Behind the Scenes at Sheringham

Thank you to all the Gallery clients who joined us on Monday to celebrate the launch of our brand new art space at Sheringham Little Theatre.

Guests first enjoyed drinks in our new Gallery space before taking a VIP backstage tour with theatre Director Debbie Thompson.

Tour highlights included the hi-tech wizardry (and incredibly tidy cables!) of the lighting booth.

This was followed by an actors-eye-view walk through the set to the dressing rooms for a backstage meet-and-greet with rep stars of the theatre's current production 'Last of the Red Hot Lovers'.

We were then treated to a special performance of the play.

A great evening was had by all, so thanks for coming along and making the event such a success!

To make sure that you receive a personal invitation for our future events, register for our mailing list HERE.

Art all night long at Nuit Blanche, Paris

Visitors to Paris last weekend were treated to a night of spectacular (and not so spectacular) free installations, courtesy of Nuit Blanche, the French capital's annual all-night-art-fest...

Contributions viewed by Hatfield Hines' roving Girl Friday included:

- 'Reflexion!?' a giant exclamation mark constructed of tiny illuminated micro-fans, suspended in mid-air inside the ancient church of Saint-Paul

- 'Crisis' an illuminated shed which promised (but did not deliver) smoke effects, at Square Leopold Achille, in the Marais

- 'Aurora Borealis' an amazing Swedish installation of gauzy banners, billowing in the breeze, projected with luminous images, inspired by the northern lights

- 'Cinema en Plein Air' an all-night open air cinema at Place du Marche Ste Catherine, showing a series of short films

-An amazing walk-through '3D Bridge' installation on the Pont Saint-Louis

-'(M)ondes' - a courtyard installation with light projections reflected from suspended wire structures, to create an animated firefly effect

- 'The Kiss' - an installation at the Ecole Nationale Des Beaux-Arts where two naked dancers, housed inside a canvas-covered box, press against the screen to recreate elements from celebrated sculpture. Also at the same venue, a spectacular glass room within which actors pose inanimate - like mannequins of the 1940s - until a spectator is invited to enter, to interact with them.

Radio Norfolk's Money-Guru in-Spire-d by survey

Thanks to Jeremy Hooke - the voice of BBC Radio Norfolk's 'Monday Money' and former Lord Mayor of Norwich - for tipping us off to his own favourite Norfolk view...

"My personal favourite is the view from the top of St. John's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Norwich looking eastwards, out towards the coast.

This is a rare and spectacular view from a spot which I was fortunate enough to visit several times during my tenure as Lord Mayor of Norwich.

The tower - which is the highest point from there right the way until the Ural mountains in Russia - is open during Heritage Open Days - and it is well worth a visit!"

To mark your own beauty spot on the Norfolk landscape and win the chance to immortalise it in a specially commissioned oil, just enter our competition or pick up a form at the Gallery. Hurry though - the closing deadline is now fast-approaching on 15th September!

Hatfield Hines - Coming Up Roses in September

During September, Hatfield Hines Gallery celebrates all things floral with a special exhibition featuring Norfolk Gardens and Flower paintings...

Styles range from the painterly still-lifes of Naomi Clements-Wright and Eleanor Hope-Henderson to the vivid semi-cubist collages of Naomi Munuo and pastoral pastels of emerging talent Liz Inwood, daughter of well-known local artist Derek Inwood.

Celeb Chef Galton Blackiston's Top Landscape

Michelin-starred TV Chef Galton Blackiston has cooked his way around the world, but his heart still belongs to Norfolk...

“My favourite view is seen when driving from Langham to Morston.

At one point in the journey you get a perfect view from Blakeney Point to the Watch House.

On a Summer's evening it’s just fantastic and I love it!”

To mark your own beauty spot on the Norfolk landscape and win the chance to immortalise it in a specially commissioned oil, just enter our competition or pick up a form at the Gallery. Hurry though - the closing deadline is 15th September.

Naomi Munuo at Gallery late night view

Hatfield Hines was pleased to welcome special guest - artist Naomi Munuo - at Holt Festival's 'late shift' evening opening at the Gallery on Tuesday.

Munuo joined staff and exhibition browsers for a glass of wine and spoke of her latest project-in-progress - a series of unique local landscapes.

The new works - inspired by the ambience and architecture of the parklands surrounding her home - carry Munuo's distinctive style into new and exciting territories.

Watch this space for further developments!

Art hits the streets in Holt...

Thanks to pavement posse 'Urban Canvas', who took their chalks for a walk in Fish Hill yesterday, creating an amazing 30 foot multi-colour pencil doodle.

