Local talent Helen Barnard is the latest artist to pop-up with a capsule exhibition at Ethel Loves Me, and her show takes a candy-coloured trip down memory lane, revisiting childhood seaside holidays.
Helen, who has exhibited throughout London and the south east, creates evocative, pared down landscapes in oils, mixed media and metal leaf. The recent lockdowns prompted her to re-explore British seaside holidays from her childhood – the excitement of long days by the sea and the promise of good weather always seeming a stretch too far. This powerful memory was the inspiration for Helen to take another look at some of her favourite seaside haunts, including Rye Harbour, Jurys Gap and Cuckmere Haven. The stylishly sparse landscapes and highly decorative and delicate floral still lives are rendered in a delicious candy palette of baby pinks, peppermints and sherbet lemons, contrasted with comforting teals and soft, nostalgic greys.
Helen says: “My creative theme for the wall is ‘All things bright and beautiful’ and will feature many local landscapes in a retrospective palette of candy colours. I will also be submitting a couple of floral still life paintings and an abstract, too.”
Prices for original works start at £375 and the exhibition runs until October 23. Ethel Loves Me is at 105 High Street, Rye, TN31 7JE.
Image Credits: Helen Barnard .