Tuesday 22 May 2012

All in a good cause




PRESS RELEASE !
Just one of a series of events taking place in Brightlingsea this summer, The Summer Exhibition at the Waterside Gallery proudly brings together the creative talent of local artists, designer-makers and crafts people.

Over 20 local crafts people and artists will be exhibiting a range of their locally produced original, quality art and crafts including; ceramics, paintings, prints, jewellery, textiles and photography. The range of work displayed in the gallery space (which has kindly been donated rent free by Hampstead Homes Ltd.) shines a spotlight on creative talent in the local community.

Visitors are welcome to browse at their leisure and have the opportunity to purchase unique, locally produced gifts from the creative work on show. Commission from sales is being donated to the RNLI. 

There are several good venues to eat & drink or you may like to walk along the prom.  Crabbing on the jetty at the Hard is a popular past time for adults and children! If you have never been to Brightlingsea before, you will be pleasantly surprised! 

Thursday 10 May 2012

Nowt

'De Rien', a work in progress and my mode of transport on another leg of my pilgrimage. This time a couple of days sailing down the coast to Bradwell On Sea. I have long wanted to visit the church of St Peter on the walls and this seemed like a good opportunity to walk the six mile round trip from Bradwell marina, across the peninsula to the remote chapel. 


It's such a magical spot, windswept and wild. Though I'm at a loss as to why Cedd, on his way down from Lindisfarn, decided to stop here. It's impossible to get to by road, and especially in 645, it must have taken weeks to get to Maldon. Every Summer there is a pilgrimage to this church and I can see why, it really is a special place. Not to mention the oldest standing church in the country.



As I don't have a camera at the moment, I am having to rely on my phone to try and capture the wonderful colours of the changing skies and sea. Sorry, it doesn't do it justice. The sky was a wonderful bluey grey and the sea kept swapping between khaki and shimmering silver. Really lovely. I must try and capture it in paint. 


Today I walked a circular walk from Brightlingsea church, down through the quarry, through a waterlogged field of oil seed rape, along Alresford creek and back along the old railway to Bateman's tower and on through town to the church. I'm not sure how many miles it was because I can't set my pedometer properly.  It tells me I can eat at least 4 mars bars after that !!
No matter, it was a lovely walking meditation, watching and listening to the birds, counting snails on the path (19 stripey ones) and trying to let all those 'stories' in my head, blow away in the warm southerly wind.

Next week I'm off back to the home land of Wales, to walk a section of Offa's Dyke. Time only allows a 60 mile portion, though it is through the prettiest part of Mid Wales...biased? moi? ! I hope I will manage to get some half decent pics.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Cobwebs

I've lost my camera, gak. What a disaster. Dropped last weekend, somewhere on a walk in Brightlingsea. Small Pentax in a neoprene case, if anyone happens upon it......


Anyway, onwards and upwards......There's lots going on in Brightlingsea this Summer:

Brightlingsea's Waterside Gallery Summer Exhibition 2nd June to 15th July 2012
Open weekends and Jubilee bank holidays (4th & 5th June) from 11am-5pm.
21 craftspeople and artists will be displaying a range of original and quality locally produced art and crafts including: ceramics, paintings, prints, jewellery, textiles and photography at Brightlingsea’s Waterside Gallery, CO7 0FG Free Entry Level access. Pay & display public parking nearby.
All commission from sales is being donated to the RNLI and the space is kindly donated rent free by Hampstead Homes (London) Ltd.

The buzzing art vibe in Brightlingsea, is this year set to inspire with a host of exciting exhibitions and workshops to look forward to and the Waterside Summer Exhibition is just one of a series of events taking place this year with an artistic theme. Look out for more on facebook : Art In- Brightlingsea and Sea Green Studio, which is the new high street art studio featuring local art, crafts and practical workshops run by local artists.
Open Gardens (23rd & 24th June 2012) also has some artistic surprises in store, not just the creativity of the green fingered gardeners and the humour of the scarecrow trail, but also because it will afford a glimpse into a few artist’s gardens and studios with art and sculpture on display. Once again there will also be an Art Tent at this year’s Brightlingsea Free Music festival, from 3rd -5th August, where both established and emerging artists will be displaying their works. During the annual Colchester & Tendring Open studios www.colchesteropenstudios.org in September, there will be opportunities to visit local artists in their studios and gardens.
For more info about events pls contact Nicky Sheales: nickysheales@gmail.com www.nickysheales.co.uk