Category: News

8 – 23 APRIL

Become an egg detective this Easter and help Sir Wyndham Bunny find all the clues hidden around Petworth.  Solve the puzzles and win a chocolaty prize.

NAA ( Normal admission applies) + £3 per trail

 

Berry Bros have once again teamed up with us to host a series of wine tasting dinners throughout 2017.  The first event will take you on a tour of vineyards around the world, pairing a series of wines with a 5 course dinner especially created by our head chef, Paul Welburn. 

As ever, we expect demand to be high for our wine tasting dinners so early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Date 08/02/2017

Time 7pm – 10.30pm

Price £60.00

See website for more information. 

 

Following the success of last year’s event we are delighted to announce we will once again be hosting a Burns Night dinner.  It promises to be another memorable night too, not only will you be welcomed by a traditional Scottish piper but your host for the event, Andrew Moffat will deliver the Selkirk Grace as well as the traditional address to the haggis.

Andrew is well know for hosting Burns Night dinners at the Scottish members club, The Caledonian Club in Belgravia, London as well as many other venues.

The 6 course dinner will be paired with a selection of wines as well as a traditional whisky “dram” served with the haggis. 

Tickets are available for advance purchase only. £65.00

Date 27/1/2017

Time 7pm – 11pm

See website for more information. 

 

Trees donated by the Leconfield Estates, a sea of white lights and the smell of mulled wine and hot chestnuts combined to create a Winter wonderland at Petworth Christmas Lights switch-on. From midday to 8pm there was something for everyone. Dotted around the Market Square, in the High Street, up Lombard Street and in the Leconfield Hall were over 40 gift and craft stalls while many of the town’s independent businesses welcomed visitors.

There were festive window displays – live and static – to show Petworth at its creative best. Winners of the static window competition were Spriggs Florist in New Street (‘best dressed’), Red Card in High Street (‘most creative’) and Coco Cafe & Sugar Lounge (‘funniest’). Music was provided by schools and bands, choirs from neighbouring communities, Petworth Town Band, a steel band and singers from the Herbert Shiner. Younger visitors were kept amused with a host of activities ranging from the new attraction, the bouncy Snow Globe to Santa’s Grotto. Following the blessing of the Nativity outside St Mary’s Church, there was a live nativity with Mary, Joseph, shepherds and angels with lanterns, not forgetting the star of the show Mr Darcy the Donkey parading the streets of Petworth.

People were invited to sing along to carols, with Father Mark leading the singing from St Mary’s Choir, the Leconfield Singers and Petworth Town Band. The grand finale was the lighting up of the Christmas Tree by Lord Egremont and his two grand-children Esme and Edward. Chris Kemp, chairman of Petworth Town Council, which organises the event said: “It was a very special day thanks to the many volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes and for many months to make it happen. Our annual Christmas Lights Switch On brings all parts of the community together.” Have you checked out our new Christmas section yet? 

It’s packed with ideas and tips to ensure you make the most out of the festive season. There’s recipes, suggestions for presents and everything from choosing your tree to recycling your packaging and paper. 

Source: West Sussex Gazette

Ashley Cordwell trained at CMS but after qualifying this autumn, he has set up his own art gallery in Petworth, West Sussex.

What’s your background?

I studied law at Durham. It wasn’t really something I thought I would pursue as a career when I started, but as I went through university I thought it would be a really good option for me. I applied for training contracts in my final year and was offered a place at CMS Cameron McKenna.

I was meant to start my training contract in 2012 but I asked if could have a year off, and I went and lived in France for a year, studying at Poitiers University. Then I asked if I could defer for another year, this time living in Seville. Generally CMS were quite happy with that – when I asked to defer the second time it seemed to be a simple case of moving me to a different spreadsheet – it wasn’t a big deal. So I eventually started in 2014.

What was your training contract like?

I started out in corporate, it was the department that took the most trainees so the thinking was to throw myself in at the deep end and get to know the firm. We do a secondment in our second seat, and I toyed with the idea of going Mexico, but in the end I decided to go to Bristol to do real estate. My dad is an architect and it was something I related to – dealing in bricks and mortar.

