Thanks to Suzanne for details of this upcoming exhibition. Ed
Island artists Malcolm Winter AGAvA, Chris Gillies and Tony Westmore have joined forces to present ‘This Painted Isle’ at Quay Arts Rope Store Gallery from Saturday 6th September – Saturday 27th September.
All three artists have works which both contrast with and complement each other. As the title of the exhibition suggests the works, in the main, depict Isle of Wight scenes and landscapes as well as the coast and maritime subjects.
Malcolm Winter AGAvA
Born in London Malcolm Winter AGAvA is a talented artist specialising in marine and aviation subjects and coastal scenes. He’s been painting for as long as he can remember and credits his father for inspiring him. He was an apprentice signwriter for a brewery but as he had always wanted to be a soldier he joined the 1st Parachute Battalion and saw twelve years service around the World.
Throughout his working life he maintained his interest in painting however and often worked on paintings commissioned by international companies such as Mobil Oil.
Just after the Millennium he moved to the Isle of Wight with his wife Sharon and set up a studio in St Helens, recently very much enlarged and open for the Open Studios event, where he produces all his artwork.
One of his oil paintings ‘Rescue of the Astral’ off Bembridge Ledge raised valuable funds for the RNLI whilst a study of the ‘Solent Queen’ depicting the paddle steamer off Cowes in the 1950s has recently been acquired by an art collector.
His aviation related output of subjects such as Spitfires and wartime action are much appreciated. His eye for detail resulted in him being honoured as an Associate of the Guild of Aviation Artists (AGAvA) of which he is rightly proud.
Chris Gillies
Chris Gillies specialises in oil paintings onto canvas or panel primarily of local marine subjects. Having spent his working career as an engineer he made the move to become a full time artist in 2008.
Being a keen sailor, and having spent a lifetime being on, in or near the sea has given him an understanding of the interaction between water and boats and a number of his works are maritime subjects.
Chris is an active member of the Cowes Art Group and the Island Art Group and regularly paints on location as part of the art group and individually. He has been a keen supporter of the Isle of Wight Landscapes Exhibition and has been amongst the prize winners on 5 occasions, collecting first prize in 2008.
He recently joined with Malcolm Winter and two other artists for an exhibition at Regatta House, Cowes entitled ‘Coast’ and took part in the Isle of Wight Open Studios event in July.
With his paintings widely collected he has customers in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
Tony Westmore
Cowes resident Tony Westmore has been drawing and painting since a child, and has lived all his life at Cowes. His subjects include country, rural, harbours, and maritime scenes. Much of his work is painted or sketched on location with the Island providing a rich source of subjects for his work in water colour, acrylic or oils.
Ships and Maritime Scenes are a speciality as he has always had an interest in shipping, using the Solent and can view ships approaching Southampton from his waterside studio. He likes to depict atmospheric scenes of old shipping, trying to catch the romance of a bygone era but is equally at home with today’s vessels.
Tony’s paintings have gone to many private collections, including those of William H. Miller the American Cruise Lecturer, and author of over 60 books on Ocean Liners and Shipping subjects and to Dame Ellen MacArthur. He has also been commissioned for a painting and prints for the Maritime Propulsion Journal ‘The Motor Ship’ when this publication celebrated its 85th year.
You can see ‘This Painted Isle’ at Quay Arts Rope Store Gallery from Saturday 6th September – Saturday 27th September.
