Bath between the Snows: Peter Brown
Bath between the Snows: Peter
Brown
February 2011
Ninety-six new paintings, drawings and pastels
celebrating the streets and hills of Bath captured in all weathers
will be on display at Bath & North East Somerset Council’s
Victoria Art Gallery from Saturday 9 April until Sunday 2 June
2011.
Created by Bath-based artist Peter Brown (more
commonly known as ‘Pete the Street’ due to his habit of working
outdoors come rain, sleet or shine) the works of art include views
of George Street, Victoria Park, Milsom Street experiencing
sunshine and showers, and the Kennet & Avon Canal. There are
even some night scenes.
This is the fifth exhibition by Peter Brown to
be shown at the Victoria Art Gallery, but by far the largest to
date for it will fill the Bridge Street venue’s large ground floor
gallery. The exhibition is called ‘Bath between the snows’ because
most of the work was undertaken between the two heavy snowfalls
that occurred at the beginning and end of 2010.
Bath is not a large city, indeed some might
describe it as bijou, yet Pete Brown never ceases to
discover parts he has not previously painted, or alternatively
familiar views seen in unfamiliar lighting conditions. For those
with an eye to see, it is a city of constant surprises, and nobody
is more receptive to these fleeting moments than ‘Pete the
Street’.
Jon Benington, Manager of the Council run
Victoria Art Gallery, said: “The pictures are anything but static
scenes, recording as they do places that are populated, alive,
throbbing with movement, constantly changing in response to
different light and weather conditions.”
Peter Brown says of his work: “The thread in
all my paintings is an interest in light. I relish the variety of
our British climate and dramatic changes in the weather.”
Although Peter now enjoys a national
reputation and has completed a stint as ‘Painter in Residence’ at
the Savoy Hotel in London, he can still be glimpsed painting ‘en
plein air’ around the city that is his home.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Tourism,
Leisure & Culture Cllr Terry Gazzard (Conservative, Abbey)
said:
“Bath & North East Somerset Council’s
Victoria Art Gallery is incredibly popular with visitors and
residents alike and it’s great to welcome local artist Peter Brown
back to the Gallery.”
Peter Brown came to Bath in 1986 to study a
foundation course in art. He then continued his training in
Manchester and Greenwich before returning to the city in 1993. He
is a member of the New English Art Club, the Royal Institute of Oil
Painters and The Pastel Society. He regularly wins awards for his
work and is represented in collection across Europe, the USA,
Australia and Saudi Arabia.
As well as regularly exhibiting with the
NEAC, the RBA and the Pastel Society, Peter has been a finalist
with the Hunting art prizes since 1997 and was shown at an Arts
Club Award Winners exhibition in 2005.
The exhibition, organised in association with
Messum’s and sponsored by Knight Frank estate agents, is
accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue (available 7
March).
The Victoria Art Gallery, near Pulteney Bridge
in Bath, is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 1.30pm to
5pm. The Gallery is closed on Monday. Admission is free. For more
details call 01225 477233 or visit the Gallery’s website at
http://www.victoriagal.org.uk/
or for more information about Peter Brown and this latest
exhibition log on to http://www.peterbrownneac.com/
-Ends-
Notes to editors
Bath & North East Somerset Council’s art
gallery houses the area’s permanent collection of British and
European art from the 15th century to the present day including
works by Gainsborough, Turner and Sickert. The gallery has one of
the best temporary exhibition programmes in the region, ranging
from prints to sculpture, including national touring exhibitions
and major retrospectives. There are frequent workshops, holiday
activities and a full programme for schools.