I really enjoyed my time in Bristol and went on to do planning for my third seat. I was thinking of qualifying into that. Then I did construction disputes for my final seat, and it was halfway through that that I started thinking I might actually start an art gallery instead.

That’s quite a switch… what brought the decision about?

I felt I would have been shoehorning myself into a department rather than joining one I was really in love with.

My reasons were probably a bit more personal than most. My mum passed away toward the beginning of my final seat, and she was a real role model to me in business as well as everything else. It had never been my plan to qualify and then leave – I always thought I’d be a lawyer for five to 10 years at least. But I just thought, why not do it now, why am I waiting? I’d learned enough generally that I thought I could go into business myself so I just went for it.

Why an art gallery?

It’s a good question. The main reason is both my parents had worked in the art world and growing up I was always around that. The nature of paintings and original art really interested me as a project: every piece is unique and you get to deal with some great people in artists and art dealers. That’s what gave me the idea, and from a business viewpoint actually it’s not a saturated market.

Has your legal training helped at all?

It’s been pretty useful so far. The premises we are renovating is a listed building and in a conservation area. When I was working in planning I was always like, “Why do people buy these buildings?” But if you want something in the centre of a place like Petworth, where the gallery is going to be, it’s probably going to be listed. So we have applied for planning permission, which I have done myself. My dad is the architect so between us we make a pretty good team!

Is your legal career definitely a thing of the past? Do you regret the time you spent training for a profession you’re now not joining?

I have my practising certificate for this year – although obviously I hope that everything is successful with the gallery!

I don’t regret it, because I’ve learnt a lot. I certainly feel more confident in my abilities having spent the last two years in law. I don’t think I would have taken this leap when I was coming straight out of university when I was young and naïve – or even more young and naïve that I am now! 

How did your lawyer colleagues react?

The response has been quite mixed – from the incredulous to the envious and supportive. Out of my peers who are now qualified, I think I was the only one not to carry on with law. They are eagerly awaiting the opening weekend, and I’ve sent them all an invite. I think there are certainly a few people further up the ladder who thought, ‘What are you doing – you’ve studied for how many years, and you’re chucking in a decent salary to go it alone.’ I’m hoping to prove them wrong!

Do you have any advice for trainees in your situation?

If they’re thinking of starting their own business, don’t be under any illusions. I’m certainly working longer hours now than I was in a law firm. There can be a whole host of problems and the buck stops with you.

 

Source: The Lawyer

 

The Star at Petworth run by Chris Connor and Ryan Coller, has won Fuller’s 2016 best country pub award, The Griffin Trophy. Presenting it chairman, Michael Turner, said: “Chris and Ryan have been at The Star since 2013 and I have seen it go from strength to strength.” The prize is a £2,000 holiday, staff party and an engraved plaque.

Source: Midhurst & Petworth Observer

West Sussex based artist Tabitha McBain creates decorative and richly illustrated originals painted in gouache and gilded with 24 ct gold leaf, inspired by medieval illuminated manuscripts and bestiaries.

McBain’s greatest inspiration for art comes from the natural world. “As a child I would collect and study shells, feathers, skulls and other objects and continue to do so even now.”

McBain is influenced by the detailed illuminated manuscripts and books of hours from the medieval era, and creates her own unique take on these works combining the traditional medieval decoration around the borders of her paintings with a more modern realistic centrepiece featuring a particular animal or bird. She uses 24ct gold leaf to highlight certain features of each piece.

Sussex born artist/printmaker Clare Dales is showing a new series of lino cut prints, encompassing a ‘food’ theme. Dales began her printmaking journey over 15 years ago, following a one-day workshop in lino-cut.

With a degree in Archaeology, Dales went on to read Architecture, exploring the built and natural environments and experimenting with print techniques, including linocuts, monotypes, textiles and collages. This interest in detail and pattern forms a key theme in her work.

As part of Lewes Printmakers, she has exhibited frequently in the region and has been a contributor to a number of artists books. Her recent solo publication, Eastbourne, An Alphabet, has been well reviewed, drawing its inspiration from the characteristics of this historic seaside town.

