ART
by Edwina Baines edwina@theblackmorevale.co.uk
Tanya Hinton is often known as ‘the bird lady’
In the Studio with Nick Andrew and Tanya Hinton Nick and Tanya’s new exhibition ‘A Walk into Paradise’ explores the exuberant and opulent, including tropical birds and landscapes. “Each picture told a story; mysterious often to my undeveloped understanding and imperfect feelings, yet ever profoundly interesting…” wrote Charlotte Bronte in Jane Eyre. The phrase ‘every picture tells a story’ pertains to particularly significant images, revealing or suggestive of real or imaginary events; it perfectly describes the work in Nick and Tanya’s new exhibition ‘A Walk into Paradise’. It explores the exuberant and opulent, including tropical birds and landscapes - not only from within walking distance of their watermill studio at Bull Mill Arts, Crockerton but also from endangered rainforests and West 84
Country gardens. “We want it to be warming, inviting and eye catching when it’s cold and dark outside everyone has been through difficult times,” remarked Tanya. Founded by Alexander Thynn, the 7th Marquess of Bath, (who sadly died in April 2020), Bull Mill Arts - on the upper reaches of the River Wylye - has been a vibrant centre for visual arts for over four decades. A local paradise Nick’s cottage is close to the abundant river banks full of life; he feels privileged to walk into this quiet and secluded paradise on a regular basis and
see kingfishers, herons and little egrets. “I observe the changes from day to day and season to season. I find it constantly compelling and am attracted in particular by the abstract qualities in the landscape”. The recent paintings and drawings for this current exhibition are glowing with tropical colours in “a magical, wild place with views out to the surrounding hills,” evoking fond memories not only of his mother’s gardens but also of her textiles and embroideries. The inspiration has emanated from a commission and recent visits to the secret Burrow Farm Gardens near Axminster. Always free - subscribe
