, exhibitions and networking. It also runs a comprehensive website and produces an annual full colour directory which is distributed throughout East Yorkshire and beyond.

ERA is a not-for-profit organisation whose focus is to raise the profile of artists and makers and promote economic growth within the creative community.

 About Nunnington Hall:

There has been a building on the site of Nunnington Hall since 1249 and the building as seen today is from the last renovations completed in 1921, when the Fife family moved in. It stayed with the Fifes until they gave Nunnington Hall and gardens to the National Trust in 1952. The Hall is displayed as it was when the Fifes were living here in the 1920s, though many pieces of the furniture date from earlier. Nunnington is also home to the Carlisle Collection of miniature rooms, which have been at the Hall since the 1980s. This wonderful display of craftsmanship features miniature portraits, musical instruments (which do work!) and tiny works of Shakespeare.

Peacock greeting us as we arrived!

The exhibition has been very successful and when we went it was buzzing with excited viewers. Many of the works have been sold. The topic was very current, wide-ranging and attracted much interest.

 

The Wall, oil on canvas

 The Wall

The Wall, oil on canvas, 60cm x 84cm

During the summer of 2023 I travelled across Cumbria and Scotland. The scenery and history were magnificent.

We drove along Hadrian's Wall and stopped at Birdoswald Fort, near Brampton, Cumbria. The section of the wall in this location is one of the longest and stretched out in front of us into the distance.

I thought about the Romans who would have guarded the wall and all those who had passed over it throughout the years, and the wars and skirmishes which had been fought around it.

In the painting I have used the texture and colours of the oil paint to build up the atmosphere of the aged wall and the weather worn stones from which it is made. Many of the stones have been stolen long ago to build and repair local buildings, but the section which is left is surprisingly still very solid. 

The history and culture which I breathed in on my excursion was enhanced by the stunning surroundings overlooking England, made up of distant hills, tall grasses, wind-swept in this isolated location and the wild flowers popping up to reveal themselves from behind the wall.