WINTERING AT FEN DITTON GALLERY — THE CAMBRIDGE CRITIQUE

What could be more wondrous than a walk in the cold afternoon air - to reach the warmth of the Fen Ditton Gallery.? A brisk mile or so along the impressively crafted riverside footpath - its pedestrian bridge swung into action last year only - to the elegant welcoming door of a Cambridge gallery will lead you to Wintering their latest exhibition which runs into December. Below is a simple but lovely composition by Andy English - just one of the delights ready.

The work on display is divertingly disparate. Willard Boepple, the superb American artist shows one of his collaborations with Kip Gresham, Cambridge’s master print maker. It’s a cool blue disembodied abstract, chic and timeless any time of the year. And Justin Hawkes has a rare and wonderfully conceived colour conglomerate which amazed his numerous followers with its form. Gone is his trademark horizon .Quite a shock for this artist’s devotees. As one of them I feel I now look at my Hawkes’ landscapes with new eyes. He has ‘kicked the ladder away’ he tells us, and clearly now plunges into a lateral-free future with beautifully executed colours in a vortex. Primary One acrylic is quite a spectacular departure. Another celebrated artist Rosemary Cullum has an accomplished nature study in oil ‘Earthworks’ along with a beautiful companion piece to complement her recent long run of exhibits. Lovely pictures for any season but her version of winter is a heart warming one . .