Latest Exhibition at Malvern Theatres - December-January 2010/11

Anthony Bridge

Anthony Bridge’s work is rooted in the landscape around Malvern. He is to be seen most days, come hell or high-water (even snow), out with his easel and paints on and around the hills recording the ever changing patterns of season, weather and atmospheric conditions in the Impressionist “Plein Air” tradition. Painting outdoors was made feasible only after the availability of paint in tubes. The introduction of a product called a Pochade Box, made working outdoors even easier. This miniature portable studio became very popular throughout the 18th and 19th century - particularly with artists such as Turner and Constable. It was a practical way of being able to seek out new places and challenges and then transfer them back to the larger canvas in the artist studio. In spite of the obvious advantages, the Pochade Box became less popular, until in the 1980s when it was taken up again by a number of artists. Anthony is one of this group of artists who produce excitingly fresh work. Anthony is still only young yet already his style has developed and matured. He is collected across the UK. You can see more of his work here.

Carrie May

Carrie May honed her artistic skills at the Royal College of Art. Her work is deceptively simple, but closer scrutiny rewards the viewer with a richness similar to that to be seen in the work of artists like Mark Rothko. However in Carrie’s work the stimulus is tied to landscape and the scale is human rather than monumental. A Rothko would be difficult to live with, even if you could get it through the door. Carrie’s work would add an extra dimension to any home. She is just only starting out on her artistic journey. We will all hear a lot more of Carrie in the future. You can see more of her work here.

Alison Johnson

Alison Johnson’s work evokes landscape rather than records it. The haze, the smoke, the mistiness and richness of the colours she uses to create her work gives the viewer the opportunity to decide exactly what is being portrayed. The bonus is that each day a different painting hangs on the wall. Are there figures or is the city deserted? Are the buildings occupied or in ruin? Are we looking at a contemporary scene or something from the ancient past. The viewer decides! Her work has been shown in numerous galleries across the Midlands, but this is the first time her work has been to Malvern Theatre. More of her work can be seen on her personal page on the artgallery.co.uk site.