One sheep painting in particular is proving a huge draw to visitors at Sulgrave Manor, Oxford this April.
Welsh artist Julia Harris has a solo show until the end of April featuring her energetic and vibrant work inspired by her emotions. One of her sheep paintings is especially pertinent to the venue, the home of George Washington’s relatives.
“The Washingtons of Sulgrave Manor made their money from the wool trade,” explains Julie Wood, curator at Sulgrave Manor. “We have a ‘wool corner’ in the shop where this painting will remain for the season.”
Julia’s sheep paintings have also been commissioned by a well-known pub chain. “I was contacted by the interior designers for JD Wetherspoon to supply them with sheep related originals and prints for a refurbishment in Newtown, Mid Wales as the area was also a big wool and weaving area in times gone past,” says Julia. “I was contacted by their interior designers last year as they were looking for an artist to produce art work on a wool based theme for their refurbishment of a pub called the Black Boy in Newtown. They bought five pieces of work, some were originals and the others they wanted blown up, so I made them into limited edition prints which they framed.”
Julia’s exhibition runs until the end of April when a joint exhibition featuring the sought after and complimentary work of Jenny Sutton RBSA (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists) and Robert Mountjoy SWAc (South West Academy) will run from May until June.
Sulgrave Manor is collaborating with Creative Coverage, which represents professional artists and craftspeople throughout the UK to deliver high quality art exhibitions on a monthly basis. In August there will be a major Creative Coverage Summer Show at the popular and historic attraction.
