The latest exhibition at The Whittox Gallery at RISE is ‘Significant Form’, a solo show by painter/printmaker Sandra Porter which runs until the 18th June.
“This exhibition brings together two phases of Sandra’s work separated by 32 years, the Siena Series of paintings from the 1990s and her latest watercolours and prints,” says the Gallery.
“Sandra is interested in the symbiotic relationship between drawing, painting and printmaking. Grids, stripes and sometimes curves, feature heavily in her work; their beginnings inspired by architecture, often grand as in St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow or Siena Cathedral in Italy.
“Paintings from The Siena Series, large scale paintings, are inspired by the curves of the Piazza in that city and Duccio’s paintings of the Madonna and Child which can be found in the cathedral museum. The series of paintings were first shown at The James Hockey Gallery in Farnham in 1991, at The Eagle Gallery in London in 1992 and Circle Bath in 2014/15. The catalogue and limited-edition book of drawings published for the first show are in the V&A and Tate Libraries and some of the paintings are in public and private collections.
“In 2022 Sandra was an informal and regular visitor to Drawing Matter, an architecture drawing archive at Shatwell Farm, Somerset. Prints and watercolours that reference the research from this period will be on show at the Whittox Gallery alongside the Siena Series. Sandra has found the idea of exploring the relationship between the two series fascinating and is excited by the proposal from Sarah Robson (gallery curator) to display them together in what seems like the entirely appropriate space that is The Whittox Gallery which occupies the heights of RISE, a former church built in the early 1800s.”
Sandra was born in Bath and grew up in Midsomer Norton. Her art education began at Somerset College of Arts and Technology in Taunton. A Fine Art degree at Stourbridge College of Art was followed by a Fine Art master’s degree at Chelsea School of Art. After spending 19 years in London, combining teaching, painting and printmaking with having a family, she returned to the West Country.
Sandra has since been an active member in local art scene, as organiser/curator of exhibitions for Black Swan Arts in Frome, as well as making her work from her studio in Norton St Philip, and exhibiting her own work here in the UK and internationally including New York and Brazil. She was invited to join Bath Society of Artists in 2016 and elected a Royal West of England Academician in 2017. After leaving a teaching career spanning 30 years in 2012 she ran printmaking workshops from her own studio and in print studios across the country. Sandra now concentrates solely upon her own work.
An Open Afternoon & Meet the Artist is on Saturday 29th April from 2pm until 4pm – all are welcome
For any further queries please contact Sarah Robson (gallery curator) on 07712 523734 or email info@thewhittoxgallery .com
The Whittox Gallery, RISE, is in Whittox Lane, Frome, BA11 3BY. For more details visit www.thewhittoxgallery.com
Pictured top: ‘Shelter’ by Sandra Porter RWA.
Pictured right: ‘Shelter XII’ by Sandra Porter RWA