Today's browsers have been equally entertained by glimpses of a bowler-hatted gent power-walking through the town playing audio clips of helicopter landings from his concealed-speaker-briefcase!

What's Your Favourite Norfolk View?

Tell us and you could win a specially commissioned oil painting in our new survey competition!

Your County Needs You!
At Hatfield Hines we're always keen on introducing visiting art lovers to new views of Norfolk, so we're launching a summer competition to find the most enjoyed view in the area.

To nominate your own favourite, simply click on our recruiting poster to email us the details.

As a thank-you for taking part, we'll enter you into our free summer prize draw.

The lucky winner will receive a painting of their own favourite Norfolk view by local landscape artist David Baxter (so it will be your opportunity to specially commission your own painting for free..!)

Surreal Summer at Hatfield Hines

For our summer 'Spotlight' show, we focus on the work of emerging local talent, Naomi Munuo.

This exhibition, running until 31st July, highlights the vibrant life studies and surreal still lifes of Cental St. Martin's and Goldsmith's-trained Munuo, whose works have featured at The Royal Academy.

Beginning her artistic life in fashion design, Ipwsich-based Munuo has continued to be inspired by the human figure, illustrating it using richly textured, irregular shapes in works which often involve layered collage techniques.

She says of her artworks 'In my paintings, I explore the relationship between the object and its environment...I observe the world around me with passion and interpret it spontaneously'.

Her use of colourful figures and modeled pieces set in abstracted, patterned backgrounds are inspired both by the angular works of her sculptor-father as well as an early interest in Japanese art - with its flat shapes and controlled lines.

The textural tapestries which also feature strongly in her work are interwoven from elements of wax resist, batik, ink, oil, pastels and acrylic - contrasting grainy texture with glassy transparency - to dramatic effect.

This exhibition charts the evolution of Munuo's distinctive style over two decades, from early fashion-sketches to recent canvas and collage pieces. Prices: £125 - £1500

The exhibition forms part of Holt Festival's Gallery Trail.
All participating Galleries will be open for drinks from 6-8pm on Tuesday 27th & Thursday 29th July, so please do come and join us.

Museum 'Nights Out' - too much fun..?

As a friendly kinda gallery, we were intrigued recently when Radio 4 aired the issue of whether Britain's art venues and museums are becoming simply 'too much fun'...

During May - as part of the nationwide 'Museums at Night' scheme - intrepid culture-vultures were given the chance to 'sleepover' with Churchill in the Cabinet War Rooms, or could opt for a surgical slumber at The Old Operating Theatre...

In Coventry, the Herbert Gallery offered string quartets; at Newcastle's Discovery Museum there were human fruit machines, whist in Worcestershire, the Avoncroft Museum relied on the lure of free chocolate to pull in hordes of children to take part in their song-and-dance extravaganza.

Here in Norfolk, we got stuck in with a 'light in the night' lantern-making workshop courtesy of the Henry Blogg Lifeboat Musem in Cromer. These would certainly have come in handy for the Cornish - evidently made of sterner stuff - who were offered the chance to 'follow a night shift' down the Geevor tin mine...

So - 'bring it on' or 'rein it in' - fun or fundamentals? What's your view? Let us know by posting your comments below...

The Body in the Gallery...

All of us have 'a book' in them, or so they say...

If yours is a potential bunny-boiler, cop-caper or heist-fest, you'll delight this weekend.

Sleuth fiction is set to turn sea-ward on Saturday 6th February as crime writer Kelvin I Jones offers an introductory one day writing course in Crime Fiction...

Jones is a creative writing tutor at the University of East Anglia, specialising in crime and horror fiction. He has written extensively about Sherlock Holmes and his creator, Conan Doyle. His own detective creation - John Botrell - features in a series of novels (see Amazon). He is also the author of many ghost and horror stories.

Budding Chandlers, Christies or Cornwell's should walk the grid, dust for prints and grill Kelvin for further clues on cunningman@hotmail.co.uk or phone: 07976 507954

Featured image: Artist and Model Reflected, by Gerald Meares

Spotlight on - Ipswich painter Naomi Munuo

Ipswich-based artist Naomi Munuo revels in the big, the bold and the vibrant.

Her distinctive artistic style evolved whilst studying for a degree in fashion at St Martin's College, London - loose illustration of the human figure combined with interests in both Cubism and Abstract Expressionism to create a scuptural, colour-rich collage effect.

In Munuo's vision, simplified forms of the female body and still life subjects such as busts, plants and flowers are set within a dynamic framework of angular line.

