Artist’s lockdown-inspired collection to go on display

Internationally acclaimed artist Philip Hughes is set to present a collection of daily paintings created during a period of the pandemic lockdown in 2020.

From his base in Craswall, Herefordshire, Hughes recorded tracks, plants, trees, stones, and larger sweeps of the Black Mountains on the border of England and Wales.

Hughes explored the areas within walking distance of Craswall, along the Monnow River, through mountain and fields, and along the Black Hill to Hay Bluff.

The artist said: “The landscape is very special here. There are no ploughed fields, rather a series of grassy sheep fields with hedges which makes this agricultural pattern in the valley. Particularly special are the old drovers’ tracks which are marked with vertical stones which come out the geology here. And of course, the twisted old hawthorns, holly and ashes.”

The exhibition includes 30 small works dated from April to May 2020. All the works are acrylic and gouache on paper. 17 larger works developed from this diary-style practice are also exhibited.

Integrated with works drawn from the land are selected abstract works, often made in parallel. In addition, one of his bound notebooks of observations will be on display.

Hughes often works from notebooks that he takes with him everywhere he goes and in which he records and sketches what he sees. The notebook that he kept in Craswall is now in the National Collection at the British Museum.

The collection of works will be on display during Herefordshire Art Week (h-Art) from Saturday, September 3 to Sunday, September 13 at Cabalva Farm Gallery near Hay-on-Wye, HR3 6EX.

Also showing are works from Welsh landscape artist Daniel Crawshaw, steel sculptor Aragorn Dick-Reade, and animal sculptor Sally Matthews.