Art & Culture

ARTIST AT WORK

No. 30: Jill Preston, Canopy (no.5)

Acrylic on Canvas, 40 x 40 cm, £170

Ihave loved painting from early childhood and when I gained a Distinction in A Level Art, many years ago, I vowed that I would take it up seriously when I retired.

This I did – sharpening up my skills by attending courses, workshops and joining local art groups. I increased my confidence by exhibiting locally, in club and open exhibitions, solo shows and with friends.

I now have a studio at home, where I paint mainly in watercolour, acrylics and mixed media. I take my inspiration from the land and seascapes of the British Isles, especially the South West – usually making sketches or taking photographs and then returning to the studio to make the finished painting.

I am currently enjoying exploring impressionistic approaches and abstraction, in order to portray – as best I can – my retrospective and emotional responses to my world.

During the lockdown last year, I used my regular dog walks to slow down and look more closely at my immediate surroundings. This resulted in two new series of paintings: Canopy and The Ground Beneath My Feet.

jillprestonpainter.co.uk

The Levelling (2010)

ON FILM

Andy Hastie, Yeovil Cinematheque

Over the past few years, a welcome development in cinema, and particularly British cinema, is the number of female directors breaking through into the mainstream. The prolific film writer, director and producer Mark Cousins has made a supportive documentary Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema (2020), exploring, essentially, the art of femaledirected films, with a compilation of 183 clips to illustrate this from some of the world’s finest films. Coming in at a massive 14-hours-long, this isn’t for the weak-willed, so book some holiday first, and get stuck in.

Yorkshire-born Clio Barnard is probably the leading light in the British cohort. Her breakthrough, The Arbor (2010), is a fascinating fusion of narrative and documentary, telling the story of Bradford playwright Andrea Dunbar, who died tragically at the age of 29. ‘Mesmerising’ The Guardian, ‘Extraordinarily powerful’ Wendy Ide, The Times. The Selfish Giant (2013) followed, then Dark River (2017), both gritty, realist yet lyrical films, with many hailing her the natural successor to Ken Loach. Her latest film Ali and Ava (2020) is an interracial love story and awaiting release.

Lynne Ramsay’s Rat Catcher (1999), her debut feature, won numerous awards. ‘Film of the year’ Daily Telegraph, ‘Spellbinding’ The Guardian, with Morvern Caller (2002), We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011), and You Were Never Really Here (2017) all picking up awards and praise. Her films immerse the viewer into audio-visual depths, combining music with colour and texture, creating dreamlike, other- worldly narratives.

Andrea Arnold broke through with Red Road (2006), then Fish Tank (2009), probably her most successful film. It tells the brutally honest story of a 15-year-old girl on a tough Essex estate she longs to leave. ‘The best British film of the year’ Jonathan Dean, Total Film Magazine. Wuthering Heights (2011) and American Honey (2016) followed. Her films are characterised by themes of deprivation and poverty, and her encouragement of the actors to improvise dialogue.

Joanna Hogg’s first full-length feature film is Unrelated (2007), with Archipelago (2010), Exhibition (2013) and the autobiographical The Souvenir (2019) all growing the critical acclaim being heaped on her now, with The Souvenir 11 awaiting release. Unlike the other three directors, her films are influenced by European cinema, with a static camera and long takes, and a middle-class ascetic.

A further group of younger women breaking through, many graduates of the NFTS (National Film and Television School), include Carol Morley with The Falling (2014) and Out of Blue (2018); Sarah Gavron’s Suffragette (2015) and Rocks (2019); Hope Dickson Leach’s The Levelling (2016), set on the Somerset Levels; Rose Glass’ St Maud (2019), an extraordinary psychological horror film about a hospice nurse who becomes obsessed with a woman in her care; D R Hood’s Wreckers (2011), and Georgia Parris’ Mari (2019), the story of a dancer returning to Dorset on hearing that her grandmother is dying – much of this excellent film is shot in and around Sherborne.

The Swan Theatre is still on track to have their first show – post lockdown – in July. So, if everything goes to plan, we will be able to have Cinematheque up and running again by around the end of June. Do keep getting those vaccines!

cinematheque.org.uk swan-theatre.co.uk

CONFESSIONS OF A THEATRE ADDICT

Rosie Cunningham

It is wonderful to have real theatre dates back in my diary and I am so looking forward to it. This summer, I am sure, will be a good one with cultural enrichment offerings at home rather than to be found overseas.

Don’t forget the production of Cole Porter and P.G. Wodehouse’s classic musical Anything Goes at the Barbican, starring Robert Lindsay, Megan Mullally, Felicity Kendal and Gary Wilmot. What an amazing cast! It’s fun and it’s saucy and perfect as a release after lockdown. From 23rd July until 16th October 2021.

The Royal Academy re-opens on 18th May with The Loneliness of the Soul, an exhibition of Tracey Emin’s most recent paintings shown alongside selected masterpieces by Edvard Munch. From 23rd May, David Hockney’s new work can also be seen in The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020. Tickets need to be booked in advance and will, no doubt, sell like hot cakes.

