Kent and Sussex have a justified reputation as being havens for artists. From the bohemia of Margate to the historical decadence of Sussex, there really is something for every taste. It’s been that way through the ages, whether you enjoy viewing the organic wall art in open houses like Charleston or the formal galleries of Lewes.
But art always begins with the artists and many artists are borne through community rather than the prescribed route of colleges and universities.
Throughout the year, the work of the former can be found on display at many local art exhibitions. I previously wrote about Art Wave, for which artists open up their homes and studios and viewers receive a map enabling them to pick out any artist that appeals. Seeing an artist in his natural habitat can yield a deeper understanding of what makes him tick, of course, but there’s another option for those who may not have the time or inclination to traverse the countryside and perhaps take an entire weekend to see the work of all the artists we’d like to view.
There are many local art fairs, often arranged by art groups, held in community spaces, that provide such an opportunity.
One such group is The Buxted Art Club which is made up of members who meet each week to spend time on their art. Artists choose their own subject matter and use whichever medium they prefer. There’s no tutor but members are free to share ideas and receive feedback and advice, if wanted.
Another benefit of being a member is that such clubs and groups usually arrange at least one art show each year in which members can exhibit their work and offer pieces for sale.
For the public, it’s an ideal occasion to peruse a variety of artwork and to chat with a number of artists in one location. This is what hub and I found when we attended the Buxted Art Group’s annual exhibition last weekend in St Mary the Virgin’s church hall.
The space was perfect for art with plenty of light streaming through the tall windows in a hall whose wooden floors and arched ceiling added to the gallery feel. Artwork was abundant, hung around the walls and displayed on dividers erected down the centre of the room. All pieces were clearly labelled with the name of the piece, the artist and the price, if available for purchase. By the time we arrived late morning on Day one of the show, there were already several orange dots depicting sold works – impressive.
What I find interesting, seeing the works of so many artists displayed together, is the sheer variety of interpretations, even where subject matter is similar. Some of this is led by the medium used, but more so by the artists’ hand. It’s something I’ve often pondered relating to style. If the same artist were to choose a different medium and subject, would their style shine through? But does that matter? In the end, we like what we like, even if we sometimes cannot pinpoint why.
We’d gone at the invitation of Hayley Brown, whose works displayed a variety that showed innate talent. Hayley’s work consisted of pieces in several mediums but all of a very high standard, as you’ll see from some of the photos I’ve included. The pieces I found most impressive were those painted in tempera. Tempera isn’t a medium for the faint-hearted due to its fast-drying nature. It lends itself to pieces that hark back through history as many of the early masters used it, most notably Botticelli (see The Birth of Venus for an example). Even more impressive is that Hayley mixes her own tempera using egg yolk!
The fine detail in her tempera pieces was breathtaking and I couldn’t resist buying one such. In fact, I would have loved to have purchased all three! The bore the influence of her trips to India where she studied at the City Palace in Jaipur. She’s even taught 16th C style Indian Miniature Painting at the V&A, Charleston Farmhouse and Paddock Studios, Lewes. This year, Hayley’s been shortlisted for the Royal Academy London Summer Exhibition.
Despite us being her invitees, Hayley very generously spent time telling us about her fellow artists and discussing their pieces, too. Honestly, I could have spent a fair amount there as there were many impressive works. Hayley’s mother, Jennie Brown, had pieces on display at the show – her Chinese brush paintings were just wonderful – so I guess it is not surprising that Hayley become an artist. Her father was a draughtsman, so perhaps this is where the precision and patience required to perfecting tiny details in her delicate tempura pieces stems from.
There was an informative display showing a photo and paragraph written by each artist talking about their inspiration, all of which alluded to how supportive they found the Club and the permission membership had given them to follow what was sometimes a forgotten path. Another thing that came across was the freedom they now felt to be able to experiment – something that was flawlessly expressed by Beryl Bartter whose paragraph simply read “I got into trouble with the nuns at school for giving Mary a red dress as I felt she needed a change from blue and have been experimenting with my art ever since.”
The Club consists of people from a variety of backgrounds. Take Jilly Owers who hadn’t picked up a brush in 50 years before resuming her old hobby, or Brian Harrission, a retired Aviation Engineer who’s been a member for over 10 years. Sybilla McNair, a nurse for the last 30 years, and Barbara Eastwood, a retired primary school teacher both talk about how membership of the Club has enabled them to experiment.
Be sure to go along and support your local artists when you see art groups promoting their shows. I think you’ll be impressed at the high standard.
The Buxted Art Club is run by Sheila Bartholomew, herself an artist. If you’d like to investigate joining – space permitting – give Shela a call on 01825 733100.
Learn more about Hayley Brown here: www.indianminiatures.com and follow her on Instagram @hayleybrownfineart.
