A Splash of Watercolours

A new watercolours exhibition at Murmurations Gallery in Bexhill promises to add A Splash of Colour to the local area. Part of the gallery’s programme of ‘Mediums’ exhibitions running throughout 2017, this exhibition explores another fine art practice widely used by professional and amateur artists. Written by gallery owner, Joe Nguyen.

Often overused and at the same time maligned or looked down upon, watercolour as a medium has over recent decades had a bad press. However there are many contemporary artists who are still pushing the boundaries and exploring innovative new ways in which to use this fluid and yet unforgiving medium to express their creativity.

This exhibition brings together some local and nationally recognized artists who are pursuing this path. For some, they are reinventing and for others they are rejuvenating the practice of watercolours.

Participating artists include the award winning Peter Haslam Fax, whose works explore the translucent simplicity of colour. Educated at Chelsea Art School and Glasgow University, winner of the Royal Watercolour Society young artist of the year and the Benton Purchase prize, Haslam Fox’s famous ‘White’ exhibition marries his love of Chinese paintings and using delicate shades to show the subtlest of images on a large scale. He is one of the profile artists for Winsor & Newton Watercolours Revolution group of artists. Some of his paintings from the White exhibition will be available to view and buy.

Other artists, such as Hastings based Helen Wells and Susan Millar, explore the fluid washes of watercolours and hues that can be built up in layers to create images of haunting photographs or abstract dreamscapes.

Also in this exhibition are works by Cliff Crawford, highlighting the difficult and unforgiving nature of watercolours as he explores geometric patterns, trying in the process to contain the medium within straight or predefined lines. The exhibition also brings together works from local practitioners such as Kerry Bennett from Battle.

* * * The gallery will shortly be putting out an Open Call for photographers for their Photographic Competition Exhibition in June.

For more information, email info@murmurationsgallery.co.uk

A Splash of Colour : 3 – 29 May 2017 : Murmurations Gallery, 17a Parkhurst Rd, Bexhill. TN40 1DE. Open 10.30-4.30. Tuesdays-Sundays.

Also in: Arts News