Parallel Lives: Eight Women Artists

 Dr Gill Clarke talked about the eight women artists who feature in this fascinating exhibition she co curated with Steve Marshal at St.Barbe's in Lymington. What is so interesting is that all eight women artists were born within 20 years of each other, and their lives span the twentieth century. A Barnes coach is taking a group of us to Lymington on 28 October, if you click on the Barnes' link you could book to come for £25. There are 70 works in the exhibition celebrating the lives of 8 artists.

Let's start with Enid Marx, a wood engraver who went to Eric Ravilious after hours in college because it was thought she couldn't draw. Paul Nash also tutored her. Enid held teaching posts, was a royal designer for industry and the first female wood engraver to receive a title. She is probably best known for her linocut with pastel colouring titled 'Wally Dogs'

Enid Marx designed fabrics for London Underground as seen below:

She also produced posters for the underground and stamps in the 1960s

Gertrude Hermes was engaged in sculpting and wood engraving, 'Thorn Apple' is a wood engraving of hers:

Evelyn Dunbar was the only salaried female war artist; 40 of her paintings are in existence. I am including the painting of her family garden painted between 1929-37.The tower you can just about see on top of the house in the distance is where her studio was situated. The house is now a B&B and the garden has been built on.

In the exhibition there are also paintings like the Canning Demonstration from 1940 illustrating what happened when you had a glut of fruit. The war paintings also show women's land army dairy training.

Ithell Colquhoun's work was shaped by surrealism and the occult. She also admired the work of Salvador Dali whose exhibition she saw in 1936. Nasturtiums seen below is produced using sepia ink and watercolour.

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham 1912-2004 was brought up in  St.Andrews in Scotland, and was fascinated by the natural world. This striking work from 1981 depicts St.Andrews' Bay:

She studied at Edinburgh College of Art and gained a post graduate scholarship where it was suggested she go to St.Ives 

 'Island Sheds' produced in St.Ives appears to have been influenced by Alfred Wallis (1855-1942)

Wilhelmina produced abstract work in her final decade and was given an OBE in 2001.

Her great friend Margaret Mellis also lived in St.Ives and attracted lots of other artists to settle down there. This is a great photo of Wilhelmina in her studio:

Prunella Clough although she lived in London all her life, often depicted fishing and fishermen because she often stayed in Southwold where her parents often went on holiday and then her Mother bought a holiday home there.

Barbara Jones was interested in follies and grottos. She produced The Fairground for the Recording Britain school series.

Our eighth artist featured in the St.Barbe exhibition is Monica Poole a wood engraver interested in plant forms, she later made linocuts and taught both disciplines.

There is so much more to these 8 artists than I have covered here, and I'm not sure I've read my notes correctly. To watch the recording of Dr Gill Clarke's talk please check out the website.

I'm very much looking forward to visiting the exhibition on Saturday when a group of us are going on a Barnes' coach trip to Lymington.