Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal near Ripon is extending its popular art exhibition.
The exhibition ‘Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal - A Landscape Painters Perspective’ celebrates the work of northern landscape artist Peter M Hicks during his residency in 2023.
And for those who are yet to see it, the exhibition will be on view to visitors until Sunday 15th September.
Commissioned by the National Trust, Peter M Hicks has created a collection of works in response to the designed landscapes of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden.
The resulting paintings, studies and sketchbooks are being displayed in an exhibition in Fountains Mill.
Peter M Hicks has lived and worked for most of his life on the North York Moors close to the Yorkshire coast.
Inspired by the drama and immensity of the British landscape, Peter now in his eighties, has developed into one of northern England's leading landscape artists.
Peter M Hicks, Northern Landscape Artist said:
“Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal may not have needed me to speak about its rich heritage and landscape vistas, but I have come to see that it has given me a chance to explore landscape and waterways in my own choice of texture, colour, and use of material and pictorial language.
“This is all at a time when I might be expected to be slowing down concerning my painters practice.
“It has been said of me however, that in fact this opportunity has come when I am at the height of my ongoing fulfilment.
“What a wonderful hope and promise.”
The exhibition features selected studio objects such as paint pots and brushes, testimonials from Peter about his process, and his own workbench.
Peter works in abstract landscapes with acrylic washes on canvas and board - he makes his own benches, brush handles, and uses humble and accessible materials, such as old margarine pots for mixing his paints.
He also upcycles old jewellery boxes into paint boxes.
Justin Scully, General Manager at National Trust Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal said:
“I first met Peter in July 2022, when he had been invited to Fountains by renowned landscape photographer Joe Cornish.
"Peter was reminiscing that he had sketched here many years ago and I politely said that it was time for him to visit us again, from such a brief conversation came great things.
"As it has always done, this special place captures an artist’s imagination. The commission has created much more work than we ever intended but it has also to my mind captured Peter’s personality itself and his very particular aesthetic."
Justin added:
"Peter’s studio in the North York Moors is inspirational, it embodies his way of working, his approach to his art and we have tried to give some hint of this in the exhibition.
"Peter has completely understood and captured our spirit of place as both a garden and a romantic ruin, but also the way the iconic image of the abbey itself is part of our Yorkshire identity.
"As part of a programme of contemporary art commissions stretching back to 2015, it shows the role Fountains can play is supporting artists but also how art can add to a deeper love and understanding of this place for our visitors.”
The exhibition ‘Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal - A Landscape Painter’s Perspective’ will run until Sunday 15th September in Fountains Mill. There is also artwork on display in the Tabernacle at Studley Lake in the water garden.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is open year-round. Admission is 10am – 4.30pm in summer, with car parks closing at 6.30pm. Normal admission applies, entry is free for National Trust members and under-fives.
For more information visit: Visiting Fountains Abbey | Yorkshire | National Trust
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