THE LANGUAGE OF ABSTRACTION - The Fen Ditton Gallery
Graham Barnes November print by Kip Gresham
You can scull the green leafy river way to Fen Ditton in only a few minutes. Dozens of rowers heaving over their oars, heads down, track your walk along the tow path. It could be the busiest rural ramble in the entire country - now complete with a serviceable bridge to cut out the tedious detour. The trip to this remarkable gallery is well worth it.
Within its walls Master printmaker Kip Gresham presides over some of the most celebrated art works of the modern era :in this accomplished exhibition artists come together to celebrate abstract art, under the man who has done more than anyone in his long artistic life to lend his first class skills to creatively interpret their work.
Gillian Ayres’ dynamic print by Kip Gresham
A graduate of Newcastle University Art Department and Manchester college of art, Kip Gresham is essentially Cambridge generated - he grew up surrounded by some of the most creative achievers in architecture and design, including the art collector Sadie Martin, who would drive him when he was only sixteen years old, in her cool sleek silver Alvis ,up to Burghley House at Stamford, “Just to see one painting in the Van Eyck collection “ Kip muses. “Imagine that happening today? It wouldn’t.” It was the famous architect Professor Sir Leslie Martin who urged him to drop his plans to study art at Chelsea and go North instead to the already renowned Newcastle School of Art. Richard Hamilton had just departed in a blaze of success and publicity , and “ I had the entire department to myself as far as print making went. It was great”
John McLean Merry Go Round - an intricate piece of printing by Kip Gresham
Anywhere in the world, this show would face a stampede of collectors and buyers keen to see the elegantly curated art prints hung for maximum impact around the walls of this lovely gallery. It is a rare privilege to view world-class International artists on display in a public gallery. And have the chance to buy one of them. They are prints and pricing is a delicate manoeuvre. Some of the short run pieces are by very famous artists indeed. Watch out for the Richard Long and Nigel Hall contributions.
Nigel Hall gets the Gresham treatment in Fire
It is important to know a bit about the sublime art of print making, the mastery and control - and aesthetic flair it needs, to entirely appreciate the symbiosis of skills which produce these pieces.. And to realise that even though these are prints, they are very short runs of prints and a painting from a world-class artist could be on your wall for a fraction of its original imprint.
Just one of William Boepple’s prints at the Gallery
Owner Charlotte is keen to dismiss any notion of ‘investment. This is art for art’s sake in the exquisite gallery. But I think some of these artists are such big hitters an acquisition could be a canny investment .
Graham Barnes
But who would not love these brilliant works? William Boepple’s American flair is manifest on going into the gallery, his amazing forms appear to hover against the walls, it is all so fresh and stimulating.
Whilst the more familiar Nigel Hall translates in the hands of a master printmaker like Kip Gresham, into an extension of his well known brilliant artistry. Important modern and contemporary painters are here. Gillian Ayres’ print is outstanding a riot of form and colour outstanding even in this company.
Bob Edgeson ‘Signifier ‘
The Fen Ditton gallery is the perfect place for a Sunday riverside stroll - a busy and beautiful outdoor adventure with mobile coffee cafés along your route. This exhibition rewards any visit with a stunning tour de force of modern art. If you add in the energetic rowers, you can’t get much better than that.
Opening hours:
Fridays - Sundays 10am - 5pm
Viewing appointments available on Wednesday, contact info@fendittongallery.com to book
