Free Fine Arts Exhibition to be Held at Wealden House

The work of 2 artists on display in Sussex for 4 weeks

East Grinstead: Artists Brian King, from London, and Andrew Dixon from Berkhamsted, Herts will be exhibiting their paintings in the beautiful wood-panelled room at Wealden House, East Grinstead for 4 weeks from Monday 17th March 2008.

The paintings, mainly oils, include landscapes from the West Country and Sardinia, portraits and still life. They can be viewed free of charge from 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday (closed Sundays) from Monday 17th March until Friday 11th April.

"We've worked together on mural projects many times and we often talk about what we've got on our easels so, recently, because of our long association since art school, we thought it would be a good idea to put together a joint exhibition," explains Brian King.

Seeing these paintings side by side emphasises the luminous spaces and colours that characterise the artists' work. "West Country landscape is full of an ever-changing light and I'm constantly attempting to capture the essence and geography of the area," says Andrew Dixon, "while portraiture requires the artist to catch the essence of a person and bring them to life. It's about spontaneity in mark-making, being spontaneous in the act of painting."

"We had considered several possible London venues but I remembered noting how lovely the wood-panelled room in Wealden House was when we happened to visit it a few weeks ago." Brian continues, "So we are very happy to be exhibiting there. This show signals a move for both of us towards exhibiting on a regular basis."

Both artists studied fine art at Bournemouth & Poole College of Art in the 1980s.

Andrew's main focus at art school was in the life room and it was there that the importance of good draughtsmanship was learnt. After leaving college he spent a number of years teaching life drawing to supplement his painting, at the same time branching out into mural and trompe-l'oeil painting on a commercial basis which he still does to this day. His painting is about colour and light in the natural world and his interpretation of that world, whether in portraiture, landscape or still-life. His work constantly draws him back to the west country where he was born. Recently he has been working in Somerset attempting to capture the particular light, essence and geography of the area.
He takes commissions for portraits, landscapes, murals and trompe-l'oeil, recent examples of which can be seen in the Rex cinema, Berkhamsted.
Andrew Dixon
07801 144962
info@andrewcochranedixon.com
http://www.andrewcochranedixon.com

Brian spent 4 years at art school in the 80s and then a similar amount of time training as an actor in the 90s. Income was coming mainly from decorative paint effects and the occasional mural. For a variety of reasons, none of them particularly good, his easel had stood relatively undisturbed for several years until he met Maria-Teresa, his Sardinian fiancée, who encouraged him to get back to it. He has since spent a lot of time in Sardinia and this beautiful island has inspired much of his recent work. The figures that appear in his landscapes have all played some part in his life out there. This is also true of any dogs, sheep and geese on show. He paints mainly in oils and accepts commissions for portraits, landscapes and murals.
Brian King
07710 465576
info@briankingartist.com
http://www.briankingartist.com

The exhibition is being held at:

Wealden House
Lewes Road
East Grinstead
West Sussex
RH19 3TB

01342 335335
help@wealdenhouse.com
http://www.wealdenhouse.com

fine arts, oils, landscape, portrait, still life, West Country, Sardinia, light and colour, spontaneity of mark-making, bringing people to life and believing in the person as a living being