The resulting images are a series of highly arresting scenes which grip the viewer, pulling them into intense, surreal compositions of many textured layers.

The effect is heightened by the varied mark-making made possible through combining media such as thickly applied acrylic paint, oil pastel, wax resist, ink and paper strips. This texural richness is enhanced by the use of pattern blocks which further dramatise the sense of scale within her compositions.

To see further examples of Munuo's pieces, click here.

To view this artist's profile, click here.

Climate Crisis - Autumn renders Holt Soupless!

Yup - autumn is really here...

1. This morning's school run required a rapid U-turn to don an extra layer.

2. The Gallery heater has been cranked back into service for the first time since last winter.

3. Chilled-out of hiding, Holt's 'invisible army' of lunching lawyers, epicurean estate agents, hungry hairdressers and snacking shop-assistants had drunk Byfords dry of soup by lunchtime!

GirlFriday was thereby rendered lunchless - even the very name of the tasty-looking 'Friday Staple' flavour chalked-up on the blackboard was gone by 1pm!

Falling back on takeaway cappuccino and a micro-ed plastic pot of pesto pasta (just not the same...) an online horoscope instructs 'share fondest fantasies today'.

Thus - by clicking on the above image - this blogger is happy to provide a DIY 'Delia-Deli-dejeuner' for fellow art-n-soup-lovers who might find themselves similarly (dis)-placed...

Hatfield Hines' Naomi Clements inspires the EDP

Hatfield Hines artist Naomi Clements talks to the EDP about drawing, Old Masters and a room of one's own - down at the bottom of the garden...

"Naomi is a stickler when it comes to drawing. 'For me drawing is the key to good painting - you can tell by looking at a painting if the artist can draw. Drawing forms the basis of everything from the composition to the execution,' she explains.

She is very inspired by the Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershoi. 'He does these marvellous paintings of interiors where he often paints his wife as well - not as a portrait but as a rather fleeting figure who seems to add something mysterious to the mix.'

She is fascinated by the Old Masters and often visits the National Gallery to research her work. 'For portraits it may be Goya, Rembrandt or Durer. For interiors I may look at Pieter de Hooch, Vermeer and Hammershoi. I long to achieve the depth and beauty of the Old Masters but with comtemporary settings and subjects.'

Naomi's studio - at the bottom of the garden - is pristine and tidy. 'I do find my studio a haven of tranquility after the chaos and noise of family life in the main house. When I get in and close the door I breathe a huge sigh of relief,' she says."

To see more of Naomi Clements' work click here.

Something for the (Heritage) Weekend..?

Fancy getting to grips with gas, plumbing the depths of the Victorian loo or taking a sedate saunter round a stateley pile - all free gratis and for nothing? Griff reckons this weekend's Heritage Open Days event could be for you...

The annual history-fest - England’s biggest and most popular voluntary cultural event - glories in England’s architecture and culture by allowing visitors free access to the weird & whacky properties that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee.

This year's offering - officially launched by Griff Rhys Jones and Baroness Andrews in uber trendy Brighton - also includes tours, events and activities that focus on local architecture and culture.

Co-ordinated via English Heritage, but organised by volunteers - usually property owners or managers - for local people, the event attracted around 1 million visitors last year.

Sites up for grabs for gratis this year include follies, contemporary buildings, churches, factories, tunnels, temples, offices, private homes, industrial sites, castles, windmills, town halls - guided walks, concerts, re-enactments and trails.

For full details of what's on in the Norfolk area click here to visit English Heritage's website.

To whet your appetite - look out for: Fish 'n' Ships in Great Yarmouth; Charles Darwin Visits King's Lynn; Trials at The Old Courtroom in Norwich and Civil War re-enactors setting off canons at Greenland Fishery..!

King Henry's single handed band-aid for Salthouse

Last weekend St. Nicholas's Church Salthouse was crammed with 'krummhorns', 'nakers' and 'sorduns' in the name of charity, as mad-early-music-minstrel Robert Fitzgerald brought King Henry's Band to town.

As the concert began, it occurred to the uninitiated in the audience that Ye Olde Facebook could be called for, since the 'Band' consists of Fitzgerald plus four 'missing members' (variously dismissed for a string of historic misdemeanours involving excessive imbibing, unseemly lustiness and generally ill-considered merry making).

The ensemble sound is achieved by the layered use of pre-recorded backing tracks (in which Fitzgerald plays each individual instrument) augmented with his live performance of a 'missing' instrument.

Between tunes, Kelling-dweller Fitzgerald waxed lyrical about the history, pedigree and construction of the many wind, string and percussion instruments presented including the bizarre 'gemshorn' crafted from an exotic-looking animal's horn.

