Free Art In The North West

We had an interesting talk from Richard Cross today, as he informed us where we could visit  Free to enter Art Galleries.

He advised on Manchester, Whitworth, TATE Liverpool, Walker Liverpool, Townley Hall at Burnley, Blackburn Art Gallery and the Harris Art Gallery at Preston.

The Walker Gallery at Liverpool has, apparently got the largest collection outside of London, and also hosts the JOHN MOORES Art Prize, which has been awarded in past years to Jack Smith, John Bratbury and Jackson Pollock.



The House By The Canal by Algernon Cecil Newton 1945



Richard showed us a few exhibits from the different Galleries, and I was particularly keen on this painting at the Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston.  It is called The House By The Canal by Algernon Cecil Newton, it is Oil on Canvas painted in 1945.

I feel drawn to this picture as it doesn't feel 'right' somehow.  The house looks like a shining white light in an otherwise dull and industrial view, not helped by the dark, overcast skies. Richard explained that the artist often wandered round areas, painting from memory the places he'd seen.  I was keen to view more of his work and went on the BBC Art Site, where I found several of his paintings.



Winter Moonrise Yorkshire  1945 Oil On Canvas





The Surrey Canal, Camberwell  1935 Oil On Canvas

I chose the above two paintings, simply because I felt drawn to them.  The Surrey Canal, Camberwell

does remind me of The House By The Canal, both building just look as though they're in the wrong location somehow.  Winter Moonrise Yorkshire I picked because I love how the full moon lights the scene, reflecting its light on the snow. 

I have visited a few of the Art Galleries previously, and shall be visiting Liverpool next week.