Veronica Wells: Solo exhibition by artist with Royal fashion connection
Sarah Wiseman Gallery is celebrating 25 years!
May 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of Sarah Wiseman founding her gallery.
Anniversary exhibition: Veronica Wells | 'Faces Amongst Spaces'
Thursday 4th – 27th May 2023
~Veronica was recently commissioned by Sarah Wiseman Gallery on behalf of Jenny Packham to make a painting of a gold dress worn by HRH The Princess of Wales at Bond film premiere in London, 2021 ~
Sarah Wiseman Gallery is thrilled to announce the solo exhibition 'Faces Amongst Spaces' by acclaimed contemporary figurative painter Veronica Wells.
‘We felt that it was the perfect time for a solo show by Veronica. We’ve worked with her for several years, and we’ve seen her really get into her stride as a painter.’
‘For our twenty-fifth anniversary, we felt that Veronica’s work perfectly encapsulates that sense of celebration, strength and individuality.’
Veronica Wells has recently completed a commission arranged by Sarah Wiseman Gallery on behalf of the British Fashion designer Jenny Packham. ‘Jenny has collected paintings by Veronica for years from us, since visiting our stand at the Affordable Art Fair back in 2012,’ says gallery director Sarah Wiseman.
The commission was to celebrate Jenny’s collaboration with EON Productions, on the sixtieth anniversary of the James Bond films. Jenny produced a capsule collection of gowns, one of which was worn by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge (as she was titled then) at the world premiere of ‘James Bond: No Time to Die’ at Royal Albert Hall in London 2021.
Sarah Wiseman says; ‘Veronica has successfully answered her brief, which was that she was not to make a portrait likeness of the Duchess, but instead to respond to a celebrated fashion moment represented by her glittering gold gown.’
Veronica Wells is an emerging talent, specialising in fashion-inspired portraiture. She draws her influences from popular culture, examining images that portray an idealised way of life. Fashion, material possessions, image, style, and relationships are all explored enticing the viewer into her world. Mixing rough and broad brushstrokes with finer, more intricate details, Veronica Wells’ paintings questions ideas of perfection.
Veronica says: 'The effect of the paint lends an unrefined touch to the glamour portrayed and gives a feel of the momentary, like a Polaroid hung up to view a passing snapshot in time, ' she explains.
February Group Exhibition: ‘Colour Balance’ 25th February – 25th March 2023
Our current show ‘Colour Balance’ features four contemporary printmakers. Hetty Haxworth, Emma Studd, Kate Watkins, and Claire Willberg each create abstracted works using a variety of printmaking techniques and with a range of influences.
‘Printmaking is such a fascinating media,’ says Sarah Wiseman. ‘This new group of artists each works in a really compelling way, using print in an experimental way to explore their ideas.’
‘Collecting printmaking is also a much more affordable way to buy original, contemporary art,’ says Sarah.
London-based artist Claire Willberg creates colourful abstract works inspired by objects she finds discarded in the streets, giving them a new existence in her prints. These objects include fragments of toys, bits of machinery or other objects that catch her eye. Her preferred medium is a combination of traditional intaglio and relief printmaking techniques, informed by her background in sculpture.
Kate Watkins is also experimental in her approach, using both silkscreen and monoprint, exploring abstract mark making in grids or circles. Her most recent work comprises unique one-off prints which explore geometric, structural and abstract themes in a variety of print processes including monoprint, screen-print, etching and collagraph.
Emma Studd creates one-off silkscreen prints that explore shape, pattern and colour. Currently she’s exploring hexagons, by overlapping and layering single shapes she observes how it morphs into new geometric shapes and dimensions.
Hetty Haxworth explores the movement of light over the landscape that surrounds her. Living and working in rural Aberdeenshire, the weather has a huge effect on the terrain, and this constant change informs much of her printmaking. Dots, squiggles and fragmented shapes drift and overlap as she observes the contrast between the softness of the landscape and farm buildings and fences.
‘Colour Balance’ goes on display on 25th February.