The artistic heritage of Devon and Cornwall is showcased in the latest exhibition now at Elford Fine Art, Tavistock’s unique gallery of period and contemporary oil paintings and watercolours.
Spanning three centuries, the new collection offers an inspiring choice of style, colour and subject matter with works by artists of local, national and international renown.
Alongside scenes of the South West’s coast and countryside, highlights include spectacular seascapes, exquisitely detailed 19th Century watercolours, a beautiful portrait of an Edwardian girl and a highly collectable drawing by Sir Alfred Munnings, one of Britain’s greatest equestrian artists.
The gallery also welcomes the return of one of its most popular contemporary painters, Joe Francis Dowden, whose works scintillate with light, reflections and colour. In addition to his worldwide fame as an artist, Joe travels the globe teaching, delivering seminars and appearing on television. His commissions hang in the Royal palaces of Oman; his tutorial books have been published in multiple languages; and, in addition to Tavistock, he has upcoming exhibitions in India and Thailand.
All the pictures in the exhibition are available to purchase, including a dramatic maritime scene by Charles Napier Hemy. This Cornish-based artist was a master of painting the sea from nature, capturing the movement and moods of the ocean from the boats he converted into floating studios.
Views of Dartmoor by William and Frederick John Widgery, with rugged tors, tumbling streams and colourful heather-clad valleys, evoke the untamed beauty of its landscapes and include a rare view of the old clapper bridge at Moor Brook, Okehampton.
Elford Fine Art’s exhibition continues until Saturday at The Gallery, Drake Road, Tavistock (11am to 3pm) and is then open each Wednesday before Christmas and by appointment on other days. Telephone 07712 137272 or visit www.elfordfineart.co.uk for more details.