Chris Rigby, Between Rocks and Hard Places
Paul Boyle, Hullscapes
Bonhoga Gallery
28 February – 12 April
Public opening: Friday 27 February, 6-7.30pm
After the arresting exhibition of work of Don McCullin, Bonhoga is marking a distinct change in atmosphere with the opening this Friday of two spectacular exhibitions of landscape imagery. Both shows are captivating in their own right, and both bring a new perspective to a well-loved genre.Chris Rigby’s exhibition Between Rocks and Hard Places in the Upper Gallery is an exploration of the rocky coastline of Shetland, realised in gorgeous, rich colour using oil, acrylic and watercolour. After the success of his exhibition at Shetland Museum and Archives in 2012 Chris, from North Yorkshire, returned to Shetland to rediscover some of his favourite places and search out more stunning vistas. His resulting work is breath-taking in scale, composition and tone, demonstrating his mastery of both technique and medium.
With a heavy nod to the traditions of the Old Masters, Chris’s work is classical in style and yet his preoccupation with the surface and structure of the landscape gives it an abstract and highly expressive quality. Chris was recently awarded the Le Clerc Fowle Medalby The Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the only major British art Society that promotes and exhibits work of the highest standard exclusively in Oils.
The focus on surface continues in the Lower Gallery with an equally captivating exhibition of photographs by Paul Boyle. Representing details of boat hulls which are in the process of being refurbished or overhauled, these images are illusions of crisp linear land and seascapes. With beautiful effects created by layers of paint, exposed fibre-glass and bands of blue masking tape, these painterly works are deceptive, striking and very intriguing.
Since retirement from his post as Head of Art and Design at Linlithgow Academy, West Lothian, Paul has focused his attention on photography. He is revisiting Shetland this week, after an absence of over forty years and will be delighted to introduce his work at the public opening at Bonhoga this Friday between 6 and 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome.
