16 - 28 September 2008

10am - 5pm (Monday - Saturday)

Mark Abdey

Lester Halhed

An exhibition of new works by brother-in-law artists Mark Abdey and Lester Halhed. Both have previously shown work at Harbour House, and in this, their first show together, they explore the landscapes closest to their hearts: the moors and coastline of the South West peninsula, those solitary places which offer no resistance to nature's drama, all powerfully evoked in oils and mixed media.

It was whilst sketching together on Dartmoor that the idea for a joint exhibition was conceived, and Dartmoor, an island of truly wild land, continues to provide a primary source of inspiration with its colour and light coming to the fore in both artists' work in a passionate evocation of our rapidly diminishing wild open space.

Although firmly rooted in the place that conceived the painting, Mark Abdey's newer works represent a desire to strip away the detail and leave only the essence of the place.

"The space and air between me and the subject are as important as the subject itself."

Using rapid knife and brushwork to capture his initial impressions, Mark develops his painting with a vigorous process of layering and scraping away, and a series of glazes to build up a luminescence reminiscent of Turner and Monet. Contemporary influences include Kurt Jackson and Andrew Gifford.

For Lester Halhed, too, atmosphere takes precedence over detail.

"A painting, I feel, must go beyond its inspiration. When this is achieved, a painting is created, not just painted."

Lester's inspiration might be a glimpse of light spilling through storm clouds onto a coastal landscape, or the simple beauty of a desolate expanse of moorland. He lives on the edge of Exmoor, where the ever-changing moods, colour, light and cloud patterns have a strong impact on his work.

Formerly a senior graphic designer at Thames Television, Lester now paints full time, and cites Kurt Jackson and Ron Eardley among his influences.

www.markabdey.co.uk