East Norfolk through the eyes of eight local painters – including six members of the East Anglian Group of Marine Artists

 

27th March – 21st April 2015

 

The Gallery Norfolk in Cromer has teamed up with eight artists – most of them

members of the distinguished East Anglian Group of Marine Artists – for its most

ambitious exhibition yet.

 

From 27th March 2015 to 21st April, ‘Sheringham to Yarmouth - An Easterly

Viewpoint’ will show some 40 paintings, focusing on the Eastern corner of Norfolk,

from Sheringham to Yarmouth, and including the Norfolk Broads. This breezy, rural

area, with its sometimes austere landscape, has long attracted and fascinated artists,

particularly for its light, which Lowestoft-born Richard Dack, Chairman of the East

Anglian Group of Marine Artists (EAGMA), describes as “ethereal, shifting and delicate,

different to anywhere else in the UK”.

 

The idea for the exhibition grew from a discussion that Polly Miller, who runs The

Gallery Norfolk, had with two marine artists whose paintings have become identified with the gallery: Gareth Jones, whose imagery evokes breaking waves, and Su Chisnell, a seasoned sailor whose work captures the grace and dynamism of yachts. Joining Jones and Chisnell in ‘Sheringham to Yarmouth - An Easterly Viewpoint’ are six members of EAGMA:  Richard Dack, Paul Darley, Andrew King, Patrick Boswell, Raymond Leech and Jane Cort. Their eminence in their chosen artistic field is affirmed by the initials after their names, such as RSMA (Royal Society of Marine Artists) and ROI (Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI).

 

“The Gallery Norfolk has always had a focus on the sea and nature,” says Polly Miller, who established the gallery in 2012.  “We’ve shown work by established Norfolk painters and also commissioned other well-known names to give us their particular take on the coastline. As it happens, The Gallery Norfolk is one of the most easterly galleries on the North Norfolk coast, so we decided to look east with this exhibition to a part of the county that is every bit as beautiful as the perhaps more picturesque areas to the west. Gareth Jones and Su Chisnell are already part of the Gallery Norfolk family, and I am delighted to welcome six EAGMA artists to Church Street in Cromer. As some of the finest marine artists in East Anglia, they are much in demand from galleries around East Anglia and around the country, so it is an honour to have them here for this exhibition.”

 

Exhibiting Artists

Patrick Boswell - Patrick’s work of his beloved North Norfolk Coast is held in high regard by locals

and visitors alike. He is inspired by wide skies, dramatic landscapes and colourful beach scenes – he

has always likened beach scenes to watching ballet as the people are in constant motion on the beach

and in and out of the waves. All the pictures in the show feature the Eastern coastline from Cromer to

Scratby to Caister. He has been exhibiting predominantly in North Norfolk for the last 20 years but

also shows in prestigious London galleries.

 

Su Chisnell - Sailing and painting are lifelong passions for former world-class sailor Suzanne Chisnell.

Su’s fascination lies not only with the tradition of the yachts themselves but with the movement and

texture of the water in which they lie, and the ever changing combinations of tone, colour and light that

connect them. A collection of colourful portrayals of the North Norfolk coast, with its Clinker-built

boats and tidal beaches, alongside exciting oils of high profile and beautiful racing yachts in the Norfolk

Broads. Su was born on the North Norfolk coast and learnt to sail on the Norfolk Broads, so it is with

great affection that she explores these subjects in her artwork.

 

Jane Cort - Watercolourist Jane Cort has exhibited throughout Norfolk and also London shows at the

Mall Galleries including shows with the RSMA. Her exquisite watercolours capture the subtle blue and

grey-greens of the east coast. Jane works on handmade paper in pure watercolour and captures the

spirit of her subject with deft washes.  

 

Richard Dack - Chairman of the EAGMA, member of the RSMA – he is a very well-known and

respected artist whose work is collected by many Norfolk residents. Two pieces of work for the show

come from thinking about wreckage. Abandoned Beach – this painting is inspired by way on beach

fishing has been pushed out by the commercial sea fishing – he likens it to the clearances in the Scottish

highlands where the farmers had to give up their land for the bigger commercial farmers – end of a way

of life.

 

Paul Darley - Paul paints almost exclusively in oils and ‘en plein air’ and the famous Cromer crab

fishermen feature strongly in his work, together with the holiday makers and the sea. He loves the

Victorian architecture of the town, along with its famous pier.

 

 

Gareth Jones - Gareth’s work was initially more about the west of Norfolk but he has found himself

increasingly drawn to the beautiful East side of the county. He loves the way you find the best of both

worlds on the shore line in the East, expansive sandy beaches but also crashing waves on shingle

within touching distance. Gareth will be showing works in acrylic and pastel, including a stormy

evening sea painted in Cromer and an evening seascape at Mundesley beach.

 

 

Andrew King - Among the paintings supplied by Andrew King ROI IEA EAGMA for the exhibition is a

view of Waxham dunes with some summer rain clouds encroaching from the sea to the east. From the

footpath on the dunes, where the artist set up his easel, it is possible to see the three church towers of

Waxham, Sea Palling and Happisburgh in the far distance.  Andrew feels that this lesser known part of

the Norfolk coast engenders the raw spirit of the county...real Norfolk!  A smaller work is an out of

season view of comer pier with some late afternoon sun glowing and throwing reflections into the sea.

 

Ray Leech - He is a highly respected and collected artist who exhibits with the Royal Society of Marine

Artists in London and is a full member. When asked about East Norfolk and its meaning to him Ray said

‘It’s my territory - I am a seaside lad’. His inspiration is the seaside and also figurative work of families

and enjoying themselves by the sea – very nostalgic and reflective work - times gone by.

 

 

 

 

A full review of The Gallery Norfolk can be found in our Arts & Crafts: Galleires to Visit section

 

The Gallery Norfolk ● 3 Church Street, Cromer ● Norfolk NR27 9ER

Tel: 01263 515745

www.thegallerynorfolk.co.uk