Today I set up my work at West Ox Arts Gallery in Bampton, Oxfordshire and after a 2 hour drive, and having bright sunny weather, I made the most of my trip and wandered around the beautiful village of Bampton. I saw the church with blossom trees in its grounds and the beautiful houses surrounding it.
After a casual walk around alone with my thoughts, I then drove to another beautiful place I had driven through on my way over to Bampton; the town of Burford which is on a slope. There is a tiny bridge over a river at one end of the stretch of road that runs through Burford with one lane and traffic signals to negotiate, and there are houses which sit right alongside the river as you can see below. Burford has a few galleries which I visited and in particular, enjoyed the collection at the Wren Gallery where I came across three artists I liked the work of; Susan Isaac (newly acquired work and the best pieces in the gallery in my opinion), Jean Feeney (bright colourful coastal landscapes) and Rosanne Barr (more abstract and suggestive landscapes).
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- Susan Isaac, The Radcliffe Camera from Brasenose Lane, Oxford, Wren Gallery
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- Susan Isaac, Ton Tower, Christ Church College, Oxford, Wren Gallery
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- Jean Feeney, Wren Gallery Burford
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- Jean Feeney, On the Shore near Laide, Wren Gallery Burford
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- Rosanne Barr, Hues of Autumn, Wren Gallery
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- Rosanne Barr, Beached Boats, Wren G
The other gallery I visited and enjoyed was the Brian Sinfield Gallery which was recommended to me by the curator of the West Ox Arts Gallery. Here I saw a piece I was particularly drawn to by Robbie Wraith called Nicole drawn in charcoal. It instantly grasped my attention upon entering the upstairs gallery space. There is a very natural look about the image and the sensitively used medium given a feel about the work.
I will be returning to Bampton for the opening reception on Saturday 4th May and hope to visit somewhere different afterwards on what will hopefully be another great day for weather on this bank holiday weekend.