Wilhelmina Barns-Graham CBE, HRSA, HRWA, HRSW (1912–2004)
A Life in Colour Made over a period of over 40 years, and ranging over a broad sweep of naturalism to abstraction, these works by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham all share an origin in the close observation of the natural world, as well as very summery shades of orange, yellow and brown redolent of sunshine and sand, and heat – of what Tom Cross described as ‘painting the warmth of the sun’. In 1985, Barns-Graham noted that she found the dividing line between making works based on what she described as ‘inward perception’ and ‘outward observation’ increasingly blurred. This group encompasses works from both ends of this spectrum, as well as the less distinct area in between which Barns-Graham identifies. The earliest work is of an olive tree near San Gimignano in Tuscany from 1954. Drawn en plein air, in front of the motif she observes, the coloured background is however totally unnaturalistic, yet conjures up a sense of the dusty heat she may have experienced at that moment. Three works include in their title ‘Porthmeor’ – the magnificent beach in St Ives over which Barns-Graham’s various studios overlooked for 60 years. Each depicts a different time of day, with different weather, atmospheric and tidal conditions – decades of observation of this specific location meant Barns-Graham was attuned to the both subtle and dramatic changes and rich variety of conditions that could exist on the beach, and select particular moments she, in different ways, wanted to capture. Pen and ink line drawings and relief collages within the group show Barns-Graham representing experience of the phenomenal world, particularly of water and geology, though in a more abstract form, through the filter of her ‘inner perception’. These works capture something of the quality of the sea or rock forms that so fascinated her, without them being tied to specific places or times. International trips, inspirational journeys which punctuate Barns-Graham’s career, are represented here by two works from her last sustained group of ‘travel’ works. She visited 4
