Martin Dutton Nutcombe House, Stoke Road, Maidencombe.
TEIGNBRIDGE artist Martin, pictured above, will once again open his cellar gallery to the public for the Teignbridge Nine Days of Art, September 9 to 17. Whenever possible, Martin likes to paint outdoors, in-situ, in front of his subject. Like many artists over the centuries and in the present, he is attracted to the magical light and atmosphere of Venice as a painting subject. He and his wife have visited Venice many times when he has sketched and photographed in-situ, but last year he was able to fulfil an ambition to get his paints and easel to Venice to paint on the spot. The day after they arrived, Martin was out in St Mark's Square, easel erected and painting away. Unsuspectingly, he found that water was bubbling up from the grates in the square due to the rising tide in the lagoon. In minutes he found himself surrounded and standing in water. Fortunately he was able to rescue his paints and clamber onto nearby steps above the water level and continue painting. 'The scene was breath-taking,' he said. 'St Mark's cathedral in full sunlight was reflected in the sparkling water. I changed my painting as the scene changed – a fateful mistake as I couldn't capture the changing scene in one image. Although this particular in-situ painting didn't work, I still carried the image in my mind. Back home in my studio I developed a new painting and I'm still working to capture the many vivid images I collected in Venice.' In November last year, Martin was out again, but this time in the cold to paint the rare snowfall on the banks of the River Teign. 'It was a cold, blustery experience but often such problems stimulate good work. The white snow on the hills above the river and the beautiful late autumn foliage created a magical image – well worth the trials of in-situ painting.' Martin went to art school to study at the age of 16 and he has spent his working life painting and lecturing in art colleges. His Venice pictures, local scenes, and other work inspired by a visit to Sicily, will be on show in his cellar gallery at Nutcombe House, Stoke Road, Maidencombe from September 9 to 17.
Theology on Wallpaper CANON ROBIN MURCH St Mary's Church, Cofton, Dawlish
ROBIN, a retired clergyman of the Church of England who, six years ago, returned to Dawlish to live in his grandfather's house, decided to have a go at art. He had never tried to make a picture before as he had always been too busy. An experimental evening with wallpaper and some oil pastels on the kitchen table took him by surprise. This was the beginning of a lot of experimental works which he enjoyed creating. He discovered that he could express many things seen by the inner eyes of his mind, of faith, theology and politics, all on wallpaper in energetic colours. His works, in oil pastels and pencil, have a lot of energy and dash about them. In these works are a variety of issues as well as touches of the Devon scenery. He also enjoys developing portraits within contexts of a person's biography, usually culled from newspaper cuttings, though he admits it is unlikely that anybody would want to hang one in the sitting room. For example, a picture with the theme of prison reform and Lord Ramsbotham the inspector is not everybody's taste. Nonetheless, he feels it is the aggregate of ideas, colours, issues and faces that make the works something worth looking at, even if you would not want it at home. Realising this, he enjoys being part of thought-provoking exhibitions. This is the reason why he is exhibiting this year in the Nine days of Art at the Church of St Mary's Cofton, Dawlish. He has a folio of more than 60 works, created in his attic studio which he built himself. He will be showing 20 works this year at Cofton Church. He commented that his pictures last far longer than sermons and are a lot quieter. He looks forward to meeting visitors to the exhibition in September, knowing they will enjoy the occasion.
See a stained glass artist at work June Carnell Mapledene, 36 Tarrs Avenue, Kingsteington.
Local tutor and stained glass artist June hosts an open studio event for the first time. She will be opening up the doors to her Kingsteignton studio where she creates pieces for her small business, Mad Bert's stained glass. During Nine Days of Art there will be the opportunity to see June's own designs of beautiful lamps, mirrors and panels. She will be presenting a range of unique pieces that have developed from a fascination with the ocean and movement of water. In addition, there will be the chance to see how stained glass creations are made. Examples of June's work in progress and informal demonstrations will give visitors the opportunity to satisfy their curiosity about the stained glass craft. Open daily except Saturday, September 9. To get a preview of June's work, check out June's website at http://www.madbert.co.uk">www.madbert.co.uk