How a Pug won fame: meet the artists at West Berkshire Museum
Open Studios artists in West Berkshire and North Hampshire return to open their workspaces and exhibitions - free of charge - from May 7-29 alongside the showcase exhibition INSIGHT 2022 at The Base, Greenham.
They will be happy to talk about their process with visitors. Works are normally for sale, but there is no obligation to buy, the focus is on enjoying your visit. Newburytoday is introducing you to some of the participating artists and makers in the coming weeks. Here are the Artists at the Museum. Take a sneak peek...
Catherine Allison who is showing with Miranda Bryan in Gallery 5, West Berkshire Museum, went back to painting again after retirement. She says: "I had not produced much art at all for some years. Post retirement from teaching and lockdown reintroduced me to the opportunity to take it up again. A nearby neighbour - celebrated sculptor the late Stella Shawzin -was a huge encouragement. She persuaded me to renew this pastime. I owe her much after our various informal talks about art which inspired confidence to create again." And so she became involved with Open Studios.
To date I draw and paint in various mediums, oil, acrylic, watercolour, inks, and pastels crayons. Animals feature much in my work. Just as painting and sculpture cannot rely on words or the power of speech, neither can animals. I found this to be an interesting link as a point of departure for taking up art again. Landscapes and life drawing were largely subjects I touched on in the past.
On the recommendation of a circular she received, she presented a painting - Pug - to The Royal Society of British Artists for their annual open exhibition at London's Mall Galleries, which was selected and was awarded the 2022 Geoffrey Vivis Memorial Award.
Miranda Bryan, who is showing with Catherine Allison says "I am very excited to be taking part in Open Studios for the first time this year. The Open Studio Insight Exhibition at The Base is an excellent opportunity for local artists to draw the attention of the community to the fabulous creativity going on in our local area. It also allows artists to get together and see each other’s work!
"I have been living in Newbury for four years now and love it. We are surrounded by beautiful, natural countryside, wonderful for an artist inspired by landscape to explore and discover. I take my sketchbook out with me on long walks to find and record images of trees, hills, rivers and canal paths in all weathers and seasons to provide reference for my paintings, which I then complete back in the comfort of my studio/living room. Most of my work is in acrylics, which I use for their versatility and practicality.
"Throughout May, I will also be exhibiting my work at West Berkshire Museum, a great old building dating from the early-17th century, whose renovation in 2014 has transformed it into a wonderful venue for exhibitions and made it an asset to local arts for the Newbury community."
Meet the Artists at Shaw here: https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/lifestyle/meet-the-artists-at-shaw-9243915/
Take a look at the Open Studios WBNH website at https://www.open-studios.org.uk
