News South West Academy returns to Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG)

The South West Academy of Art is returning to exhibit an inspiring selection of new work at THG.

Opening this March, the exhibition will feature key new works by members of the South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts. The exhibition will include original paintings, sculpture, photography and limited edition prints. All of the work will be for sale.

The South West Academy is a registered charity dedicated to advancing the creation and appreciation of art in the South West region. Among the artists included will be : Jenny Pery, Geoff Shillito, Adrian Edwards and Karen McEndoo.

Jenny Pery works and lives on the edge of Dartmoor. She is an active member of Devon Artist Network, and holds Open Studio exhibitions every autumn. Jenny exhibits her work frequently in group shows in the South West and her work is held in public and private collections.

Geoff Shillito is an award-winning artist exhibiting mainly in London and the South West. He has recently become increasingly interested in narrative at a domestic scale. He is fascinated by the close-up and oblique view, and by the subject’s inner life, often placing the subject confrontationally close.

Adrian Edwards is a landscape artist based in Cornwall, who combines his interest in rural/urban landscape exploring the topography, light and aesthetic of the place. His approach is process-based making numerous observational studies on site before working the final pieces. He exhibits throughout South West England and Canada. His work is included in private collections in the UK, France and Canada.

"The light and space in and around Bodmin moor offers me the dramatic subject matter, broad, distant skies frequently changing, a rugged and stark historic landscape. In quieter moments it is the light as it drifts across surrounding pastures that appeals to and stimulates me."

Karen McEndoo spent her early life in Africa which had a tremendous influence on her work, inspired particularly by the rich colours, designs and music. Although trained as a graphic designer/illustrator, her work has evolved into a more expressive and abstract form of painting. Science and nature are huge influences and she is an avid lover of nature.

"Colour is everything to me and I spend a good deal of time mixing the hues and tones until I have arrived at a coherent palette, something I find a genuine pleasure."

Alongside this exhibition will be a display of works in the Upstairs Gallery by Rebecca Partridge, an artist currently based in London. Since graduating from the Royal Academy Schools in 2007, she has exhibited internationally and been awarded several international scholarships. Over the past ten years, she has curated a series of exhibitions taking place in Germany, Norway and the UK.

'The Glow of Hours: Rebecca Partridge in Devon' brings together a collection of paintings including a new series of small works made in response to the local Devon landscape.

Partridge typically creates works in series responding to particular locations, which have included deserts, glaciers and ancient forests. Using a range of approaches, the works in this exhibition shift between acutely observed oil paintings of wild flowers at night, found in the local landscape, to large watercolours of skies, built of dozens of thin washes on raw canvas, painted from memories of observing the transitions of dusk and dawn in the Mojave desert. Collectively the paintings begin to connect different qualities of light, time, place and process.

"My paintings are moments in landscape, where something external connects to my own perception. I’m interested in qualities of attention and how the act of making a painting can express an attitude towards the subject. With this in mind, my intention is –in a quiet way– to translate a sense of attention and connection to our environment."

The exhibition is also accompanied by the launch of the artists’ first print edition, ‘Forest Dawn’ made through the traditional process of Japanese woodblock printing. The project has been generously funded by Arts Council England.

A programme of workshops and art activities will accompany these exhibitions including a community workshop, workshops in local primary and senior schools and an artist talk with demo: What's On at THG.

Councillor Nick Hookway, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Sport, Leisure and Tourism, said:
"I must congratulate the South West Academy for creating such inspiring exhibitions showcasing the work of local artists of national prominence. Their range of subjects and mediums will resonate across a wide range of audiences. As all the work is for sale, please take the opportunity to visit THG this March to view and purchase these artworks!"

South West Academy Exhibition (main gallery)
The Glow of Hours: Rebecca Partridge in Devon (upstairs gallery)
23 March - 11 May. Open Tuesday - Saturday, 10 - 5. Free, donations welcome.
- Saturday 23 March: Artist Talk with Rebecca Partridge, 11-1. Exhibition openings 3-5.

Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell St, Honiton EX14 1LX. thelmahulbert.com