Celebrating Colour

About

This is more than just an art event, this exhibition is a touching tribute and a promise I've kept to my mum.

As a graduate of Bournemouth Arts Institute, I embarked on a career in teaching and family life, momentarily side-lining my artistic pursuits. However, my mother, Rosie, remained a constant source of inspiration throughout my journey.

My mother and I shared a profound passion for art, often exploring exhibitions together, united by creativity. In recent years, Rosie started her own artistic journey, creating a garden gallery and eagerly preparing for an art foundation course at Chichester. Her enthusiasm rekindled my love for painting.

We had a dream of exhibiting together and this became a reality when Rosie, when she showcased her work at the Skyway Gallery, just months before her illness was discovered. Unbeknownst to all, this marked her final exhibition. Rosie's life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in December 2019, passing away within a month.

Rosie was more than my mother; she was my also my closest friend and my biggest support. Before mum passed away, she made me promise to use her gallery and continue painting, and to carry forward her artistic legacy.

It took a long period of healing before I could finally pick up my paintbrush again and go back into my mother's art sanctuary. Everything in there reminds me of her. It was just left as if she would be back at any moment. Going through her work has been so hard. There was still all her mixed paints, unfinished work and her familiar handwriting.

This journey has been a path to rediscovering my love of art, a process that has been intertwined with heartache.

In "Celebrating Colour," I will display paintings my mother never had the chance to exhibit, alongside my own creations. Both of us drew inspiration from our surroundings-landscapes, flowers, and the wonders of nature. While our styles may differ, our shared devotion to colour, line, and texture is undeniable.

"Celebrating Colour" isn't just an art exhibition; it's a heartfelt dedication to Rosie, a promise fulfilled. It's a celebration of life, love, and the enduring power of art to connect us to the past, inspire us in the present, and illuminate the path to a colourful future.

This November, please join me in honouring Rosie's memory and experiencing art that captures the essence of love, life, and nature.

Artist: Sophie Garwood

Category: Arts | Visual Arts | Galleries / Art

Date and Time: Saturday November 11, 2023 at 10:00 am to Saturday December 2, 2023 at 4:00 pm

Venue details: The Shoreham Centre, 2 Pond Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, England, BN43 5WU, United Kingdom