WELCOME to Artlinks, Reconnect’s regular look at the work of local artists, edited by former Reconnect editor MARTIN FOSTER, who is now studying fine art at Plymouth University. If you’re an artist working in the Reconnect area, or you’d like to spread the word about a local gallery or exhibition space, we’d love to hear from you.
Email Martin at martinfoster4242@gmail.com.
THERE is a real sense of place in Exmouth-based artist Ray Balkwill’s work.
And even a brief chat with Ray soon reveals how and why: his feet are firmly planted in Devon soil and the water of the Exe runs through his veins.
He was born in Exeter and graduated from Exeter College of Art in the late 60s. He returned to Exeter in the late 70s to work in advertising but gave up his job as an art director in 1990 to follow his true love and paint professionally.
“Since then I have lived and worked in Exmouth for over 40 years, mainly capturing the many moods of the river,” says Ray.
You can share his passion for the river and the life it supports at an exhibition which opens in the café at RAMM in Exeter on December 7. The River’s Voice celebrates 40 years of painting the Exe, with work created in his Exmouth studio and en plein air on the banks of the estuary.
“The exhibition will also feature some of my mixed media assemblages from material washed up on its foreshore,” says Ray.
And that sense of place can be traced back still further.
Says Ray: “My love of the place runs as deep as the red earth itself. In fact, when we researched our family tree some years back we found that my ancestors were all farmers who farmed the land around Sheepwash, one small area in mid Devon, for well over 400 years. Not an artist among them, but it’s probably why my passion for the place is so deep-rooted.”
Ray has held numerous successful solo exhibitions, as well as showing in group and open exhibitions. These include the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, Royal West of England Academy and South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts. He also runs painting courses in Essex, Cornwall and from his studio in Devon. He is a regular contributor to art magazines and is also author of seven books: Travelling Light (Halsgrove), Watercolour Plus (David & Charles), Ray Balkwill’s Exe Estuary’ (Halsgrove), Learn to Paint Coastal Landscapes (Collins), Painting Landscapes with Atmosphere (David & Charles), A Picture of Devon (Halsgrove), and A Picture of Cornwall (Halsgrove). His work also features in a number of other books and magazines including International Artist, Australian Artist’ and ‘Pastel Artist International’.
Visit his exhibition at RAMM, from December 7 to June 26 next year, or tour his virtual galleries at raybalkwill.co.uk.