Over 30 artists took part in the 2017 Combe Down Art Trail at 14 venues. As well as the fabulous artwork, there was a writers group offering writing inspiration. Here is an overview of those who took part. You can also click on the artists' and writers' names to get more information about them.
Map: Number 4
12 Greendown Place Olive's work draws on various printing techniques, drawings, collages and printing in acrylics. The works are built slowly layer by layer starting with the germ of an idea, often narrative, which becomes the first layer. With this layered approach there is always an element of surprise, the unexpected juxtaposition of colour, a change of form, a new narrative. |
Map: Number 1
7 Stonehouse Lane Mike has been creating abstract expressionist work in various media since 1985, after he was equally influenced, inspired and intimidated by a Francis Bacon documentary. Mike challenges the viewer to question what they see, intentionally leaving his work untitled to encourage the viewer to give their own interpretation. |
Map: Number 12
Davidge's Bottom Jill gives sterling silver settings to beach pebbles from the Lizard peninsula, Cornwall. These have a great range of colour, pattern and shape and most take a high polish. She has recently extended the jewellery range with sea glass from Tiree, the Hebrides and paua shell from New Zealand |
Map: Number 13
6 The Firs Bridget Baker studied Zoology at University but only started making wire animals after retirement, Each figure is made from galvanized wire which is then painted with enamel paints. The enjoyment of their creation comes from making them as realistic as possible and from capturing their characters with the minimum of lines. |
Map: Number 13
6 The Firs After early retirement and a four-year study of a BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting degree, Mike realised his lifetime passion. He works mainly oils, depicting the sea, boats, cloudscapes, landscapes, muddy fields and still-life. He exhibits in several galleries from Bath to London, Norfolk and Edinburgh…. And now Combe Down! |
Map: Number 5
5 Combe Road Sally enjoys painting in almost any style, depending on her mood and inspiration. Colour plays a major part, as does experimentation, sometimes with torn up old paintings or just to use up leftover paint. Most times a painting goes where it will and often ends up nothing like her original idea. |
Map: Number 7
The King William Penny uses watercolours or acrylics with collage, depicting a wide range of subjects, from figures in movement to quiet but textural landscapes. She particularly enjoys painting sheds and allotments! She's recently challenged herself painting the moving figure, producing expressive works. |
Map: Number 9
Malvern Cottage Jeni describes herself as a ‘maker’ rather than an artist. She designs and makes both utile and artistic items in stone, wood, paper and clay. She also uses found objects. Jeni has a wonderful studio at Malvern Cottage where she enjoys what she describes as 'makering'. She's planning her next challenge - which is welding... |
Map: Number 5
5 Combe Road Ele's work predominantly features mixed media paintings of Bath, as well as ballet figures and seascapes. There's nothing she likes better than receiving a bag full of old lace and buttons as she's most inspired by texture, enjoying adding unusual elements to her work like newspapers, zips, ribbons, bra-straps - things most sensible people throw away. |
Map: Number 13
6 The Firs Pat paints mostly landscapes, seascapes, interiors with view through a window and flowers. Some in watercolour and also mixed media. She collects material for paintings when sailing and travelling during the summer. She also makes and sells handmade cards at craft fairs with printed cards and giclee prints from her paintings. |
Map: Number 8
The Cornerstone Helen likes to work from life when she creates her wonderful portrait sculptures which are sometimes fired and finished with different effects or cast in bronze resin or cement fondue. She also paints in watercolour from life often depicting scenes from her many and varied travels . |
Map: Number 4
12 Greendown Place Rosemary trained at Chelsea School of Art. She ran Curwen Gallery and Studio and was a visiting Lecturer to art colleges. She has curated private collections and exhibitions. She has written extensively on all forms of printmaking and was the founder of the quarterly magazine ‘Printmaking Today’. She describes herself as a painter, printmaker and writer. |
Map: Number 8
The Cornerstone Costas is the past Chairman of the British Institute of Interior Design and was a full-time lecturer of Design for ten years. Now retired, Costas likes to experiment with different mediums, exploring ways of making art that is both original and full of imagination. |
Map: Number 3
10 Greendown Place Humphrey is an award winning artist (David Murray landscape prize) who studied at the Royal Academy and has dedicated his life to painting and drawing. He has exhibited extensively and is not restricted to one style or subject and his work embodies this. Every painting poses a new set of challenges from which Humphrey’s ideas develop and he remains as inspired and motivated as much today as ever. |
Map: Number 13
6 The Firs Julia is an award-winning botanical artist and experienced Bath-based tutor. She loves depicting less than perfect subjects, such as fading flowers and autumnal leaves. Julia will be exhibiting prints and greeting cards of her popular works as well as small original watercolours. |
Map: Number 6
RT Framers Paul loves the art of printing, whether relief printing or engraving - and, more recently, screen printing. His favourite subjects include images of Bath and nature, especially birds. |
Map: Number 8
The Cornerstone Linda's process is drawing based, using various mediums, from oil pastel to acrylic to oil paint. She also experiments with monoprint and wash-o' print styles, depicting subjects from her travels to France, Venice, Amsterdam and Israel, as well as subjects closer to home. |
Map: Number 7
The King William Catherine specialises in light-filled watercolours, celebrating family and favourite places. She also paints part-imagined landscapes of Bath in cascading pigments, using a process she calls “gravity painting”. She shares her flowing techniques in workshops around Bath. |