The Death of a Black Man by Alfred Fagon opens at the Hampstead Theatre. This darkly compelling play tells the story of an 18-year-old wheeler-dealer called Shakie and his friend Stumpie, living the high life in a flat in King’s Road, the epicentre of everything that’s cool in 1973. Running from 28th May – 10th July 2021. If you have never been, do visit this theatre which is modern and spacious and always has something cutting-edge to offer.

The Theatre Royal Bath are hosting the world premiere adaptation of T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets starring Ralph Fiennes, who is also directing the play, from 25th May. These are four interwoven meditations on the nature of time, faith and the quest for spiritual enlightenment. I am delighted to say that I am going. See you there.

Anna X is opening at the Harold Pinter Theatre as part of their new RE:EMERGE season from Sonia Friedman. Starring the award-winning actress Emma Corrin (Lady Diana Spencer in Netflix’s The Crown), this play by Joseph Charlton delves into the corruption of truth and reality through the lies that we tell the world about ourselves on social media. Booking from May 2021.

The West End premiere of Frozen, the Disney musical, will open at the newly refurbished Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 27th August 2021. Tickets are on sale from May. Samantha Barks plays Elsa and Stephanie McKeon, Anna. Keep an eye out for performance dates.

You can sign up to A Night In with Lenny Henry in conversation with Naga Munchetty on Fane. If you thought you knew Lenny Henry, you would be mistaken. There is such a rich background story to this entertainer and many ups and downs along the way. The stream and book ticket costs £13.50 and includes a copy of Lenny’s book Who am I, Again?. This will be broadcast on 4th June 2021.

THE ARTIST’S PERSONA interviews by Ali Cockrean

CATHY VEALE

The Artist’s Persona has now attracted more than a thousand followers and over 500 members, who are currently enjoying our interviews with the UK’s leading artists. Our mission is to ensure that every painter is able to showcase the very best of their portfolio and talk honestly and openly about how they generate and develop ideas, work through their process and deal with the daily challenges of wrestling a painting to a conclusion. They also happily share their advice on techniques and materials with our viewers.

As we build the library of interviews, it’s my ambition to create an important snapshot of contemporary art in the 2020s. Given the start of this decade having proven to be anything but mundane, it seems like the perfect time to focus on what exactly is going on in the thousands of professional artist’s studios up and down the country. It seems I’m not alone in finding this a fascinating project, as our members span the world and continue to join daily from all around the globe.

One of the artists featured recently particularly captured the viewers’ imaginations with her incredible paintings of the Dorset coastline. Based in Swanage,

Cathy Veale creates breath-taking watercolours that are not only beautiful, but a reminder that our coastline is changing almost daily and needs to be recorded. Cathy told me, ‘I go to places like the chalk cliffs of Old Harry and there are bits that have fallen off each time I’ve been there, so it changes the picture quite regularly.’

Cathy studied Graphic Design at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design in the late 1970s.

After travelling extensively around Europe, America and New Zealand, undertaking a variety of artwork, she returned to her hometown of Swanage, where she settled and continues to work as a full-time professional artist. Cathy has exhibited at the prestigious Royal West of England Academy, The National Laing Exhibition and is a regular at the Mall Galleries with both the

Royal Society of Marine Artists and Royal Institute >

of Painters in Water Colours.

Her love of the sea developed early in life, when her family moved down to the coast and she was inspired initially by her Great Aunt who lived in Lulworth:

‘I used to go and visit her for tea. She was an artist and musician and, as a youngster, I would wander into her studio to look at her paintings. She had a huge one of Lulworth Cove, I remember – a pastel that she was doing, and it really grabbed me. She gave me an old box of paints, which must be getting on for a 100-years-old now and is still in use. She started me off drawing and said just draw all the time and anything you see. So, that’s what I did.’

And Cathy has had plenty of time to study the water as her other great passion is sailing.

‘When I was about twelve a friend dragged me down to the local sailing club. We started dingy sailing and then I gradually worked my way up to bigger boats with my husband and family. We’ve sailed across the Channel, over to the Isle of Wight quite a lot and to the West Country. I just love being on the water.’

Having revealed during the interview that she

wished she had trained as a textile artist, it’s not hard to see Cathy’s love of patterns and shapes and the sort of form that comes out of water as it ripples and shifts. The range of perspective in her work takes the viewer on a different journey in each seascape, from kayak level, looking up at the looming magnificence of the white chalk cliffs, to soaring way up above the water like a seagull riding an air current.

Watercolour is a very tricky medium to master and it’s not an exaggeration to say that Cathy is a master of her craft. Her attention to light and reflection is stunning, creating a purity and freshness that makes you want to take a big, deep breath of the clear air depicted, as you gaze at her work.

