Room With a View
Sarah Bowman
14 - 28 October 2006
Private view, Saturday 14 October, 12-3pm.
White Space Contemporary Art is delighted to host Sarah Bowman’s only solo exhibition of 2006. Since moving to Devon in 2003, Sarah’s work has blossomed and her series of window paintings – still life compositions set before a window overlooking a landscape – has proved popular with galleries and public alike. The title of the exhibition, A Room With a View, suggested itself easily.
Here are fresh perspectives of favourite spots on the Scilly Isles and in Cornwall, as well as her home county, Devon. There are also some striking canvases inspired by a recent visit to Las Alpajurras in Andalucia.
In 2005, Sarah won the Mary Fedden Painting Award at the Royal West of England Academy Open Exhibition. She also had a painting selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. This summer saw her go one (or two) better when the RA chose three of her still lifes for the 2006 Summer Exhibition - all three sold on the first preview night.
Rarely does Sarah paint an exact view, more she arranges elements of places to capture her interpretation of a location. There is a definite sense of place in her work, while the objects for the still life come from many sources, a jug from the market, the chair of a friend, or seasonal fruit and flowers.
There are echoes of the St Ives school and its inspirations in her work, although that is not to say Sarah does not have her own, distinct style. It is the combination of still life and landscape viewed from a window and painted with measured composition and a subdued palette that give her work its uniqueness.
Recently Sarah has moved from painting on board to working with canvas. There now appears to be more depth and definition about her painting. And confidence.
