HOLIDAYS RECALLED

For Melanie, known for her strong figurative images, particularly of nudes, this exhibition also marks an exciting new departure.
“I concentrated mainly on the lovely old towns and villages within the Dordogne, so my pictures are full of bridges, archways, churches and buildings with shutters and terracotta-tiled roofs that are the hallmark of this area,” explains Melanie.
“I always try to start paintings when I’m away – but don’t worry about finishing them until I’m back in my studio at home. That way I seem to come with something fresh.”
Using thin layers of paint that often give her pictures an aura of mystery, Melanie’s work has a subtle, delicate rather feminine feel about it.
In sharp contrast is the work of London-born David Wheeler, who trained as a mechanical engineer and only started to paint professionally last year, achieving instant success. Dramatic hot colours, often applied with a palette knife, capture the light and vibrancy of the country and make a strong statement about the history of the region and the unique countryside – especially the fields of sunflowers, corn and lavender.