Visitors will head into Uncharted territory at the Vanner Gallery

by Katrina ffiske

THERE is a new exhibition at the Vanner Gallery which is a perfect summer exhibition for residents and visitors to Salisbury.

Uncharted is a collection of work by five, very different, artists: Susanna Lisle, Robin Sewell, Catherine Richardson, Julia Atkinson and Jenny Morse.

It is a bold decision to exhibit so many artists in a small gallery, but a decision that gallery director David Christie has expertly pulled off. This is a vibrant, bright, colourful and dynamic show which has something for everyone.

“We started collaborating with the artists over 18 months ago,” David told us in his welcoming speech. “There was no name for the exhibition, so it will come as no surprise that our code name for the exhibition was ‘Colour’. This tells a story of five different artists coming together. Robin approached us with an idea for a group exhibition and we jumped at the chance.”

There was a buzz of enthusiasm and energy in the air at the preview on Thursday, 29th June. Each artist was so inspired by being part of a new group. “We have only known each other for 18 months,” said

Catherine, who has a studio in Frome. “We all get on so well and bounce ideas off each other. Many artists want to have a solo show, but I must confess it has been much more fun working as a group – you don’t get the same energy when you work alone.”

“We would go and look at each other’s studios,” Susanna said. “You learn so much from seeing how other artists work and what mediums they use.”

“All the works here are new works of art,” Robin told me. “One of the criteria of the show was that we couldn’t get an old piece of artwork from the back of the cupboard and put it on show.”

David explained how the title of the exhibition, Uncharted, refers to the way in which the artists engage with the physical world. “Their approach is investigative and playful, primarily concerned with the dynamics of visual language, as each artist experiments with their own chosen materials and techniques.”

There is geometry and pattern in Susanna Lisle’s paintings. Bright splashes of dry compound acrylic from Robin Sewell. Catherine Richardson’s paintings are inspired by ancient geology from the Arctic and Eastern Iceland. Julia Atkinson has collected things since she was four years-old, and here she places a charming mixture of bizarre and natural objects in Perspex cases.

Jenny Morse specialises in one-off colourful pieces combining painting and screen printing, often including motifs found in nature.

Uncharted runs until July 29 2023 www.vannergallery.com