Exhibition: An Abstract View

Saturday 12th June 2010 – Monday 19th July 2010

Our Gallery's summer exhibition is entitled "An Abstract View" and showcases a quartet of West Country artists who create abstract art. The exhibition encompasses 2D works, glass and ceramics that, together, make a dynamic statement of an artistic vision.

Martin Pettinger is an experimental ceramicist, whose work is characterised by intricate designs formed in bright colours, shining through a black finish. Martin, who is based in Somerset, has honed his craft over a 30 year career. He brushes soft washes of coloured clays, one on top of another, to lend a depth and texture to the colours that gives a luminosity and endless variety. Several firings are required to keep the colours as pure as possible. The final firing is a black layer that gives structure to both the coloured washes and the form of the pot. The pots are then polished until they have a beautifully smooth surface, and overlaid with lacquer to give each piece its distinctively rich finish. Martin will be exhibiting a range of his pots, vases and other forms.

Claire Casely paints abstract forms in acrylics, using bold and exuberant colours. Her large-scale works are inspired by the forms and forces of the natural world, with which she engages by working in situ whenever possible. Claire has painted and created since she could first hold a paint brush as a tiny girl growing up in Devon, and was encouraged by creative parents and grandparents to immerse herself in the world of imagination. Claire says that painting for her "doesn't come to order, rather ...it is a force that leads rather than can be led". Claire's training in Visual Arts and Design for Television have also influenced her art-form.

Glass artist David Pascoe works with both kiln-formed and blown glass to create pieces ranging from coasters and small pendants to bowls and wall-panels. Before opening his studio in 2003 in Cornwall, David had a varied career, working as everything from a crab and lobster fisherman in Hayle Harbour to a surfboard repairer. He also travelled extensively during winter months in search of warm water and good surf, which allowed him to discover kiln-formed glass in Australia and work as an intern at Bull's Eye Glass in the US.

The fourth participating artist is painter Harley Barratt. Harley works on a large-scale to express an emotional response to the world around him. He draws inspiration from a number of sources, from landscape gardens, to fashion and colour, and the work of old masters. His paintings are sometimes completed spontaneously in a couple of hours, while others may take up to a year to finish, with the artist knowing intuitively when the time is right to put down his brushes. Harley paints mostly in oils and says that the slowness of their drying time, the feel of using them and their smell all contributes to the creative process.

We are delighted to host such a stimulating body of work from these outstanding local artists. All of them convey an energy and drama in the expression of their artistic vision, and we hope visitors will find it a thought-provoking and inspiring experience. As ever, this exhibition at the Mill reflects the wealth of creative talent that is found within the South West.

The exhibition runs daily from Saturday 12th June to Monday 19th July. Entry is free.

For more information, call the Gallery on 01395 568008.