Map: Number 9
Malvern Cottage Leila has been a printmaker for many years and has been involved with several group exhibitions in Bath. She has exhibited work at the Bath Society of Artists Annual Exhibition and the West of England Academy. Her latest interest is in mixed media, developed from a relief print and the works that she'll show are examples of this technique. |
Map: Number 7
The King William Richard has been painting regularly since he retired five years ago. He alternates between acrylics and oils depending on his mood or the subject. He predominantly paints landscapes but he is also drawn to street scenes and the odd abstract. His aim is to make an impression of the subject rather than create every detail. |
Map: Number 5
5 Combe Road Rachel paints outside in and around Bath, and anywhere else she happens to find herself - especially cliffs, beaches and the sea. In the studio, she paints landscapes and portraits, large and small. She's fascinated by colour and the effect of light, and tries to capture a sense of place. She also loves drawing animals – dogs, cats, guinea pigs and horses. Commissions for paintings or drawings welcome. |
Map: Number 7
The King William Jackie is a photographer. She uses movement and light to capture abstract reflections on different materials. She is, particularly drawn to the unique patterns, shapes and colours of the real world. |
Map: Number 6
RT Framers Since graduating from Bath School of Art and Design, Sally has been working as a painter, specialising in human portraits, gradually moving over to mainly dog painting working to commission as well as exhibiting them. Sally also paints and draws landscapes. A book of her dog paintings is coming out this October called A Dog a Day, published by Pavilion Books. |
Map: Number 7
The King William Valerie trained at Epsom Art School, Twickenham Art College, and more recently obtained a BA hons at Bath Spa in Creative Arts. She is interested in using various media’s in order to translate her work, which is primarily inspired by nature and its rhythms. She works in etching, oil and felt. Drawing is also pivotal to her practise. |
Map: Number 8
The Cornerstone When Sara moved to Paris, she began painting full time. After nearly 20 years living in France, Sara returned to England and is based just outside the city of Bath. She was introduced to mono-printing by an artist friend, and has now enrolled in a printmaking studio in Bath. She completed her Art and Design Foundations at Bath College. |
Map: Number 2
21 North Road Richard is a local amateur photographer working principally in black and white. He is drawn to a wide range of subjects, from architecture to wildlife. He has previously exhibited at the Widcombe Art Trail to great success. |
Map: Number 5
5 Combe Road Sally lives on a dairy farm just outside Bath and has a lifelong interest in animals, specially horses and dogs. She creates individual hand built pieces that portray some of the character and attitude of wild, farm, and domestic animals. |
Map: Number 8
The Cornerstone Fascinated with the beauty and detail of nature, Kate's prints are mainly on this subject and in particular peacocks. She works primarily with lino and etching but has also experimented with drypoint and collagraph. She is always interested in learning new print techniques and constantly looking for new inspiration. |
Map: Number 8
The Cornerstone Emma is an award-winning artist, specialising in contemporary, semi-abstract and impressionistic painting with an emphasis on colour and texture. Using Indian Inks and acrylics, she produces vibrant and arresting work. Skylines - landscape, sky, sea, nature and memory are the inspirational core. |
Map: Number 8
The Cornerstone Mary is the great-great-grandniece of Alice Liddell – the original Alice in Wonderland. She studied at the Chelsea School of Art and Central School of Art in London under the tutelage of renowned visionary and surrealist painter Cecil Collins. Colour has always been a primary concern of her works in both oil and watercolour. |
Map: Number 11
Francis House Steve Wells is a graphic designer who works in the heart of Combe Down. He has designed many book jackets, often for children’s publishers. He also does illustrations and has recently been working on Mrs. Cat – a serene feline – images of whom will be available as greeting cards. Steve designed our beautiful map and cool logo! |
Map: Number 10
5 Summer Lane A group of sculptors from the Combe Down area will be showing their stone work outside (weather permitting) and demonstrating their carving techniques. Working primarily in soft Bath Stone (which is still quarried in Combe Down) the sculptors use hand tools to create interesting shapes, textures and patterns. |
Map: Number 7
The King William Born and brought up in Taiwan, Shuya now lives in Bath. A self-taught artist, she began her journey working in the fashion industry, Shuya spent time as a graphic designer before experimenting with abstract form in a variety of mediums, using her sewing machine to explore patterns, shapes and structures found in the world around us. |
Map: Number 12
Davidge's Bottom Phoebe describes herself as "a highly creative and resourceful people person with a talent for chameleonic writing and a sharp editorial instinct. " A sample of Phoebe's poems appeared on lampposts around the Trail. |
Map: Number 12
Davidge's Bottom Kath is an experienced writer and editor of children's books with over 20 years of experience. She has collaborated with her paper engineer husband on many pop-up books and has run many pop-up workshops in schools. Samples of Kath's writing appeared on lampposts around the Trail. |
Map: Number 12
Davidge's Bottom Moira Butterfield is an internationally-published children's author who has produced many titles for all ages. Her new history series for children, Found, was recently published by Franklin Watts. Look out for her major new book, Welcome to our World, to be published by Nosy Crow in June, 2018. Moira set a quiz for children to solve around the Trail. |
Map: Number 12
Davidge's Bottom John is a travel and inspired culinary writer. His recently published First Peel The Otter is full of 'grim and ghastly recipes for the gruesome gourmand'. Samples of these recipes appeared on lampposts around the Trail |