The latest exhibition at Rye Art Gallery features two artists who live in Rye, each of whose work compliments the other. Their paintings exhibit distinctive styles that show a shared aim of putting on canvas the various effects of light and its effects on our surroundings.
Andrew Blyth is a former architect and landscape architect and the drawing skills he learned in his former career he has found “invaluable”. His work has a flow to it that is not confined in any way.
In Andrew’s own words his paintings show a “love of light, atmosphere and movement”. Andrew was elected to the Rye Society of Artists in 2010 and is a member of Fountain Gallery.
Andrew paints seashores, ruins and urban scenes including lovely pictures of the town. His dappled images in honeyed hues have an almost ethereal quality. There are lots of local views that visitors will recognise readily.
Andy Wood is president of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours. He paints harbours and beaches, courtyards and still life. All are dazzling to the eye, with warm colours and a superb technique. He says he “exploits the fluid and expressive qualities of the medium.” Andy’s philosophy is “what you leave out is as important as what you put in. I try to keep the design simple.”
The exhibition was curated by Andrew Ashton and has been co-ordinated by Jane Venn who was recently appointed gallery manager.
Rye Art gallery has six galleries in all. Galleries 1, 2 and 3 house exhibitions and work for sale. Galleries 4,5 and 6 house the permanent collection and loaned exhibitions. Opening hours are:
Galleries 1, 2 and 3: 10.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 4pm Sundays and bank holidays.
Galleries 4, 5 and 6: 10.00am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 12 noon to 4pm on Sunday. Galleries 4, 5 and 6 are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A Celebration of Light runs from Saturday September 6th to Sunday October 19th. It is a beautifully arranged exhibition and one to be enjoyed.
Photos by Tony McLaughlin