insideKENT Magazine Issue 39 - June 2015 | Page 22

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

Low Tide by Louise Davies

CELEBRATING 17 YEARS OF

Gallery Seventeen

Gallery Seventeen has evolved into a comprehensive art centre; offering
Beckenham, Kent, an extensive range of artwork for sale; morning and evening
ceramics and art classes; and providing a complete in-house framing service.
Gallery Seventeen is celebrating its 17-year
anniversary with a gallery refurbishment and a
showcase of the best artwork from local and
international artists. With a vast selection of artwork
to cater for a wide range of tastes and pockets,
Gallery Seventeen has something for everyone.
Located along the High Street in Beckenham,
overlooking Beckenham Green, Gallery Seventeen
is idyllically located a two-minute walk from
Beckenham Junction Station.
The new exhibition includes limited-edition
prints by nationally acclaimed contemporary
painter, Mary Fedden (1915-2012); installation
work from local artist, Gregory Sodergren’s
Matchbox Butterfly Series; stunning contemporary
etchings by Louise Davies; and illustrations signed
and numbered by Sir Quentin Blake. This eclectic
mix makes Gallery Seventeen the perfect spot
for a good browse.
Currently exhibited on Gallery Seventeen’s
feature wall is a stunning trio by Dan Crisp. Dan
Crisp’s new body of work explores the breadth
and diversity of printmaking techniques. Each
print is a short run edition of only 35; each original
print is a giclée base, layered with silk-screen
metallic ink, spot gloss varnish and hand-applied
'gold' leaf. Dan Crisp’s entirely hand created and
unique style of digital painting is a contemporary
response to the vast and varied influences of the
British landscape.
From contemporary digital art to a
contemporary twist on etching as a printmaking
technique, Louise Davies is a professional painter
and printmaker who, like Dan Crisp, also produces

work responding to the British landscape. Davies’
boldness with colour produces stunning results;
rich colours contrasted with light, delicate, textured
details, produce beautiful landscapes with depth
and atmosphere.
Louise Davies’ contemporary use of
printmaking techniques pushes the boundaries
of the traditional etching practises, producing
unique and exciting results. Etching is a handprinting process; Louise prepares the metal print
plate and etches each design by hand. The ink
is hand applied and printed in layers using a
traditional print press. Traditionally, etching is a
very precise mark-making process; however,
Louise’s combination of free mark-making and
collagraphy allows her landscape designs to form
through the colour and ink.
Davies is a member of the Royal Society of
Painter-Printmakers, and lives and works in
Blackheath. She graduated with a Fine Art Degree
from Central Saint Martins and then completed
an MA in Printmaking at Camberwell College
of Art.
Born in 1932 in Sidcup, Kent, internationally
acclaimed illustrator Sir Quentin Blake is a local
boy at heart. Best known for his illustrations for
Roald Dahl's beloved stories, Sir Quentin Blake
is a firm family favourite with children and adults
alike. Gallery Seventeen stocks a wide range of
both his collector’s edition and his signed and
number prints.
New to Gallery Seventeen, Gregory
Södergren’s Matchbox Butterflies are flying off
the walls! The Matchbox Butterflies are an ongoing

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series of works that reuse beautiful vintage
matchbox labels. These delicate labels are lovingly
hand cut then arranged and balanced into
symmetrical patterns.
"I am interested in incorporating printed
matter into my work, and enjoy the challenges of
presentation and arrangement with hand
produced or pre-existing objects. I enjoy the
repetitive, almost meditative process of hand
cutting each one; these minute differences lend
something organic to the otherwise clinical design
of the pieces," explains Södergren.
Further works by local artists include
watercolours by Lindis Richards and Sue Bradley,
and etchings by local printmakers John Grigsby,
Jennifer Kirby and Lucy Cooper.
Gallery Seventeen also offers a full in-house
framing service. Not only does it frame artwork,
but also interesting items such as medals, sports
shirts, jewellery, memorabilia and much more.
Whether you’re redecorating the house, an art
enthusiast, or just popping along the road for
coffee, do visit Gallery Seventeen for a good
browse!

Gallery Seventeen
20 High Street
Beckenham
BR3 1AY
020 8658 1788
www.galleryseventeen.co.uk