I’m excited to showcase some of my recent work in a solo exhibition at the Hub Gallery you are welcome to attend the preview on Friday October 24th 6pm – 8pm or come for the morning Coffee Stop on Saturday October 25th. The exhibition then runs til November 26th and is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10am – 4pm. You can find the Hub Gallery in the Trinity Methodist Church & Community Hub, Wesleyan Row & Parson Lane, Clitheroe BB7 2JY
Solo Exhibition by Sue Marsden
Rivers, Reeds and reflections
Working on a project focuses the mind and I realised how often I was drawn to all sorts of reflections on different surfaces. Also how walking in Nature excites and inspires but also relaxes the spirit.
Observing how quickly the light changes, moving shapes and silhouettes. Listening to sounds and seeing the unexpected present itself – no two journeys ever the same.
Daring to paint and sketch outside where people may see you!
I’ve actually discovered that people are largely intrigued and usually very supportive in their comments when they come across you attempting to capture the light in the landscape. It can be very mindful and relaxing to lie back and absorb the sunshine on Pendle Hill whilst sketching and listening to the bird song or slightly disturbing to find that while you have been painting the sparkle of the babbling brook an interested audience of young cows have crept up and formed a semicircle behind you!
Entering local en plein air painting competitions has been fun and the challenge of completing a painting within the allotted time frame has been a worthwhile challenge. Painting Padiham for the last few years has been a treat and the weather very favourable.
I’ve painted the scene behind Padiham Town Hall looking across the river Calder twice.
The Lodge at the National Trust property Gawthorpe Hall was a scene with wonderful reflections of trees and water lilies. The lesson for that day was how quickly acrylic paint dries up in the sunshine!
The Padiham Memorial Park was a peaceful place which provided lovely long shadows and the bonus of a good cup of coffee.
Back in 2022 Draw Clitheroe attracted a diverse selection of artists and their work was displayed in the shop windows of local businesses in the town providing a creative treasure hunt. I found a vantage point up on the castle hill and used pen and ink to capture the scene in front of me. Looking towards Pendle Hill over the top of Moor Lane.
In 2025 Clitheroe Arts Festival had an En Plein Air painting challenge on the Sunday and although the weather was challenging as was the four hour time slot, I enjoyed revisiting a favourite spot down by the River Ribble and its reflections.
It’s fascinating to see and read about how different artists interpret the landscape.
For this project I’m taking the idea of ‘Waymark’ – marking our way, something solidly lying there waiting to be discovered.
Often these gems are hidden in plain sight. Abstract art in the landscape, texture and colours created by nature.
Open surfaces inviting exploration, changing with the elements, weathered by time
How many journeys, walks and trips have we been looking, but not seeing these stones, way markers and their abstract art. Here are some examples my camera and I discovered … landscape photography looking for fine art.
Lapis
These prints and cards are on show and for sale at the Kings Street Studios, Art Fair at the Storey, Main Gallery, Lancaster UK (until Dec 19th 2022)
I have doodled for as long as I can remember. In school books, on newspapers and any scrap of paper available. During lock down and the discovery of Zoom, I took it to a new level and created a dedicated A3 sketchbook especially for my ‘Zoodles’.
Many people think that doodling is something you do when you are daydreaming but I have discovered that studies have been done to suggest that doodling can be something that helps memory and concentration and that doodling occupies a space somewhere between awareness and daydreaming. (Professor Jackie Andrade, University of Plymouth) I certainly found that I could sit and concentrate much better if I was letting my black sharpie pen do its thing.
There is actually a TED talk where Sunni Brown explains how doodling can improve problem solving and is a form of meditation and mindfulness. Doodles also have their own National Doodle Day in September created by Epilepsy Action.
Looking at my doodles, I note that no two are ever the same. Maybe the doodles done whilst listening to conversation are not as free as when listening to music where I literally let my pen dance to the music on the radio. No initial sketch, just seeing where the line decided to wiggle, repeat and flow. Sometimes the lyrics influence the motif but most of the time the patterns are abstract but very connected, partying with the rhythm.
What a wonderful opportunity to sit outside and draw all day. I would normally chose to paint and draw in private, in silence and with no-one looking! So to register for this event I felt I was being brave. Draw Clitheroe was an interactive and inclusive event held in August for all ages with lots going on from guided sketchbook tours, artist led workshops and child friendly projects.
Prizes were awarded for the best drawings and all the submitted work was displayed in various shop windows throughout the town forming an art trail where people could vote for their favourite.
My entry was drawn from a bench below Clitheroe Castle museum with a view over the shops on Moor Lane across the valley to Pendle Hill in the distance. I enjoyed the pencil and ink work and especially how the watercolour wash dissolved into the ink.
The reality was that passers by were lovely and encouraging, the town was vibrant and more people were encouraged to visit the high street of this historic market town.
Looking forward to joining 14 other King St Associate members taking part in the Silverdale & Arnside Art Trail this year June 24- 26th. You can find us in the Methodist Church Hall, Chapel lane, Arnside LA5 0AG. Opening times Friday 24th June 1-8pm, Sat June 25th 10.30 – 5.30pm, Sunday 26th June 12.30 – 5.30 pm. We are venue 20 so there’s lots of other crafters and artists to visit on the trail. It should be a fun weekend.
Print from a painting of Arnside from Arnside Knott
The sun is shining and the Summer colours are brightening up the verges and hedgerows. The fields are flat, freshly cut and contrast with the tall stems, waving at the edges. The days are light, bright, and birds and bees are busy. Pendle sleeps, spread out on the horizon, basking in the warmth of the July weekend. I lean on the gate and drink in the day.
I’ve never thought of myself as a writer, let alone a poet but wandering about in nature is something that me and my camera do quite often, so the chance to meander through the Coronation Meadows of Bell Sykes Farm, Slaidburn with expert Meadow Makers project officer Carol Edmondson and a small group seeking literary inspiration was not to be missed.
The variety of wildflowers growing in the meadow is amazing and the names conjure up all sorts of stories and folk law. ‘Eye bright, speed well and yellow rattle to name a few ..” It was sad to hear that the UK has lost 70% of its wild flower meadows over recent years but Meadow Makers are working with several local farmers to reintroduce patches of wild flower meadows using seed from Bell Sykes Farm.
The walk was followed by two Zoom poetry workshops led by tutor Maureen Fenton and the results were shared with Sandra Silk the Festival of Bowland organiser who has posted the following link where all the poems can be viewed. https://www.forestofbowland.com/wildflower-way-words
Its been quite a while since I last sharpened my pencils but I have really been enjoying rediscovering the pleasure of a sooty 6B. Time can just disappear when I start to concentrate on capturing the essence of a scene and the rhythm of mindful, mark making is a perfect antidote to the perpetual, pandemic news of the media.
I’ve managed to attend a couple of Zoom drawing workshops and found them fun and encouraging. Just need to keep it going and establish my practise …
The Platform Gallery, Clitheroe hosted an exhibition of ‘Isolation Art’ in August 2020. It highlighted the work of local artists who had created Art -paintings, poetry, photographs based on 9 weekly themes. These themes inspired me to dust off my palette and paint a series of square paintings that were included in this exhibition. They were inspired by my lockdown walks and featured scenes, sky, animals and found objects.
Prints and cards available – contact me for details
Pendle Hill from ColdcotesPendle Hill framedPendle Hill from MearleyPygmy GoatHomeward bound
Sue Marsden Art Studio 