The opening of Rye Art Gallery’s (RAG) latest exhibition, En Plein Air, was held June 11. Featuring artists living around Rye, with an emphasis on works showing the local landscapes, the eight artists demonstrate their very considerable skills in their images. Brian Oxley, who is particularly drawn to Romney Marsh where he lives, is displaying studies of the Norfolk landscape, especially around Hunstanton, whilst Karl Terry, Clare Mitchell, Georgie Watson, Tom Marsh, Sally Cole and A Lincoln Taber are exhibiting work more concentrated on Kent and Sussex.
The sad news was received shortly after the opening, of the death of Fred Cuming RA, the other artist exhibiting, who was born in 1930 in London. Among his works on display is one called Evening Sky, Peasmarsh, truly evocative. Dr Julian Day, Director of the Gallery said: ” It doesn’t seem possible he won’t always be there doing his paintings.”
An excellent leaflet by Louise Simkiss-Day, RAG Trustee and Royal Academy representative, with a very interesting foreword, is available and sets the scene around the transition to en plein air painting, providing information about each artist.
The space in the gallery seems particularly suited to such a display, from the wide skylines and landscapes of Georgie Watson, to the atmospheric works in oils of Karl Terry. Sally Cole’s response to the landscape before her provides a different visual experience for the viewer, and A. Lincoln Taber’s diptychs give a further opening up of the rural environment.
Clare Mitchell, drawn to the natural world and to images locally, has been working in oils en plein air only since 2002. Tom Marsh is Sussex based and his background in architectural illustration informs his free style.
Following the opening, the artists got together and went out on a painting exhibition. Their work is to be displayed on easels in the gallery on this coming Saturday, June 18, which should be quite fascinating.
En Plein Air: June 11 – August 28 at Rye Art Gallery, 107 High Street Rye, TN31 7JE
Open: Monday to Saturday 11am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm
Image Credits: Sally Cole , Gillian Roder , Clare Mitchell .