Sue Side SGFA and Nick Withers

Venue

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Venue Facilities

Artist statement

A member of The Society of Graphic Fine Art, Sue creates detailed atmospheric drawings + etchings of tree and land in ink & charcoal & portraits in graphite. Nick Withers, a passionate & skilled wildlife photographer, captures stunning moments from our natural world. Originals, prints + cards will be available. And wonderful studio views.

Extended Bio

Sue’s work is in several private collections. She is a member of The Society of Graphic Fine Art and The Oxford Art Society and has been selected to exhibit with The Royal Society of Portrait Painters, The Society of British Artists and The Royal Watercolour Society. She creates work exploring the stories hidden in the quiet environment of tree, land and sky. Here she enjoys watching the slow interaction between trees and the land they have settled in. Using drawing media and printing techniques, she explores the atmosphere of this environment in all its woody detail, as well as drawing the wildlife around her. She is particularly drawn to the drama of the starling dance against winter skies. She spends most winters observing roosts around the UK and this leads to a few works each winter. Thousands of individually ink-drawn birds overlap one another again and again in an attempt to recreate the remarkable fluidity of aerial display. A much- respected portrait artist, she works in graphite pencil to explore the human narrative by focusing on the subtle ways in which we look, speak and gesture. Graphite is chosen for a reason – it has a natural warmth and versatility; the eye is not distracted by colour and the smallest drawn stroke can utterly change what you see. The fact that it can also be easily rubbed out is also a quiet reminder that this is a momentary record of a time already passed in a life of constant change. Portrait work is to commission, with the occasional pet portrait sneaking in. Nick's love of the natural world began as a young child growing up and walking in the Welsh countryside. A career spent in the great outdoors has enabled him to be completely immersed in nature -its colours, patterns, randomness and beauty - every day. Wildlife photography is his absolute passion and is exclusively UK based. He travels to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; Skomer in West Wales; and the East coast of England, photographing pine martens; red squirrels; white tailed eagles; ospreys and more. He also enjoys festival photography and is an official photographer for the Green Gathering, an off-grid family friendly-festival in South Wales. His work has been published in print and online and has featured in several local exhibitions. Nick teaches wildlife photography to individuals and small groups and runs workshops at various locations throughout the year. He also take clients out for nature walks in the countryside near Chulmleigh, as well as on Dartmoor and Exmoor. Recently he has started to combine his photography skills and guiding, with running nature-based therapy workshops for active serving forces personel and individuals, helping them to decompress and reconnect with the natural world.

Group Members

Sue Side SGFA Nick Withers