Beecroft Gallery Show - Leigh-on-Sea

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A LIFE affirming exhibition exploring the textures and emotional effects of the estuary has gone on show at Southend.

New paintings by Leigh’s Sheila Appleton and Ian Smith feature alongside work by ceramicists Richard Baxter and Julie O’Sullivan, and jewellery pieces by Joe Spurgeon.

All artists work at the long-established Old Leigh Studios, with the show originally conceived as a thirty-year anniversary celebration of the opening of the gallery.

This is the first group show they have had showcasing their various responses to the local scene, both physical and metaphysical.

Ms Appleton, 91, is Leigh’s most famous artist, and is still painting furiously, with old and recent pieces on show, some of which reflect contemporary politics: “One of the paintings features Putin,” explains Ms Appleton who, ever cheerful, insists: “I’m not an elderly lady putting something pretty in a room!”

Of the older works are scenes of Old Leigh, and a bar scene painted in the 1960s at the now closed Railway Hotel pub.

The group show, called Time and Tide, reflects on the temporal affordances of the estuary both in relation to the artists’ practices over time and the connection time plays in our understanding of landscape and identity, something Ian’s 70-yearlong practice of oils and acrylics have examined, featuring the estuary landscape.

Mr Baxter, who opened Old Leigh Studios with Ms Appleton back in 1991, converting what was a boat-building shed into the popular gallery, first exhibited at the old Beecroft in the early 1980s.

Examples of early terracotta work, ‘relics’ with sections broken and aged, and segmented ‘wave’ bowls are displayed beneath his new cyanotype prints of Mulberry Harbour.

Ms O’Sullivan’s hand-coils in coarse stoneware, in forms reflecting her fasciation for the coiled lugworm casts found at low tide.

The shoreline, like memory, registers protean temporal effects, traced here across these multiple media and colour in fine interpretations of the Essex littoral.

“We are invigorated by sharing our studio space and love the way forms and colours interact when displaying our work together” added Ms O’Sullivan.

Part of the original art vanguard of Leigh, Ms Appleton, Mr Smith and Mr Baxter have stood the test of time, long before what Ms Appleton is concerned is the fast-paced commercialisation of Old Leigh.

Kevin Lang-Marsh, Art Curator at Southend Museums, said: “We are thrilled to be showing Sheila’s work in Old Leigh Studios – Time & Tide.

“In her long and prolific career, she has captured the enormous changes in industry and social developments that have occurred in Leigh on Sea.

“From a thriving fishing village to a place now seen as a thriving place for artists to live and work. Sheila has been at the heart of this and with Richard, Ian, Julie and Joe, Old Leigh Studios puts itself front and centre of the vibrant creative place Leigh has become.”

Ms Appleton and Mr Smith will be at the gallery at alternate Thursdays to meet visitors and discuss their work. Phoning ahead on 01702 470490 is advised.

Opening times are Thursday – Sunday 11.30-5pm.

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