Louis Turpin and Friends

Wednesday November 2, 2022

Artists: Louis Turpin, Nick Archer, Emma Turpin, Keith Purser and Katherine Reekie

Private View: Sunday 30th October 2022 11.00am – 4.00pm

The Exhibition continues until: Saturday 19th November 2022

At the start of 2022, Sharon and I discussed my forthcoming exhibition and because of my ongoing health issues, I felt I would only to be able to produce half of the show. But what to do with the remaining 50% of the exhibition? I live and work in Rye which, with its environs has for many years been a magnet for artists and indeed the birthplace of one of UK’s finest painters Ed Burra. Paul Nash lived locally, Burne-Jones was a frequent visitor and designed one of the stained glass windows for St Mary’s Church. Millais lived and worked in Winchelsea. John Piper was often in Rye and moved out across the marsh to paint his fine water-colours of the Marsh Churches. Pissarro was a regular summer visitor moving between Rye and Hastings.

Louis Turpin – Topiary at Nymans – Oil on Canvas – 18 x 18 Inches

We have in Rye a long established art society, the Rye Society of Artists, home to some fine artists. Until his death this year, Fred Cuming RA was a member, Mick Rooney RA was a member whilst he lived in Hastings. It occurred to me that it would be interesting for Stow to meet some of the painters now working in and around Rye.

Keith Purser and I first exhibited in Rye in the 1970s and I have always admired his work which, while being abstracted, reflects with such clarity the landscape he lives in.

Keith Purser – Lost Moon – Oil and Collage on Board – 7.5 x 20 Inches

Emma Turpin, my sister, now lives in London but grew up in Wittersham near Rye and elements of her works still reflect the valleys and landscapes that surround us.

Emma Turpin – Pink Moon – Oil on Board – 19 x 19 Inches

Nick Archer produces darkly magical landscapes glowing with colour and often incorporating figures held in some tension within them.

Nick Archer – The Edge – Oil and Spray Paint on Copper – 23.5 x 31.5 Inches

Katherine Reekie’s beautifully painted works play with a surrealist take on the world surrounding us. Much of her work features her home town of Hastings sitting 10 miles west of Rye.

Katherine Reekie – Fireweed in the Long Grass – Oil on Canvas – 20 x 16 Inches

I started 2022 working with the landscapes around my studio and making visits to Great Dixter which has remained my favourite garden. Fergus Garrett’s imagination has allowed, in my opinion, this garden to become the most exciting garden at present in the U.K. and it’s just down the road from me. As the year progressed I travelled further afield visiting gardens that have been on my go to list, Nymans, Hinton Ampner, Mottisfont and a few others. As the year progressed and the weather became hotter and the days drier some of these gardens began to suffer. At the same time the landscapes took on a new mantle, golden fields gave dramatic contrast to the hedgerows and copses. Everything everywhere changes with each new viewing.

Louis Turpin