Author: Jenny Hand

Farewells can often be very bittersweet and such was the case at our end of season party this week.

After a stunning seven month season, centred on the once in a lifetime opportunity to host the 41 First World War paintings by Sir Alfred Munnings now owned by Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, our gathering at Castle House on a cold and misty autumn night was an opportunity to extend a huge thank you the many who have supported our work this year.

A playful note was struck by guests adorned with various maple leaf-inspired designs and we had a fair share of lumberjacks – and lumberjanes!

  

 

Poetry had its place amidst the party when, in her address to the gathered guests, Jenny Hand, Director of the museum, gave a reading of Wilfred Owen’s poem ‘But I Look at the Permanent Stars’. It allowed for a moment of timely quiet and reflection for all those who made sacrifices during 1914-1918.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we gathered in the hall of Castle House, surrounded as we were by Munnings’ paintings and sketches and watched over by the smiling and playful commercial illustrations that hang along the stairway, the celebration felt just right. Understandably, too, our guests took one last opportunity to view the Behind the Lines exhibition before the paintings return home to Canada all too soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Proudfoot, who co-curated Behind the Lines with Brenda Parrish, quietly explained in a conversation over drinks just how moved he was to have contributed to the museum in this way; making the point that he could never have forseen such an opportunity when he was studying First World War art for his Masters Degree. Things so often come full circle.

And so, after a hugely busy and successful (16,000 visitors) season we have, once again, closed the doors to Castle House for the winter break – but as we bid farewell to the paintings we have come to love and admire, we say hello to plans for 2020. This will include new publications as well as new displays.

A huge thank you to all of you that visited us in 2019 and we look forward to seeing you again in 2020.

Cotswolds based artist Melanie Wright is known for her
portrayal of equine and landscape subjects and her talent
for capturing atmosphere, action, speed and quality of light.
Along with a keen eye for true representation, she brings a
highly individual vision to her paintings and drawings.
Working in oils, pastels and watercolour, Melanie also paints
portraits to commission. She shows her paintings and
drawings at galleries throughout the United Kingdom and
examples of her work can also be found in private collections
in Europe, Japan and the United States.

Melanie studied portraiture and life painting to postgraduate
level at Heatherley’s School of Fine Art in London, and
History of Art, with an emphasis on Modern British Painting,
at Christie’s Education.

She grew up in the North Yorkshire Dales where she spent
much of her childhood riding, handling and studying horses
and observing and absorbing the landscape.

58. First World War Field Camp Scene 16 x 12 WATERCOLOUR £780.00

54. Study – Romeo the Cavalry Horse 8 x 10 WATERCOLOUR £420.00**SOLD

Tom was born in 1941 and studied at Bournville and
Birmingham College of Art and the Royal Academy School.
He is the President of the New English Art Club and past
President of the Royal Society of British Artists, and a member
of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours, being the
featured artist in 1987. In the same year he was awarded the
Painter Stainers prize and the NEAC Critics’ prize. In 1992 he
won the Horse and Hound Royal Ascot prize and his winning
painting was presented to Her Majesty the Queen to mark the
40th Anniversary of her accession.

Tom Coates has exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer
Exhibition since 1980 and his work is in many private
collections.

55. Behind The Lines – study 1 20 x 16 OIL ON CANVAS £2,000.00

59. Behind The Lines – 2 20 x 20 OIL ON CANVAS £3,000 .00

The Real War Horse
They were the backbone to keeping supplies moving to the army
as well as being used on the gun carriages behind and on the
Frontline. They worked all through the war and many were lost but
their work was tireless.

I have depicted this horse pulling, it shows the essence and tireless
work they did throughout the war. The harness is only a suggestion,
a reference only as the sculpture is about the honesty of horse
whatever position he was placed.

53. The Real War Horse 16 x 12 x 5
Bronze Sculpture £3,658.00 Limited edition – 3 available
Resin £2,350.00 Limited edition – 1 available

Malcolm is working figurative artist based on the Suffolk/
Norfolk border in the unique and meandering Waveney Valley.
He is based in his studio on the outskirts of Bungay – drawing,
painting and teaching “classical” observational art skills. He
works with traditional drawing media, coloured pencils and
oil paint – where possible, directly from the subject depicted.
In addition, he studies and writes about art techniques,
demonstrates to art groups and at art-related events, teach
workshops to groups across the UK and exhibit his pictures
wherever possible. He is a member of several local and
national art societies and is a Silver Signature member of the
UK Coloured Pencil Society.

