Out Yer Tree at Coombe Abbey

Just returned from a soggy day at Out Yer Tree Outdoor Art Exhibition, today (Saturday) was the artists walk and talk, 32 artists discussed their work with various visitors to the Coombe Abbey Country Park. There is an eclectric mix of contemporary work, all hidden either in the trees, the lake, woods or in the formal gardens. It is worth a trip to visit to the Country Park, once you have got over the shock of £3.00 to park the car.

These are a couple of photos of my work of distorted hybrid flowers unnatural in shape and size, whimsical yet futuristic. Placed alongside plants and flowers from our natural environment evoke a feeling of unease in the way we view them. The Exhibition runs until 17 September. Avril Elward

Blacked Out in London

I was invited to join a group of artists from different parts of the country to exhibit in a show in London. ARCH 897 an old railway arch at London Bridge. As I like exhibiting in unusual places I accepted and went to London for a visit. The gallery was to be a dark space, only the work was to be lit, the space I was allocated was a separate arch which meant the work had to be a fair size to make any impact. I was intrigued by the noise of trains rumbling above, and felt what ever I made should evoke movement, trains, and colour. So here it is ‘Time Wheels’.

Jackie and Maureen suffered a very soggy day in London to visit the show and took this video for me The materials I used for the revolving piece, which relied on the viewer pressing a button to start was a soil pipe cut, heated and bent so as the Perspex discs could be bolted to the pipe. A car head light was fitted underneath to light up the whole thing. The mechanism for the movement was very much a Heath Robinson affair and intentional. The second piece, I used a large plastic tube with disco lights fitted which shone onto a mixture of found objects , the shadows then projected onto the wall, which gave an interesting effect as the colours changed. The preview evening was a great success, with around 150 people attending. For more information about other artists in the show www.blackedoutexhibition.co.uk. Avril Elward

Jaguar Enthusiasts at Beaulieu

I was invited by the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club to exhibit my paintings at their Southern Day Rally at Beaulieu last weekend. As usual for their shows I was inside a large marquee alongside other trades people, model cars, books, photographs,clothing etc. Outside the marquee other vendors of food and drink,car spares, insurance and just about anything a car enthusiast wants to buy were placed around the show ring.

As 2010 is the 75th Anniversary of Jaguar Cars they had a car representing every model manufactured over the last three quarters of a century by the company with prizes given for condition and distance travelled to the show. Approximately 800 enthusiasts attended the show and although I didn't sell, a first at one of their events, I made useful contacts and apart from setting off at 7.00 am to drive 80 miles from Brighton where we were spending the weekend it was a fun day. Stuart Spencer