Do take time to look at her website, which you can find at cathyveale.co.uk, and remember you can enjoy her full interview and see a wonderful selection of her paintings by searching for The Artist’s Persona on Facebook. There, you can join our free membership and see all our captivating artist interviews.

Isle of Wight

BABY STEPS

Countryside inspired baby and children’s clothing, gifts, wooden toys and books. We are very excited to have now launched our very own clothing line “Farm Life”. Come see us at The Sherborne Market

info@babysteps2018.co.uk BabySteps18 babysteps.2018 babystepschildrensboutique.com

BEEYOND LAVENDER

Skincare and Holistic Therapist. NYR Organics Independent Consultant. Tension and stress releasing range of massage treatments, facials, workshops, parties, Covid safe, essentials oils and diffusers. Click and collect orders.

sue@beeyondlavender.co.uk (treatments) nyr@sueadams.net (NYRO) Sue Adams: 07712 590897

GLENHOLME HERBS

We are a family-run business located in Sandford Orcas, specialising in growing a huge range of herbs, pelargoniums, salvias and wildflowers.

Penmore Corner Bungalow, Sandford Orcas, Sherborne, DT9 4SE 01963 220302 / 07855 279072 @glenholmeherbs glenholmeherbs.co.uk

GODDEN & CURTIS HARLING TAYLOR

Television and audio, sales and repairs. Greenhill, Sherborne DT9 4EW 07718 253309 / 01935 813451 simon@goddenandcurtis.co.uk goddenandcurtis.co.uk Letting and Property Management specialist, based in Sherborne operating across North and West Dorset, and South Somerset. 5 Hound Street, Sherborne 01935 852175 harlingtaylor.co.uk

THE KINGS ARMS

A country gastropub, serving a wide range of dishes made using local produce. Fantastic outdoor garden with stunning views of the rolling Dorset countryside. Charlton Horethorne, Sherborne DT9 4NL

01963 220281 thekingsarms.co.uk

@thekingsarmscharltonhorethorne admin@thekingsarms.co.uk

THE PLUME OF FEATHERS

16th Century pub serving Italian small plates. Authentic homemade dishes using some of the finest Dorset and Italian ingredients. Half Moon Street, Sherborne DT9 3LN

01935 389709 theplumesherborne.co.uk

KAFE FONTANA

Offering hot and cold food + tea and coffee, 7 days a week. Fully licensed. Birthday cakes, take away and delivery service available. 82 Cheap Street, Sherborne DT9 3BJ

01935 812180 kafefontana@hotmail.com @kafefontana kafefontana.co.uk

TROUVAILLE GALLERY

Discover a wonderful selection of unique handmade cards and gifts and one-off pieces of artwork created by local artists and craftspeople. Open Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 2.30pm 24c Cheap Street Marianne - 07779788465 marianne@trouvaillegallery.co.uk trouvaillegallery.co.uk

MARKET KNOWLEDGE

CECILIA KEEDLE ISACK

Welcome to The Sherborne Market! What brings you here?

I wanted an outlet for selling my art, where I could meet people, as it’s much more personal than selling online. During the last few months, I have really missed selling my art in the ‘real world’. Previously, I have really enjoyed The Sherborne Market and was inspired to want to bring my own art to sell, so it’s lovely to be here.

Where have you travelled from?

I live in Rimpton, so I am very close to Sherborne. I’m so lucky to live there because it is such a pretty and friendly little village. I have got views and wildlife on my own doorstep which act as inspiration for my artwork.

Tell us about what you’re selling?

I love colour, animals and our beautiful countryside, so my paintings and découpaged pieces reflect rural life. I love hares in particular and hedgerows. I am an animal lover and have so many of my own rescue animals including cats, dogs, chickens and miniature ponies, who often feature in my work! I aim to reflect the joy of nature in what I paint and create. I usually paint fairly large canvases using acrylic paint or multimedia. I découpage 3D pieces and love to include paper scraps in my art to produce texture and an abundance of colour.

Where and when did it all begin?

It all began when I studied art at university and then became an art teacher. I have done other things since, including raising my lovely children and working with people with dementia, but I have always gone back to my paintings, using art as therapy for my clients and for my own pleasure. Since lockdown, I have painted every day because it keeps me busy and gives me such satisfaction. I think creating art has a really important place in people’s lives at the moment as it is therapeutic and great for mental health, whether you are making art or experiencing it.

What do you enjoy most about selling at markets?

Markets are colourful and fun. I like meeting like-minded people who enjoy looking at what I’ve created. It is a good opportunity to make new friends as well as to catch up with old ones.

If you get the chance, which fellow stallholders here at Sherborne would you like to visit?

The stalls that I most want to visit are all the other art and creative stalls. It’s all so interesting. My husband likes to look at the cheese and cider, whilst I love the vintage stalls selling clothes and bric-a-brac and enjoy finding unique items which I can use as inspiration for my own creations.

Where can people find you on market day?

My stall is situated in Cheap Street near Parson’s, and I’m really looking forward to the upcoming market days.