Mary Fedden: Simple Pleasures

 This Mary Fedden exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, runs until the 16 October, so if you like the sound of it, you need to go this week. This is what they say about the exhibition on the website:

'This exhibition explores her life and work, from her childhood and young adulthood in Bristol, to her marriage with fellow artist Julian Trevelyan and their decades working in adjoining studios at Durham Wharf on the Thames.

Over 110 paintings and works on paper are featured, covering all periods of Fedden’s career, drawn from both private and public collections across the UK, including Tate and the Government Art Collection. The exhibition will shed new light on the artist’s working practices by including her easel and some of her favourite still life objects in the installation – the simple things that inspired her. We will also explore the development of her sensibility for bright colours via graphic panels and a well-illustrated catalogue.'

It's a lovely exhibition, my favourite pieces were as follows:

This is called 'Cock and hens' loaned from a private collection. The birds belonged to the artist's good friend, the sculptor Elizabeth Frink. The cockerel she named Reggie, apparently

Above is a painting entitled 'Goats in Gozo' loaned form the RWA. This is a lovely painting, goats being herded towards more verdant fields. There is a video dating back to 1999 which shows Mary Fedden painting, giving a great insight into her technique, especially for painting stripes.

 Above one of three works loaned by Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. This is called 'Spanish Chair'.

And lastly, this painted chair attracted my attention, it's very reminiscent of Charleston.