‘THIS FRUITFUL EARTH’

18th May (Private View) - 18th July 2008

opening times Tuesday - Saturday 10.30 - 5.30

The fecundity of nature is revealed in the diverse work in this exhibition. Leaves and trees, plants and birds all appear as images in the paintings of ANDREW WADDINGTON and JANE RAY, JOHN MALTBY’s ceramic sculpture, ABBOTT and ELLWOOD’s figurative metal sculpture, ANNIE HEWETT’s retro-style ceramic tableware, MARK HEARLD’s original prints and in GUY ROYLE’s gold and silver jewellery.
Andrew Waddington ANDREW WADDINGTON’s paintings, drawings and woodcuts celebrate the abundance and endurance of nature despite the ravages of weather, fire and man-made forces. In many of his works, a single bird or animal emerges from an intermeshed abstraction of colour and delicate linear images. Strongly attracted to the ancient cave paintings in Chauvet, France, he brings out in his own work an element of their quality of reaching through to the spirit of animal or bird – the essence of nature and therefore the essence of life itself.
Forest Within Andrew Waddington mixed media on canvas 85cm x 85cm	Night Studio Andrew Waddington mixed media on canvas 82cm x 82cm
L'oiseu au Feu Andrew Waddington mixed media on canvas 55cm x 55cm	Soft Rain Andrew Waddington mixed media on canvas 85cm x 85cm
Roman Land Andrew Waddington mixed media on canvas 85cm x 85cm	Twilight in Summer Andrew Waddington mixed media on canvas 97cm x 97cm
After the Fire Andrew Waddington mixed media on canvas 81cm x 81cm
Moon Drunk Hare Andrew Waddington charcoal and wash 44cm x 42cm	Suffolk Hare Andrew Waddington mixed media on canvas 85cm x 85cm
John Maltby Working in stoneware clay, JOHN MALTBY has evolved his particular style of imagery that shows more than a touch of humour, underlined with a certain poignancy. His wall reliefs show angels working their patch of land, hovering with a watering can or tending a single plant. The free-standing pieces are set in a background of trees, ancient stones or on boats, the figures having an enduring, timeless quality which is reflected in his treatment of the clay, incised marks standing out against dark red oxides or slate greys, giving the appearance of images hewn out of stone.
Sea Bird and Fish John Maltby stoneware clay	Sea Bird St Ives John Maltby stoneware clay
Angel Box John Maltby stoneware clay	Angel II John Maltby stoneware clay
Angel Tending Flowers John Maltby stoneware clay	Family Group John Maltby stoneware clay
Family with Rocks John Maltby stoneware clay	Boat People John Maltby stoneware clay 24" x 10"
King John Maltby stoneware clay 14" x 4"	Farmer and Bird John Maltby stoneware clay
Wall Tiles John Maltby stoneware clay	Tiger John Maltby stoneware clay 8" x 9"
Young Girl with Earrings John Maltby stoneware clay
Guy Royle Beads carved from granite and beach pebbles, linked with gold and silver are among the more dramatic pieces in GUY ROYLE’s new collection of jewellery. There are fine necklaces too, rich with amethyst, carnelian and many-hued agates. His beaten silver and gold bangles, brooches and earrings hark back to shapes and marks made by early man, albeit impressively sophisticated!
Gold and Jadeite Necklace Guy Royle	Silver Earrings Guy Royle
Brooch Guy Royle	Brooch Guy Royle
Two Bangles Guy Royle
Jane Ray Pattern and decoration are integral to JANE RAY’s richly hued watercolours. From forest floor to starry sky, sea bed to fertile shore, she explores the whole spectrum of creation in her work. The depth of her images comes from a gradual layering of colour washes, detailed drawing, collage and then the final embellishment of gold leaf which gives a luminous quality to the whole painting.
Earth is Full of Birdsong Jane Ray	Let the Waters Bring Forth Jane Ray
Adam and Eve Jane Ray	Tree Jane Ray
Abbott and Ellwood MIKE ABBOTT and KIM ELLWOOD draw much inspiration for their work from the cliffs and beaches near St Ives where they live. Their figurative metal sculptures are formed from sheet metal which they print with silk-screen designs either created by themselves or photographically raised from old textiles, maps, letters and even seed catalogues. Very contemporary in style, each piece tells a story – often with humour and a touch of pathos too. Redolent of the whole human condition, in fact! Their colourful metal brooches, similarly hand printed, are poised on tiny plinths, making each one a miniature sculpture to display when not worn.
And this is Me Abbott & Ellwood 60cm hand-printed metal sculpture	The Underdog Abbott & Ellwood 60cm hand-printed metal sculpture
Grow your Own Abbott & Ellwood 70cm hand-printed metal Sculpture	The Gardener Abbott & Ellwood 20cm hand-printed metal sculpture
Communication Abbott & Ellwood 100cm hand-printed metal sculpture	Overseas Abbott & Ellwood   Brooch
Fishing in the Shallows Abbott & Ellwood 85cm hand-printed metal sculpture	Lady Gardener Abbott & Ellwood   Brooch
Anne Hewett Stylised motifs of leaves and plants in the retro colours of soft blue, lime green and brown on ANNIE HEWETT’s ceramic tableware carry the assured skills of a graphic designer. Working with slipware allows her plenty of scope to use a drawn line in combination with freely painted colour. The illustrative qualities in artists such as Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden have been a strong influence – most particularly in her new range of engraved blue and white designs.
Engraved Bowl Annie Hewett	Retro Jug, Plate, Beaker Annie Hewett
Leaf-circle Jug Annie Hewett	Retro Style Pots Annie Hewett
Mark Hearld MARK HEARLD’s joyful linocuts and lithographs of allotments, tousled back gardens, rabbits and chickens illustrate man’s input to ‘this fruitful earth’. He too loves the work of early C20th artist/designers who drew from nature but also embraced decoration and pattern.
Allotment - Goat Husbandry Mark Hearld
Bramble and Apple Allotment Mark Hearld
Spangled Cockbird Mark Hearld	Thrushes Nest Mark Hearld linocut
Salad Days Mark Hearld linocut
Teresa Searle and Alison Dupernex Still in decorative vein are two small textile collections: TERESA SEARLE’s felted, appliquéd pouches and accessories in rich reds, greens, rusty orange, blues and purple and ALISON DUPERNEX’s knitted silk marl scarves and cardigans in soft, sensuous springlike tones.
Purses and Eye-glass Case Teresa Searle	Silk Marl Knitwear Alison Dupernex
Ardyn Griffin and Anthea Richards Papier mache fowl of random origin, as well as finely painted Shaker boxes are ARDYN GRIFFIN’s contribution to the humorous aspect of this earthy exhibition, and painted tables by St Ives artist ANTHEA RICHARDS complete the indoor exhibits.
Flying Seeds Table Anthea Richards	Meadowsweet Table Anthea Richards
Reece Ingram Outside in the two gardens are sculptures by REECE INGRAM. Focal point of the round walled garden is a John Dory chiselled out of dark granite whilst 6 graceful maidens of uncertain heritage, carved from Sweet Chestnut, sway across the main lawn.
Sweet Chestnuts Reece Ingram	John Dory Reece Ingram
PROCEEDS from sales in this exhibition will support TREE AID’s work in establishing tree nurseries in the driest, poorest parts of Africa.