51. Waiting (Studio painting) 45.5 x 61 cm OIL ON CANVAS £595.00


56. Holding the horses study – study 30.5 x 25.5 cm OIL ON CANVAS £295.00


57. Rider study (Plein air study) 25.5 x 30.5 cm OIL ON CANVAS £295.00

Wil Harvey, trained in printmaking at Bradford and Craven
Colleges. He has always been fascinated by ink in paintings
and, after many years of painting for pleasure, turned
professional in 2000, specialising in ink and watercolour
‘house-portraits’ and landscapes and has extended his
painting techniques with etching and woodcut prints. He and
his wife Anne moved to Suffolk and has his studio at Harveys
Ink, The Old Post Office, Wenhaston, Halesworth. Wil is a member
of the Southwold Art Group.

48. At Ease 24 x 24 OIL ON CANVAS £650.00

49. Study – At Ease 16 x 12 WATERCOLOUR & INK £350.00

50. Mounted 12 x 16 OIL ON CANVAS £350.00 **SOLD

John is now established as one of Ireland’s leading equine,
sporting and portrait artist. Born in Co. Meath in 1976, John
still lives and works from his studio in the heart of Meath’s
countryside.

He has carried out commissions for many leading horse
owners and trainers, and has painted some of our top equine
heroes as well as portraits of leading Jockeys including Lester
Piggot a 20 times champion A.P. Mc Coy. John’s work is now
collected worldwide. In 2013 John was asked to be the Artist in
Residence by the Curragh Racecourse, where he has his own
studio/gallery which is open to the public on race days.

In 2018 John was commissioned to paint one of the world’s
most famous racehorses, Shergar, for a BBC documentary
‘Searching for Shergar’, this was a massive achievement for
John which saw his work reach millions worldwide.

43. Camp Life 39 x 35 (100x80cm) OILS ONCANVAS £4,500

44. Two Greys Feeding 31 x 24 ((80x60cm) OILS ON CANVAS £2,500

45. Study – Camp Life 16 x 12 (40x30cm) OILS £600.00

46. Conversations 16 x 8 (40x20cm) OILS ON BOARD £750.00 **SOLD

47. Study – Soldiers /Horse 40x30cm Acrylic £600.00

Barry was born in the New Forest, where he still lives and
works. He is a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters,
the Society of Equestrian Artists and a member of the Royal
Society of Marine Artists.

Barry’s favoured subjects include landscape, marine, equine
and wildlife. He works mainly in oils and watercolours and
occasionally in pastel. Most of his paintings are produced
out of doors, working in the landscape, with the final touches
being added in his studio.

Barry exhibits throughout the UK and also in the Netherlands.
He has exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of
Marine Artists, the Pastel Society and the Royal West of England
Academy.

40. Resting 20 x 24 OIL ON CANVAS £995.00

41. Study – Dedham 12 x 12 OIL ON CANVAS £395.00**SOLD

42. Study – Resting 10 x 12 WATERCOLOUR £250.00 **SOLD

Sue studied at St Martins School of Art on foundation and
degree courses. After graduating she went on to illustrate
children’s books, greetings cards, magazines and calendars.
Sue now teaches residential courses for Art Centres and also
in her studio in South Norfolk. Sue has exhibited in London
at The Mall Galleries with The Royal Institute of Oil Painters,
The Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters, The Royal Society
of British Artists, and in the past with The Society of Women
Artists, The Society of Botanical Artists and Britains Painters.
In 2013 Sue was the Winner of The SAA Artist of The Year
Competition.

34. Study 1 – Plein Air 46 x 56 OIL ON CANVAS £350.00**SOLD

35. Take Five 46 x 56 OIL ON CANVAS £595.00

36. First Aid Post 40 x 46 OIL ON CANVAS £350.00

37. Study 2 – Plein Air 46 x 56 OIL ON CANVAS £350.00**RESERVED

38. Barking Orders 40 x 50 OIL ON CANVAS £395.00