Where to find art to see and buy in Norfolk in October
At Bircham Gallery in Holt, until October 7, paintings from Christopher Prout and ceramics by Paul Wearing are on show. Chris Prout paints bold expressive landscapes, seascapes and architecture. His award winning paintings are rich in colour, texture and have been described as ‘representational’ or ‘semi-abstract’ in nature. In essence his paintings convey a sense of beauty, intrigue and place.
Paul Wearing’s hand built sculptural vessels are inspired by nature’s seasons and cycles. From October 10 until November 14 the show will feature three other artists.
Keith Roper paints mainly in pastel but also uses acrylic, oil and watercolour; his paintings are mainly landscapes and his great passion is The Fens around Ely.
Colin See-Paynton is a self-taught wood engraver and is regarded as one of the finest wood engravers working today. Colin’s work is based on the meticulous observation of the natural world. He creates compositions of great complexity and refinement. Jeremy James is a ceramic sculptor known for his lively and dynamic work of people as well as a wide range of animals from hares, ravens and otters to small garden birds.
‘Home Ground’ is an apt name for the exhibition by Polly Cruse, Annie Hudson,Jane Sanger and Jos Wickham at Norwich’s Mandell’s Gallery. Annie Hudson and Jane Sanger are both landscape painters but there any similarity ends. The approach and the techniques used are very different resulting in very personal figurative styles.
Both are drawn to the structural geology of landscape, particularly the hills and rocks of the wilder places of the country. The home ground of Polly Cruse and Jos Wickham is a very different one, their work being small, personal and focussed upon everyday objects that are then transformed into something quite magical. It runs from October 3 until October 24.
On the coast at Wells Maltings’ Handa Gallery is an exhibition of distinctive ceramics, sculpture, painting and textiles from a group of north Norfolk artists called Natural Lines (October 16 – November 1), which brings together the work of Elaine Banham, James Crisp, Alison Henry, Norfolk Makrs, Don Seed and Kate Vogler, all of whom are drawn to aspects of the natural world for their inspiration.
The artists all live and work in north Norfolk and bring their knowledge of materials, unique approaches, finesse and freshness to a coherent and thoughtful exhibition.
Why Anish Kapoor’s Houghton show is his best ever
Elaine Banham paints large land and seascapes in oil, while James Crisp, artist and guitar-maker, showcases his wall mounted relief carvings in English hardwoods. Alison Henry’s bronze, resin and fired clay sculptures are inspired by the infinite variety of forms and patterns in nature. Norfolk Makrs. is a small artisan studio in north Norfolk making a range of hand-made textile pieces that are designed and crafted for beauty, utility and longevity.
A career spent drawing for a living prepared Don Seed to use his expertise to create large watercolours of shells and Kate Vogler makes pit and smoke-fired, ceramic sculptural vessels, inspired by weathered landscapes and ancient cultures.
At The Gallery in Holt, until October 27, is a show called A Narrative. Featuring original paintings by selected members of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours and the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS) it is a high-quality show with a great range of styles on display.
A major exhibition of new paintings by John Patchett is being held in The Atrium, at The Forum, Norwich, from October 26-31. John’s many followers find his work a fascinating combination of relaxed handling of pastels mixed with an ability to capture and manipulate those elusive qualities of light and colour.
The venue has been completely revamped to allow safe distancing throughout, allowing visitors to enjoy this exciting collection of familiar and not so familiar scenes.
Two of the year’s big set piece exhibitions, Anish Kapoor at Houghton and Art Nouveau, The Nature of Dreams, at The Sainsbury Centre, continue. Alongside the Houghton show the Contemporary and Country event A Fine Balance, featuring contemporary art and handmade objects from across the east of England in the stables at Houghton Hall, runs until November 1.
Please check with venues before travelling to ensure the show is still taking place.