As well as producing her own art, Dales runs workshops, where she shares her enthusiasm for print and its possibilities. Printmaker Dales will host a talk and demo on Saturday 26 November at 11am at Kevis House Gallery.

Kevis House Gallery specialises in the wood engravings by Gwenda Morgan (1908 – 1991). This show will feature some of her Christmas and Winter themed prints.

Morgan, who lived in Petworth throughout her life, studied at the influential Grosvenor School of Modern Art in the 1930’s, and her engravings are held by most of the major museums in the UK.

The Morgan prints on offer include rare signed engravings as well as a section of more affordable proof prints, printed by the Whittington Press in 2000.

email: press@hodgsonevents.com or call: 01798 215 007

Gallery opening times: Monday – Saturday, 10.00 am – 5.00 pm. Sunday by appointment only.

Kevis House, Lombard Street, Petworth West Sussex, GU28 0AG 01798 215 007
mail@kevishouse.com

 

Christmas Exhibition Coming Next

Thursday 24th November – Saturday 3rd December

Ramsay Gibb Seascapes

Ramsay Gibb paints majestic scenery with an underlying interest in the archaeology or ancient culture of a place.  This is an exhibition of recent work from the far North-West of Scotland, the Hebrides, Sutherland and Wester Ross. . Ramsay writes about this work; ‘these beaches are the edge of Europe and the ones that face the fullest force of the Atlantic. Here the mercurial light of the north, glancing on the sea or fleetingly held within a cresting wave, is the most transformative. These are places of beauty but also shocking power. For the last nine years Ramsay has been represented solely by The Francis Kyle Gallery in London’s West End.  Following its closure we are very lucky to be able to show his work.

And new work by gallery favourites: Lucy Powell, Stephen Palmer, Catherine Forshall, Jackie Philip, Sandra Whitmore and Sarah Warley-Cummings

Open Wed- Sat11am to 4pm or by appointment to Christmas Eve.

Elspeth Bray at mail@moncrieff-bray.com

 07867 978414

 

 

Open from 7 January – 10 March 2017 at Petworth House, Turner and the Age of British Watercolour offers a rare opportunity to see a major dimension of British art not normally encountered at Petworth and to consider it alongside our renowned collection of oil paintings and sculpture from the same golden period, 1780-1850.

Defined by The Sun newspaper in 1819 as ‘a delightful repast for patriotism as well as taste’, watercolour painting became a national preoccupation during these years and in this can be seen to parallel the 3rd Earl of Egremont’s particular emphasis at Petworth on British art in other media.

Outstanding works of art

This unique exhibition features 36 outstanding loans from The Higgins Museum, Bedford – one of the finest collections of British watercolours, assembled through judicious purchases made in the post-war years. For Turner and the Age of British Watercolour these are complimented by additional exhibits from the Martyn Gregory Gallery, London, a leading present-day dealer in the field.

Loans include seven compelling watercolours by JMW Turner, famously represented by twenty oil paintings at Petworth, and iconic examples by such great contemporaries as John Constable, Paul Sandby, John Robert Cozens, Thomas Girtin, Francis Towne, Richard Parkes Bonington, John Sell Cotman and David Cox, none of whom are found in the Petworth collection.

While the 3rd Earl of Egremont did not collect watercolours, in common with others of his rank in the 19th century, he did acquire major contemporary British prints for his library. Turner and the Age of British Watercolour also showcases important examples by James Gillray and David Roberts, on loan from the present Lord Egremont and never before publicly shown.

Turner’s celebrated watercolours

Among the highlights of the exhibition is one of Turner’s greatest and best-known watercolours, A First Rate Taking in Stores, 1818. This extraordinary work provides the ideal springboard from which to consider how Turner’s watercolours and oils were actually painted. It remains the only example recorded by an eye-witness who saw it being made:

‘He began by pouring wet paint on to the paper until it was saturated, he tore, he scratched, he scrabbled at it in a kind of frenzy and the whole thing was in chaos – but gradually and as if by magic the lovely ship, with all its exquisite minutia came into being and by luncheon time the drawing was taken down in triumph.’

