This solo exhibition at Art First, St Mary’s Walk, Lambeth, SE11 4UA opened on 9 April. The title is a phrase borrowed from Geoffrey Hill and I wanted it to convey an idea of the resonance, memories and associations to be found in the landscapes in which we live. Most of the works in this exhibition are of the country around the Worcestershire spa town of Great Malvern, my home for the last 27 years. There are a number of paintings of the orchard, 5 miles away and just over the border in Herefordshire which we have slowly planted during that time with old local varieties of apples and pears. This was mainly done through a scheme operated by Herefordshire Council to replace the many orchards grubbed up by more commercially minded farmers.
One painting, Gascony Pastoral, is of the hill top town of Lectoure which is between Toulouse and Bordeaux, a little south of Agen. We have visited this beautiful area twice now and the rolling well farmed countryside and the town on its hill reminded me of the classical pastoral paintings of Claude Lorrain, who has been a source of inspiration to me over many years.
This coming week I shall be in the gallery on Wednesday, 8 May from 5 to 7.30 pm and on Thursday, 9 May from 4 to 6.30 pm for the Finissage of the exhibition. Please come along if you can.
4 May, 2024