Private View of the Paper and Janet Boulton: Watercolours exhibitions

On Wednesday 29 November from 6pm, there was a Private View of the two new exhibitions which had just opened, were very well attended and we had a wonderful evening.
In the main part of the gallery, the exhibition Paper: Drawings, prints and works on paper from the Swindon Collection, this is what the website says:
Works on paper are some of the most fascinating examples of modern art. This exhibition features drawings, watercolours and prints by modern and contemporary artists and demonstrates the huge range of effects that can be created using paper and imagination.
The exhibition celebrates the recent Meryl Ainslie Gift donation – a group of more than 50 works on paper given anonymously to Swindon in 2017 in appreciation of Meryl Ainslie’s services to the Arts. Meryl Ainslie MA is founder of Rabley Drawing Centre, a gallery and drawing school located near Marlborough which specialises in drawings, works on paper and original prints. She worked at Swindon School of Art between 1993 and 2004 and was instrumental in the development and delivery of the successful higher education programme in Fine Art Drawing.
The exhibition features works by Allen Jones, Nicholas Monro, Michael Ayrton, Basil Beattie and Katherine Jones. These are displayed alongside prints by Ian Hamilton Finlay, Eduardo Paolozzi and Cecil Collins, and drawings by George Clausen, Gwen John and Augustus John.
The exhibition in the smaller part of the gallery is called Janet Boulton: Watercolours
Janet Boulton is internationally known for her watercolours and paper relief works, but few know of her connections to Swindon. This exhibition celebrates her works on paper and will include paintings inspired by music, still life and gardens.
Boulton was born in Swindon. After art school, she returned to the town and worked as an art teacher at Swindon College, Commonweal and Hreod Parkway. In 1977, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery hosted her exhibition, ‘Windows and Reflections’, inspired by her views from classrooms in the town. Since the late 1970s, she has worked at Ian Hamilton Finlay’s garden at Little Sparta, the Villa La Pietra, and the Garden Museum. Her work is in public and private collections in the UK and abroad.
This exhibition is a welcome return to Swindon from this important artist. It celebrates both her innovative use of watercolour and her engagement with nature, beauty, architecture and music.

As you can see, the gallery was fairly packed

We were very fortunate to have Richard Morphet giving an opening speech. Richard seen below is known for his long association with the museum, for many years he advised Denys Hodson about acquisitions for the Swindon Collection.

The Paper exhibition continues until 10 March, and Janet Boulton's exhibition continues until 20 January. Don't miss the in conversation with Janet Boulton and Sophie Cummings on Thursday 14 December.