Coastal Gallery Blog

Stephen Powell at Coastal Gallery Lymington

Stephen Powell at Coastal Gallery Lymington

Above and Below: Stephen Powell, Duende Moon Series. Acrylic on Canvass

Stephen Powell has been exhibiting with Coastal Gallery Lymington for a number of years and his work always produces a liveliness of colour and form. His works display an extraordinary talent for bringing together bold shapes, hard edges and an expressively wide range of mark making skills in a coherently beautiful whole.

‘My work is not abstract in total. I always have subject matter and try to get closer to it through the use of a broad vocabulary of mark making, linked to considered use of colour and composition’.

Stephen is a painter and printmaker who works from his studios in the New Forest or in the South of France. His intention is to paint things that exist but can’t be seen, such sound or a feeling. He reacts to the colour and composition as it confronts him on the canvass and feels that painting and the desire to leave a mark is an instinctive action. Stephen has described his creative process as being most creative when it’s ‘walking a tightrope with disaster’.

While Stephen might provide a rough signpost for his own intentions through use of a title, he keeps his directions purposely vague to allow the viewer to create and interpret the paintings for themselves. Standing in front of one of his works is a fun and creative challenge to the viewer, where there are no wrong answers.

Coastal gallery Lymington are delighted to exhibit a selection of Stephen’s stunning work and are happy to facilitate a moment of contemplation should you wish to experience some of Stephen’s work for yourself.

Celebrating Ceramic Artists !

If the ending of BBC 2’s Great Pottery Throw Down last week has left you feeling the need for more ceramics in your life, then we at Coastal Gallery Lymington have the answer. Arek Nowicki, a ceramic artist based in Bournemouth, may not have modelled with Gisele but his hand built ceramic vessels and bowls are exquisite, sensual and downright impressive. His use of tough stoneware clay combined with the most delicate crystalline glazes create eccentric and exciting textural combinations, almost as if revealing a crystal from the earth. The free-flowing forms and often sheer scale of Arek’s vessels make a clear artistic statement and provide glamour and style wherever they stand. A handpicked collection of Arek’s works are on display here at the Coastal Gallery Lymington and we welcome all pottery lovers to come and have a look. Jackie Giron is a local ceramic artist based in Pilley. Jackie takes inspiration from the local landscape, geological strata and the ever-changing skies and light of the south coast. Her bowls have been described as “little jewels” and her layers of beautifully coloured glazes pool at the bottom of her bowls leaving a deeply coloured centre of melted glass reminiscent of rock pools on a bright sunny day. So what comes after the recent obsession with pottery? Spring is the time to enjoy the great outdoors. Julie Collins is a highly decorated watercolour artist based at Milford-on-sea who starts each day walking along the sea wall and taking inspiration from our beautiful coastline. Her work often uses both watercolour and acrylic and she pushes the boundaries of the paint to create large scale abstract paintings that convey the beauty and temporality of each scene. Her works are delicate and full of texture and light. Come and see works from all of these artists at the Coastal gallery Lymington. Be inspired, or perhaps take one home with you!

Claire Wiltsher – NEW ARRIVALS !

Readers of this month’s issue of HAMPSHIRE LIFE will have already seen that Claire Wiltsher’s atmospheric and immersive work wins her the first Hampshire Life Landscape painter of the year competition. “My work is based on landscape and my intention is to capture a sense of place by depicting an atmosphere – I build up layers or depth and texture using fragments of collage and drawing materials over the top of the dried oil painting, with further painted layers applied.” We have just received some really delightful new paintings from Claire – seascapes and landscapes – do come and and see Claire’s beautiful work for yourself !

Update from Coastal Gallery

Hampshire Open Studios 2017

Plans are already well advanced for this years summer exhibition at ArtSway during Hampshire Open Studios taking place saturday 20th August until bank holiday monday 28th August with the Private View taking place on friday 18th August 6pm – 8pm. Please email or contact us with your address details if you would like an invitation to the PV. Artists this year include Chris Whittaker, Stephen Powell, Biddy Hodgkinson, Martyn Brewster, Julie Collins. Arek Nowicki & Jackie Giron will be exhibiting ceramics and pottery, with Mike Turner exhibiting his stunning stainless steel Sculpture. We will be hosting a new area for digital art sponsored by the Open Data Institute with special guest artists being announced very soon !

Nick Dawe – Abstract Photography & Design

In this post we are featuring the work of abstract photographer Nick Dawe who has lived in the area for over 20 years and remains fascinated by the incredible coastal area surrounding him. His images are an abstract and close-up viewpoint taken in and around Lymington, Barton-on-sea , Keyhaven, and the Yacht Haven. A series of Nick’s images can be purchased at Coastal Gallery as limited edition framed archival prints – we also have an intriguing ‘newspaper’ produced by Nick available to visiting customers which showcases his latest collection.

Interior Design & Hampshire Style

Over the past few weeks we have received some truly exceptional new arrivals from Geoffrey Robinson, Anne Toase, Will Rochfort and Mike Turner. The gallery is gearing up to spring and have already presented new ideas for interior design schemes & projects taking place in Hampshire. We are also delighted to see a wonderful new monthly magazine called HAMPSHIRE STYLE which has just launched – do have a look and see for yourself the superb quality – now available at Waitrose. We look forward to working with Hampshire Style to promote the gallery and work with them at this years Hampshire Open Studios !

NEW EXCLUSIVE ARRIVALS AT COASTAL GALLERY

We are delighted to welcome three new exclusive artworks to Coastal Gallery from very talented and celebrated local artists Will Rochfort, Michael Turner and Jo Vane. If you are driving past the gallery windows you will notice an impressive stainless steel shark by Michael Turner – a stunning sculpture mounted on oiled oak. We also have an exclusive new oil painting by Will Rochfort titled ‘ Chocolate Tea Cakes & Party Rings’ another local artist of international acclaim. Inspired by the local coastline local jeweller Jo Vane has just completed a stunning sculpture in copper depicting waves – come and visit soon to see these and much more !

Happy New Year

Now that we are into 2017 we are giving the gallery a confident new look with sculpture from Mike Turner, Ingrid Sterling and Jo Vane all bringing a fresh perspective. Beautiful abstract watercolours from Julie Collins have a real connect with the local coastline which acts as a constant inspiration feeding her work. This year we will be participating again in Hampshire Open Studios and plans are shaping up well for another stunning exhibition at ArtSway from 19th- 28th August – we will keep you updated with news and developments as the year proceeds. We wish you a very Happy New Year !

NEW MIKE TURNER SCULPTURES !

We are delighted to have THREE of Mike Turner’s stunning sculptures at Coastal Gallery to tempt you for Christmas. The largest is an Angler Fish priced at £7500 and currently on display in our window, along with the latest arrival today of a beautiful new stainless steel fish mounted on oak priced at £25O0. Finally we have the winged flying fish, again mounted on oak and priced at £2250. Come and see !