Beauty Out of Ashes — Mayfair, London
There are some moments along the way that feel a little bit surreal, and taking Embers Beneath the Ice from West Sussex to the heart of Mayfair was definitely one of them.
Last week, I had the pleasure of exhibiting at Beauty Out of Ashes at the Shadow Art Gallery in Mayfair, and what an amazing experience it was. The exhibition was curated by artist and gallery owner Fiona J Rose, who brought together a wonderful group of artists, each with their own interpretation of the theme.
My painting, Embers Beneath the Ice, was created especially for the exhibition and was inspired by visiting Deception Island in Antarctica — a place that has fascinated me for many years. It's a rather extraordinary and surreal place where volcanic land and ice meet, with a fascinating and, at times, difficult history. Once a centre of the Antarctic whaling industry, the island still has reminders of that past scattered across its volcanic landscape, including the remains of the whaling stations and the huge copper vats once used to process whale oil.
Volcanic eruptions have also reshaped parts of the land over the years, so there is this fascinating mixture of human history and the forces of nature all existing together. That became the starting point for my painting. I incorporated volcanic ash into the work, along with vintage 24ct gold leaf — the ash connecting the painting to the volcanic landscape, while the gold brings a little warmth and light into the darker layers.
And then there was Mayfair . . . The gallery was tucked away just off Bond Street, right in the heart of Mayfair, opposite the architecturally stunning St George’s Church. With Sotheby’s almost next door, Fortnum & Mason nearby and the Royal Academy just around the corner — perfect for an arty coffee stop — West Sussex suddenly seemed a million miles away! Although, thankfully, a little bit of our sunny coastal weather had followed us to London, treating us to a gloriously hot day and cloudless blue skies.
The gallery itself was beautiful large light filled windows, ornate decorative walls and lots of character and beautiful light pouring through the large arch windows.
THE OPEN EVENING
A lovely evening in Mayfair
The lively evening drinks reception was really enjoyable and well attended. It was lovely to see people taking time to look around the gallery, chat and enjoy the evening, as well as having the chance to catch up with the other artists. We all spend so much time tucked away in our studios, so it's rather nice to step away from the paint and brushes and be part of a bigger creative conversation.
Not a bad journey for a painting!
I'm really pleased it had the opportunity to be part of Beauty Out of Ashes, and very grateful to Fiona for bringing us all together.
And now it's off on its next little adventure. From 1 October, Embers Beneath the Ice will be on display at Atelier Gallery in Angmering, West Sussex. So, after a rather exciting week in Mayfair, it feels lovely to have it heading back to West Sussex — although I suspect its travels may not be over just yet!
