Where the Sky Meets Earth at Chichester’s Oxmarket Contemporary

The Artisan Gallery Collective offers Where the Sky Meets Earth at Chichester’s Oxmarket Contemporary from November 10-22.

Taking part are Claudi Barratt, Paula Chuter-Baker, Moira Cooper, Nancy Goodens, Deborah Hochreutener, Bec Hopkins, Katherine Lawrie, Frans de Leij, Suzie Little, Jackie Lowe, Andrea Martin, Min Maude, Mim McCann, Sarah MacLauglin, Wendy Middleditch, Marie Monro, Heather Muir, Teresa Poole, Ellie Philpot, and Sylvia Tomkinson. The group is based at The Artisan Gallery, 58 North Street, Chichester PO19 1NB

Spokeswoman Jacqueline Lowe said: “This is the third time that the Collective has exhibited at the Oxmarket. We have chosen the theme Where the Sky Meets Earth because it reflects both the materials we use and the themes that inspire our work. Many of our artisans incorporate recycled, reclaimed or repurposed materials into their creations, demonstrating how creativity and sustainability can go hand in hand. By giving existing materials, many of them formed from the earth, a new life, they create work that is both beautiful and environmentally conscious.

“The Collective consists of twenty independent artists and makers from Chichester and the surrounding area. Many of the members have received formal training in their specialisms while others discovered their creativity alongside professional careers or after retirement. We are united by the diversity of the art we create and by the joy of the creative process.

“We have two glass artists whose work uses organic minerals to interpret the natural world around them. The surprises created by the chemistry of the firing process often make each piece unique and impossible to replicate exactly.

“Nancy Goodens is a glass artist based in Emsworth. Inspired by seascapes and landscapes that evoke a sense of calm, she uses fused glass as a fine art medium in a painterly way.

Suzie Little is a glass artist based in Chichester whose work is inspired by the natural world, including sunsets and rainbows. Using fused glass in a wide variety of colours, she creates distinctive patterns by placing metal pieces between sheets of glass and repurposes glass to produce unique artworks.

“Five painters will be taking part, working in a wide variety of media including oils, acrylics, collage, and watercolour. Some interpret sketches made en plein air into abstract landscapes, while others use close observation of nature as the basis for their work.

“Paula Chuter-Baker is a landscape artist based in Midhurst. Deeply influenced by the landscapes of the South Downs, the Cumbrian Fells, and the Cornish cliffs, she uses acrylics and mixed media to capture the movement of light and the texture of the earth. Paula enjoys working en plein air, using a sketchbook to record her observations before developing them into finished pieces in her studio.

“Bec Hopkins is a Southbourne-based artist whose semi-abstract landscapes capture the feeling of a place rather than its literal appearance. Working with acrylics, watercolour, Indian inks, and gold leaf, she uses layered media, expressive marks, and touches of gold to convey light, mood, and atmosphere.

“Frans de Leij is a watercolour artist based in Petersfield. He aims to capture the elusive qualities of life in his paintings of birds and other animals. His landscapes and seascapes are inspired by the way light, shade, and atmospheric conditions bring different elements of the natural world together.

“Teresa Poole is a painter. Inspired by skies and seascapes, she creates large-scale oil paintings that celebrate the beauty of the natural world. Teresa also paints small creatures, such as mice and hedgehogs in highly detailed works that often incorporate gold and copper leaf.

“Ellie Philpot is a painter. Her contemporary oil paintings are inspired by everyday objects, which she transforms into highly realistic artworks with a playful narrative quality.”