One of Britain’s leading contemporary artists dropped into a Lake District school to run a special class on painting the legendary landscape.
Acclaimed artist Norman Long, a leading member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts (MAFA) – which dates back to 1859 and ranks LS Lowry among its illustrious former members – was teaching the skills of plein-air painting to students at Windermere School, as part of its Art Week.
Arranged by Matthew Titherington, the new owner of Windermere Fine Art Gallery, Norman was also joined in Windermere by four other members of MAFA and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters; Steven Smith, Ian Layton, Michael Ashcroft and Christopher Slater, who were painting around the area.
All five are part of the distinguished Northern Boys outdoor painting group, whose work frequently exhibits at top London galleries.
En plein air painting is perhaps mostly associated with the Impressionists, outdoors in natural light and weather, it owes much to two small inventions that artists now take for granted, Matthew said.
“During the mid-19th century, the introduction of the box easel and paints in tubes allowed artists for the first time to take their materials with them wherever they went. With this freeing ability to roam came the compulsion for artists to capture not just a point in space, but also a point in time.
“To depict not a fixed, unchanging landscape, but to inject the canvas with a sense of movement, spirit and life,” he added.
Claire Lester, head of art at Windermere School, said, “We were delighted to have Norman visiting the school. The students thoroughly enjoyed the session, particularly working closely with the artist, and learned a great deal about oil painting.”
Norman said: “It was great, after all the restrictions of recent months, to be able to run a class in person and have all the students outdoors in the school grounds, painting en plein air.
“I really enjoyed the session, the students are so talented. It was great to be painting out in the inspiring landscape of the Lake District, which is so synonymous with fine art. I’m looking forward to seeing the final works and we’re hoping to put some on display in the gallery.”
Matthew used his links to northern artists he knows to invite the Northern Boys group to exhibit their latest work and visit Windermere School.
“By inviting Haidee-Jo Summer and the Northern Boys to create our opening show, we hope that people living locally and visiting Windermere will not only enjoy seeing their work on display in the gallery, but may also see them painting around the Lake District as they are united in their love for painting outdoors en plein air.
“We will be putting on regular exhibitions, bringing a variety of artists to the Lake District and showcasing the very best of British contemporary art,” he said.
