Wild Lives and Sea Songs

Wild Lives and Sea Songs, an exhibition of the work of local artists Tracy Dovey and Kim Thompson, will open at Courtens garden centre during Hampshire Open Studios, August 17th - 26th, 2019.

The work of both artists is inspired by wildlife, wild places, fairy tales, folk song and the sea but they have very different  styles and approaches to painting.

Tracy draws her ideas from her life in rural Hampshire and has a poetic, magical and mysterious interpretation of her subjects. Her family and friends and the many interesting folk she encounters on her travels or in her dreams come to life on her canvases and appear with foxes, cats, birds and fish.  There is an intriguing narrative to her paintings and a subtle use of colour and texture which immediately grabs your attention.

Kim trained as a wildlife illustrator and has a realistic style and fascination with capturing details. Living on the edge of the New Forest provides many subjects for her wildlife paintings but she also travels to more distant wilderness locations and regularly visits Botswana which inspired the large paintings of the zebra and the Baobab tree which can be seen in the exhibition.

From mystical Hares, and New Forest ponies to giant cats and girls flying over Mudeford in Dr Marten boots, this exhibition will be well worth a visit. Both artists have a profound love of nature and a passion for painting and are excited to come together in this joint show of their work.

As well as originals, there is a selection of cards and prints available to buy and the artists will be working in the garden centre throughout the 10 days of the exhibition.

With plenty of parking and a fabulous range of cakes and light lunches on offer in The Shed cafe we hope you will come and meet our artists in residence as Courtens throws its doors open for Open Studios this  August!

For a map please visit the garden centre website

www.courtensgardencentre.co.uk