Westray’s wonders gives rise to new exhibition

The work of four Westray artists goes on show today, Saturday, at the Orkney Museum.

Westray 4 is a group exhibition by four artists from Westray, Peter Brown, Edwin Rendall and sisters Lizza and Jenna Hume. The work on display is a mixture of paintings, photographs and mixed media.

Peter Brown explained: “The idea of staging the Westray 4 exhibition grew out of a recognition that living in Westray appears to encourage and nurture creativity in a number of different and innovative ways.

“In the exhibition, which includes paintings, photographs and collage, the four participating artists present a body of work which offers an insight into their individual interpretations and responses to the islands environmental and cultural themes.”

“The fragile and intricate new works by Lizza Hume have been inspired by the unexpected moments, gestures, words and events which appear, at first, as seemingly minor occurrences, but which ripple outwards and ultimately alter the course of life. Each piece has been created using a combination of mixed media layers of painting, drawing, stich and lace.

“Jenna Hume’s new work, expressed through the medium of acrylics and mixed media, is multi layered and textural. There subtle colours convey a sense of tranquillity and a glimpse the ever-changing Westray landscape.

“Edwin Rendall’s new paintings in the exhibition are a result of his experiments into the potential of layering acrylic paint. His inspiration is the evocative and often turbulent elements of sea and sky experienced in his native island.”

Peter himself is showing a selection of new angular abstract oil paintings and also a group of photographs, called Discarded – he says they were achieved “by layering images of objects found washed up on the Westray shore.”

There will be a public opening at 10.30 am – noon today, when you can get a chance to meet the four artists and have an informal chat about their work.

The exhibition runs until April 25.