Rachel Williamson
Following on from the exhibition of Marek Tobolewski’s work, we look forward to welcoming Rachel Williamson and her work: ‘Holding Hand and Leaf’ from 27 May until 9th July 2022.
Rachel’s work explores the female figure set within gardens, woodlands and wild spaces. Her imagery, taken from observation, imagination and myriad visual sources, is informed by her love of mythology, poetry, spiritual writings and art history.
This exhibition of new work presented at Next Door Hextable was partly inspired by Piero del Pallaiuolo’s painting of 1470, ‘Apollo and Daphne’, along with a body of Rachel’s research, undertaken at The Gladstone Library near Chester into legends surrounding the life of Mary Magdalene, and a volume of Wendell Berry’s poetry, ‘The Peace of Wild Things’ (1964). Rachel’s recent move from urban central London to the rural Cotswolds has begun to inform some of the imagery in her work.
With qualifications in English Literature, Fine Art, Art Education and Art History, she is equally excited by investigating her ideas and exploring the potential of mark-making materials. She feels compelled to question the power dynamics at play in the roles assigned to women in myths and legends, and she delights in reimagining how these characters could be represented.
In 2021 Rachel was happy to sell a body of her work online for ‘Maggie’s Cancer Charity’, in 2020, she was involved in ‘Charleston Inspires Artists’, an auction which raised valuable funds to help keep Charleston Farmhouse open to the public, in 2018 she exhibited her textile work at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London and in 2014 she presented a large scale installation in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Rachel looks forward to beginning her Art History PhD at the Open University in Autumn 2022.
‘Set within dreamlike spaces that evoke gardens, woodlands and other wild arenas, Rachel Williamson manages to evoke a sense of mythic poeticism with her paintings of female figures. Imbued with a strong knowledge of art history, these works give one a sense of personal psychic space and a feeling of the collective female experience. They evoke layered reactions from the viewer. The vibrant swathes of colour conjure a hypnotising world of dreams, and the unreal, seductive layers of paint that mirror the description of fruits in Christina Rossetti's poem 'Goblin market' bring about ideas of temptation. The paintings take you into their dense and subtle, well-drawn worlds.’
Melissa Kime 2022. BA (Hons) Fine Art Falmouth, MA Painting RCA, Royal Drawing School Alumnus and Faculty Member.
Rachel’s full inventory of works is detailed here. Any purchase enquiries should be directed to Sue Haward: by email at office@stph.org.uk
The exhibition is in the Cafe and Upper Room and is viewable during opening hours (Wednesday - Saturday, 9 am - 4.30 pm). Please note that the Upper Room is accessible 1 - 4.30 pm on Saturdays. To arrange a viewing outside of these hours, please contact Sue Haward on 07791840126 or office@stph.org.uk
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