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Mike Hall, Susan Tompson, Wendy Clouse, Frances Bildner

Art news: Creative Coverage Mixed Show, Bungay, UK July 3 to July 17



The work of a celebrated Royal College of Art graduate is to feature in an exhibition in England this July.
Landscape paintings by Mike Hall from Hampshire will be shown at The Fisher Theatre Gallery in Bungay, Suffolk between July 3 and July 17. This is the result of an exciting collaboration between The Fisher Theatre Gallery and Creative Coverage, which represents professional artists and craftspeople. Accompanying Mike’s work will be that of Patricia Haskey from Lancashire, Susan Thomson from Devon, Wendy Clouse from Middlesex and Frances Bildner from London. “We are delighted to be collaborating with the historic Fisher Theatre Gallery in Bungay, which dates back to 1828,” says Creative Coverage co-founder Caroline Saunders. “After much fundraising the building was bought for the town in 2001. The running costs of the building, productions, staffing and maintenance are met solely from income generated by the activities in the theatre. We therefore hope that this exhibition; the first of many, will be successful for this venue.” Background information on each artist:

Mike Hall

Celebrated Hampshire artist Mike Hall has thrown his support behind Creative Coverage. He acknowledges that if such an organisation existed when he started painting “it might not have taken me so long to start selling my work”. “It took three years of exhibiting before I sold my first piece,” reveals Mike, whose natural ability to draw was mastered early on. Even at the tender age of eight he won a painting competition. After graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1962 he became a freelance interior designer and from there a set designer at Thames Television. Patricia Haskey

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Patricia grew up in South Yorkshire but moved to Lancaster to study fine art at the University of Central Lancashire, graduating with honours in 1980. Her work is held in the House of Lords Art Collection, London, in the head office of Cadbury and in private national and international collections in Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand. Patricia’s paintings are exhibited in galleries in the North West and across the UK, including Newcastle, Edinburgh and London. In 2004, she represented artists from the North West of England in the Summer Exhibition in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. “Living beside the shores of Morecambe Bay, I witness first-hand the fast-moving weather fronts that sweep in from the sea, illuminating or casting shadows over the coast and countryside," says Patricia. "It is these dramatic changes in light that excite and inspire me, along with my love of colour. I am seeking to express, not the outer reality, but rather an inner response to the landscape and the process of painting itself." Many of Patricia’s paintings are published into limited edition giclée prints and greeting cards.

Susan Thomson

Devon based Susan Thomson trained as a graphic artist and worked in advertising before studying botanical drawing and watercolour painting at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. "Having always been interested in plants this was a wonderful opportunity to learn about plants and paint wonderful specimens straight from the botanic gardens," says Susan. "I specialise in botanical illustration and since moving to Devon I have added birds to my portfolio, inspired by the local bird sanctuaries. My painting incorporates detailed work as well as a more personal freer style and I experiment with print making and silk painting to create less controlled pieces." Susan regularly exhibits around the UK, gives botanical workshops locally and exhibits and teaches watercolour workshops in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She has work in private collections in Dubai, America, Ireland and the UK.

Wendy Clouse

Middlesex artist Wendy Clouse spent four years studying at the Art Academy of El Paso in Texas, USA. On her return to the UK she gained a diploma in portraiture at Heatherley's School of Fine Art in Chelsea. Wendy then went on to complete a Master of Arts degree. She has exhibited with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the New English Art Club. Wendy has written three art books published by Hamlyn and Search Press and she runs the Wendy Clouse Painting School from her studio in Shepperton.

Frances Bildner

London based Frances Bildner is influenced by the German expressionists and the abstract expressionists. "I place emphasis on the emotive aspect of the work and, like them, my work is both emotional and immediate," explains Frances. "I paint from my imagination." When Frances was 13 years old Sir Charles Wheeler, the past president of the Royal Academy, wanted to buy her flower painting, which had won first prize in a competition in East Sussex. Frances has been an artist for many years, working in a variety of mediums - paintings, mosaic tables, walls, trays and textiles. "I am a colourist, I love colour in all its variety. An image may appear on the canvas and will become something - a flower, an abstract, a figure. I don't have a prefixed idea." Frances has lived in "very exciting colourful places" - Buenos Aires, London, New York. "These places have had a great influence on my paintings." Frances' work has been sold to businesses and homes. She is represented in collections throughout Europe and America. www.creativecoverage.co.uk


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Tim Saunders -- Bio and Archives

Tim Saunders is the former Business and Motoring Editor of the Bournemouth Echo in the UK. testdrives.biz


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