Exhibition: Marianne Edwards - Pastels & Jan Lye - Ceramics

The Devon based artist Marianne Edwards has captured the stunning scenery of South West landscapes and the coastline for more than half a century and is holding an exhibition of her latest paintings this July at The Plough Arts Centre alongside the work of ceramicist, Jan Lye.

Marianne focuses on countryside scenery in pastels, including tree-lined valleys, narrow lanes and rolling hills. 'I have always loved walking in the North Devon countryside and along the coastpath and this has inspired my work. Shifting patterns of light through trees and over water form patterns which define space, and I aim to weave these patterns into memorable images. Shadows and reflections are common themes for which I find pastel a sympathetic medium.'

The exhibition will be Marianne's 13^th art exhibition. She took up painting more than 50 years ago when she took adult classes at North Devon College, while her three children were all under the age of five. She went on to gain an Honours degree in Fine Art at Exeter College of Art, graduating in 1977. Since then, she has won prizes in TV sponsored exhibitions, and has shown widely in many solo and mixed exhibitions in London and the South West. Originally a still-life painter in oils, Marianne now uses pastels focusing on countryside scenery. 

Jan Lye will be exhibiting new and favourite pots inspired by the rugged North Devon coastline. Jan has lived here for the past 28 years but is originally from Derbyshire. With her B.A. Fine Arts Degree and Art Teachers Diploma plus further training in ceramics at Chelsea Pottery and Elmswood in London, she taught in schools and adult education around London, Kent and finally Devon. Jan set up potteries, worked on community group projects, murals and locally childrens' pottery workshops at R.H.S Rosemoor Gardens and The Beaford Arts Centre. She retired from teaching in 2003 to set up her own workshop.

The pots are made out of stoneware clay with a combination of techniques but mainly slabbing with added press and sprigg mouldings which are then fired in an electric kiln. Jan brings together images observed from the beach and the sea, such as shells, pebbles that are trapped or oddly balanced, the impression of waves left by the tide or 'found things' such as driftwood. These are then recreated into sculptural and functional sea-themed forms.

‘I enjoy drawing and designing a pot and then matching it to the process of making. My imagined image often changes and evolves into something more dynamic through the transition from 2D to 3D'.

Jan makes contemporary hangings, jugs, platters, vases and individual pieces. They are decorated with textures and clay stamps which are emphasized with metal oxides. Some are then sprayed in gradation with stains and coloured glazes to evoke the feeling of reflected light on wet sand.