Four members of the Ventnor Artists Collective will exhibit their work at Peer Studios in Ventnor as part of Isle of Wight Open Studios.
The exhibition runs daily from 11am to 4pm between Friday 16th and Monday 26th May.
Meet the artists and view their work
The artists taking part are Melanie Ayres, Robert Carter, Mary King and Marilyn Mittelheuser.
Visitors will have the chance to meet the artists, learn about their creative processes, and purchase original artworks.
Melanie Ayres: Inspired by nature and printmaking
Melanie Ayres has always been drawn to art, attending evening classes while working, including two NCFE Acrylic Painting courses led by artist David White at Brockenhurst College.
After moving to the Isle of Wight in 2012, she joined workshops run by artist Murry Ince. A linocut demonstration sparked her interest in printmaking, leading her to complete printing workshops at Quay Arts.
Melanie has now been printmaking for over a decade and continues to paint. Her work is inspired by coastal and countryside walks with her husband and dogs.
She will be exhibiting from 16th to 19th May.
Find out more about Melanie Ayres.
Robert Carter: A self-taught traditionalist
Robert Carter is a self-taught artist who paints full-time in retirement. He works exclusively in oils on canvas, producing portraits, landscapes, seascapes, still lifes and beach scenes.
His style ranges from 18th-century English to early 20th-century and French post-impressionism.
Robert says,
“For me, the process of painting each picture is an adventure in colour, form and light and shade and, when it works, is half skill and half luck, to be honest. Hence the variety in subjects!”
Find out more about Robert Carter.
Mary King: Emotion through mixed media
Mary King’s artwork explores identity and emotion, influenced by her experiences as a chiropractor and harpist.
She works in oil, acrylic, charcoal and mixed media, creating textured and colourful pieces that examine light, shadow and personal expression.
Her work challenges norms and invites viewers to reflect on the human experience.
Find out more about Mary King.
Marilyn Mittelheuser: Colour and texture on canvas
Marilyn Mittelheuser brings a rich background in Fine Art, Fashion, Textiles and Education to her work.
She moved to Ventnor in 2018 and focused on sculptural ceramics until 2023, when she shifted to 2D work. She now creates painted designs, collage, and photography-based pieces.
Marilyn works mainly in acrylic on canvas, using her own photos and other stimuli. She describes her painting style as focused on “singing colour” through textural techniques.
Marilyn says she values the collaborative and supportive atmosphere of the Ventnor Artists Collective.
Find out more about Marilyn Mittelheuser.
Visit the exhibition
The exhibition is open from 16th to 26th May at Peer Studios, 29a, Pier Street, Ventnor PO38 1SX offering a varied and personal look at the work of these four Ventnor artists.
If you are an Isle of Wight artist opening your studios this May, let OnTheWight readers know by taking an event feature like the one above. Find out more.
Our thanks to the artists for sponsoring for this feature. They and other businesses and organisations taking paid promotion enables you to continue reading OnTheWight for free.