The concert continued for a marathon three hours on a revolving come-and-go-as-you-please programme and raised over £400 towards church funds through contributions and CD sales.

Afterwards, Fitzgerald still had enough puff left - incredibly - to furnish groupies with tales of construction ups and downs.

We left with extensive programme notes and a CD, desperate for a peek into his garden shed!

Prince Charles' artwork to inspire budding painters

Calling all budding landscape artists... Paint or draw your 'Special Place' - inspired by Hatfield Hines' August exhibition of the works of HRH the Prince of Wales - and you could win a set of artist quality art materials.

Prince Charles's favourite places include Windsor Castle, Sandringham, the Yorkshire Dales and the Scottish Highlands - all of which he has captured in watercolour.

We now want you to show us what is special to you about your own environment. Your picture could show your favourite countryside view, a scene from your house or garden, your school, your playground or sportsfield - even your room.

Winning entries will also be featured in the Gallery.

Just the thing for those grim wet days over the long, long, long, long, long summer holidays..!

For full details, and to download an entry form (PDF) to print off at home, visit the Hatfield Hines Gallery website by clicking here.

Closing date for entries: 22nd August 2009.

Exhibition: 'A Sense of our Place: British Landscapes'
1st-29th August 2009 at Hatfield Hines, open during normal gallery hours.

Other artists featuring in the exhibition will include Paul Maze, Frank Beanland and Arthur Knighton-Hammond.

Arts & Crafts at Voewood Midsummer Fete

This weekend bunting meets bedouin as millionaire book-dealer Simon Finch throws open the gates of Voewood - his amazing arts & crafts country mansion - on the outskirts of Holt.

As well as enjoying vintage clothes, arts and craft stalls, home-made cakes, preserves & teas, and Moroccan 'saw music' (no - I'm not kidding) - in the formal gardens of this listed 'Butterfly House', a number of guided interiors tours are up for grabs on both Saturday and Sunday for the lucky few who pre-book.

Following Finch up and down a plethora of wooden staircases, tour participants will discover the labyrinth of quirky, individually decorated bedrooms, bathrooms and public rooms which house his priceless modern art collection, assembled over many years.

Here's a taster, for those of you who are terribly intrigued but just can't make it...

Enjoy!

GF

Make clay whilst the sun shines...the Morphing of Chelsea

Visitors to Chelsea Flower Show might be in for a sticky surprise this year, courtesy of BBC Top Gear's James May...

His version of 'Paradise' - incorporating a veg patch, grapevine, palm trees, lawn, rockery, pond - complete with fish - and even a tasty picnic - is crafted from 2.5 tonnes of plasticine in 24 colours.

But hey, no man is an island - no matter how unique his utopia. To fashion his fakery, May pulled in a fistful of favours from his mates over at Aardman Animations - creators of the famous Wallace and Grommit, as well as a batallion of Chelsea pensioners (who made the poppies), a squad of schoolkids (who made the daffs) and cake superstar Jane Asher (official picnic-on-the-rug consultant).

This year, the RHS is keen to encourage newcomers, especially youngsters, to take up the spade, trowel and dibber. This certainly seems to have worked - erm - to some extent - in May's case: "(to date) my experience of gardening has been limited to digging holes," he said, "I do make sure the hosepipe is untangled."

Oh well, he did have a stab at making some Plasticine flowers and apples, bless him. "Coming at it from a science and engineering point of view, I found model making deeply engrossing," he says.

Hot Jazz & cool Broads? Deep South - head East!

For the ultimate escape from headlines, bottom lines and the latest outbreak of MP expenses (aka 'swine fever') head down to the Deep South...it's closer than you think.

This weekend, the Southern Comfort Mississippi paddle steamer plays host to 'The Festival All Stars' jazzmen - in one of the classiest closing events of the NN09 Festival.

Sailing from her summer moorings beside the Swan at Horning, she’ll glide along the river Bure to Ranworth Broad, passing some of Norfolk’s most beautiful old thatched houses, windmills and Norfolk reed beds on the way, not to mention a wealth of ever-amusing boat and bird life.

But what is a Mississippi ship doing on the Norfolk Broads anyway?

Well, firstly, both waterways share the common trait of being relatively shallow, making the shallow-hulled riverboat an ideal vessel design for the Broads. Secondly, the leisurely turning of the paddle at the stern of the vessel minimises the wake generated. This is a key environmental advantage, as excessive wash generated by river craft can quickly erode the soft peat of the river banks.

So now you know!

Tickets: £12, available here