The Star Brewery Gallery, Lewes

Fictional Realism is the exhibition at The Star Brewery Gallery, Lewes (November 7-15, Tuesday–Saturday 11am–4pm, Sunday 11am–3pm, closed Monday).

It comes from Peter Kettle.

Neeta Pedersen, who runs the gallery, explains: “Clive James was talking to Peter Kettle after deciding to buy three of his paintings at the artist’s one man show in Smith’s Gallery, Covent Garden.

“One of the paintings he bought was The Delaminating Swan. Clive went on to ask if he could visit Pete’s studio to see the large sculpture of that swan. Pete said there was no such thing; ‘I’m not keen on copying things. I work almost entirely from memory and imagination.’ Clive said, ‘That’s how I write novels. You should call yourself the world’s first Fictional Realist.’

“Peter Kettle has exhibited in numerous one man and group shows, mostly in London. Sir Peter Blake selected him for The Discerning Eye at The Mall, London. He has frequently shown at the Royal Academy summer exhibitions, and he won an Arts Council prize awarded by Sir Kenneth Clark.

“In the Paris Salon he was awarded a Silver Medal. Much of his work is based on the book as a subject or suggested by a line of prose or poetry. Private collectors include Alan Bennett, John Banville, Tom Stoppard, Clive James, Lord Young, Nick Hytner, Nicholas Farrell, Kevin McNally, Philip Pullman, Julian Fane, Herbie Brennan, Martin Lancaster and Malcolm Gluck. Commissions have included Lloyds Bank, CSS Promotions, Penguin Books, Sun Life, Southern Comfort and numerous others.

“Peter was born in Lewes in 1941. After A Levels he graduated at Brighton Art College, part of Sussex University. He worked as an art director, illustrator and copywriter in London. His first London solo show was in 1972, and his first Royal Academy acceptance was in 1976. He has had 29 acceptances.

“One year his work was voted in the top ten exhibits at the Royal Academy. He was a gallery artist at The Albemarle, at Blackheat, and was regularly in the Waterloo Not The Royal Academy show. His work was chosen by Sir Peter Blake for the Discerning Eye. He has shown at the Pall Mall galleries at the Royal Society of British Artists, Seen Gallery, and many other group shows in London, Paris, Washington, and Japan. He was awarded a Silver Medal at the Paris Salon and a Clio International Award in Tokyo. He also won a Silver Award at DADA, the Art Directors Show, in London.”