A LOVE OF THE LAND
Paintings by Jane Duff & Pottery by Dylan Bowen
A Celebration of Wild Places
Saturday 5th February to Saturday 5th March 2022
The natural world is Jane Duff’s inspiration. Having been brought up on the edge of Snowdonia and working as a guide in the Himalayas, she feels at home in wild places and searches them out to walk in, photograph, sketch and paint. The solitude and peace which comes from working in such environments helps to concentrate the mind and working in situ encourages her to react instinctively and emotionally to the landscape, weather and light and be brave with her work. She loves to paint in the mountains of Wales or Scotland or on the rocky shores of the west coast but also in Oxfordshire where she is drawn to our wonderful open spaces, nature reserves, wetlands and especially the rewilding projects along the Thames which are encouraging the regeneration of wildflower meadows and the return of precious wildlife.
"I gravitate to wild areas where I love the drama of light and weather as well as the solitude and peace which helps to concentrate the mind. I am a photographer and a painter influenced by our magnificent natural landscapes and am constantly in awe of the beauty of our diverse British Countryside. I have traditionally found my inspiration in N. W. Scotland, mid-Wales and the far west of Cornwall, but also paint in Oxfordshire in the Chilterns, on the Downs and in the wetlands along the River Thames and especially in the BBOWT and Earthtrust nature reserves such as at Chimney Meadows, and the River of Life wetland project at Little Wittenham nature reserve. It might sound odd but I’d be happy painting in the same wetland for a whole year – I simply love the intertwining grasses and reeds and the play of light on the water.
The practicalities of working outside are always challenging but I prefer to do so unless the weather is just too cold, wet or unpredictable in which case I will sketch and photograph on site and return to my studio to paint. I sometimes immerse myself in a landscape for hours absorbing the play of light and shadows, the textures and colours of vegetation before finding a place that moves me enough to want to put up my easel and paint there. Ever-changing light and weather encourages me to work spontaneously and emotionally and be brave with my painting. I love the physicality of using paint - pushing and pulling it around a canvas.. I work in acrylic, oils and mixed media and more recently with coldwax. Sadly oils and coldwax and the solvents affect my chest and asthma, so I am now returning to using acrylics.
The focus of much of my work is on the fragility of our natural world and I am aware of the increasing pressure for development on our countryside. In Oxfordshire it is pretty intense right now and our conservation groups are working hard to protect habitats such as woodlands, fens, the Thames wildflower meadows and floodplain wetlands amongst others. I like to record these habitats and If I can to inspire people through my Art to appreciate the landscape and then protect it, then I am happy".
www.janeduff.co.uk
Paintings by Jane Duff & Pottery by Dylan Bowen
A Celebration of Wild Places
Saturday 5th February to Saturday 5th March 2022
The natural world is Jane Duff’s inspiration. Having been brought up on the edge of Snowdonia and working as a guide in the Himalayas, she feels at home in wild places and searches them out to walk in, photograph, sketch and paint. The solitude and peace which comes from working in such environments helps to concentrate the mind and working in situ encourages her to react instinctively and emotionally to the landscape, weather and light and be brave with her work. She loves to paint in the mountains of Wales or Scotland or on the rocky shores of the west coast but also in Oxfordshire where she is drawn to our wonderful open spaces, nature reserves, wetlands and especially the rewilding projects along the Thames which are encouraging the regeneration of wildflower meadows and the return of precious wildlife.
"I gravitate to wild areas where I love the drama of light and weather as well as the solitude and peace which helps to concentrate the mind. I am a photographer and a painter influenced by our magnificent natural landscapes and am constantly in awe of the beauty of our diverse British Countryside. I have traditionally found my inspiration in N. W. Scotland, mid-Wales and the far west of Cornwall, but also paint in Oxfordshire in the Chilterns, on the Downs and in the wetlands along the River Thames and especially in the BBOWT and Earthtrust nature reserves such as at Chimney Meadows, and the River of Life wetland project at Little Wittenham nature reserve. It might sound odd but I’d be happy painting in the same wetland for a whole year – I simply love the intertwining grasses and reeds and the play of light on the water.
The practicalities of working outside are always challenging but I prefer to do so unless the weather is just too cold, wet or unpredictable in which case I will sketch and photograph on site and return to my studio to paint. I sometimes immerse myself in a landscape for hours absorbing the play of light and shadows, the textures and colours of vegetation before finding a place that moves me enough to want to put up my easel and paint there. Ever-changing light and weather encourages me to work spontaneously and emotionally and be brave with my painting. I love the physicality of using paint - pushing and pulling it around a canvas.. I work in acrylic, oils and mixed media and more recently with coldwax. Sadly oils and coldwax and the solvents affect my chest and asthma, so I am now returning to using acrylics.
The focus of much of my work is on the fragility of our natural world and I am aware of the increasing pressure for development on our countryside. In Oxfordshire it is pretty intense right now and our conservation groups are working hard to protect habitats such as woodlands, fens, the Thames wildflower meadows and floodplain wetlands amongst others. I like to record these habitats and If I can to inspire people through my Art to appreciate the landscape and then protect it, then I am happy".
www.janeduff.co.uk
" Dylan Bowen makes slip decorated earthenware made using both traditional and contemporary techniques and materials. Dylan trained with Clive Bowen at Shebbear Pottery and then at Camberwell School of Art. He set up his first studio in Oxford with Jane Bowen in 1997. His work is rooted in the English Slipware tradition but with many contemporary influences. Dylan aims to create work that captures some of the spontaneity and dynamism of the making process.
He is a Fellow of the CPA and has exhibited widely in the U.K. and abroad. “
www.dylanbowen.co.uk