Turner’s methods brought to life

For Turner and the Age of British Watercolour we’ve worked with two contemporary artists who have made special studies of Turner’s methods.

Mike Chaplin worked with Tate Britain on their acclaimed 2010 publication How to Paint like Turner and for many years was the expert on Channel 4’s much loved Watercolour Challenge. In an upstairs room of Petworth House, overlooking one of Turner’s favourite views – our famous park, Chaplin explores Turner’s watercolour technique and exhibits some of the copies he has made after Turner, alongside other examples of his work which reflect a long-standing interest in the earlier artist.

Charlie Cobb made the oil paintings seen in Mike Leigh’s 2014 film Mr. Turner and has portrayed the works of many other painters on both the big screen and television. He has also recently been artist-in-residence at Leighton House and the Rye Arts Festival. In the Old Library of Petworth House, used by Turner and others as a studio in the 19th century, Cobb exhibits paintings from Mr. Turner alongside more recent work of his own with parallels to Turner’s art.

You can now book tickets online for this exhibition.

---

OPENING TIMES

Open from 10.00am to 5.00pm, Tuesday to Friday.
11.00am to 5.00pm on Saturday

CONTACT

Tel: 01798 344434

Email: Purties@btinternet.com

Other times by appointment. Please call ahead to check before visiting

---

ADDRESS

88a new street, Petworth
West Sussex, Gu28 OAS

 

The gallery celebrates the intoxicating spirit of India with a three -week exhibition which showcases new work from contemporary artists who interpret the spirit of India in their own style.

Exhibition dates

Saturday 8th October – Sunday 29October 2016

Private views:  Saturday 8th October 3 – 7 pm and Sunday 9th October 11 am – 1 pm

Exhibiting artists: Penelope Anstice, Tobit Roche, Paul Treasure, Victoria Threlfall

Penelope Anstice’s latest body of work was created from two separate trips to India: one to Kerala and Calcutta; and more recently to Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Since her first visit to Jodhpur in 1990 she had always wanted to return to the city which, for her, “encompasses everything India has to offer for an artist.” She is inspired by the ‘Blue’ city’s fascinating architecture, its ancient walls, the towering Mehrangarh Fort, and the vibrant markets teeming with life. “I like to sit amongst it all and paint the permanently shifting scene,” she says, “to try and capture an impression very quickly.”

Tobit Roche has “been under the spell of India” since his teenage years which were spent in New Delhi and he maintains that India is still his spiritual home.  Roche grew up amongst artists; his father (who was born in India) was the poet and novelist Paul Roche, who modelled for the Bloomsbury artist Duncan Grant.  His landscapes are imbued with the particular haze and atmosphere of the Indian subcontinent. These paintings are “about longing and nostalgia,” says Roche. “I show a view of India which is intensely personal and is based on my emotional reaction to this country. When I am there, I get very moved by the spirit of the landscape, which is t

Paul Treasure travelled to Goa from Kerala for this exhibition thathe says is his “response to the experience of that place.” The paintings express his feelings of joy. For Paul, “India is a magical place that helps to focus the mind on accepting what it means to be a human being today. It leaves me feeling inspired, elated . . . I try to explore these emotions further in my paintings and experiment with many different mediums and materials.”

Victoria Threlfall struck outfrom Rajasthan into Madhya Pradesh away from the popular Indian tourist destinations . Here she visited Hindu pilgrimage sites along the Narmada river and the ancient city of Mandu.

“Leaving bitterly cold and wan London in February and arriving in Indiais an almost overwhelmingexperience. The heat, noise, smells and filth both beguile and repel but the colour is always enthralling with seeminglyimpossible juxtapositionsof hue and tone somehow managing to look harmonious.”

Kevis House Gallery brings together five accomplished landscape artists, offering unique interpretations of the natural and built world. All works in this exhibition will be works on paper, with each artist working in their chosen medium; pastels, indian ink, silverpoint, watercolour and gouache.

On now until 29 October when the show ends.

List of the 5 artists; Mark Buck, Frances Hatch, Jonathan Newdick, Noami Rae, David Walsh. Please click on the image to find out more about each artist and their works which will be for sale.