As the art industry reels from the havoc wreaked by Covid-19, Philip Sutton RA, a 92-year-old artist shielding in a residential home, takes matters into his own hands and opens his own gallery.
Located near the Jurassic coast, and amongst undulating fields where cows and sheep graze, Bridport in Dorset is famed for its literary festival and monthly farmers’ market. In a corner of the rural town at the top of some iron steps in an old Victorian warehouse is the British painter, Philip Sutton’s new gallery.
Sutton believes that art has the power to help people. With Mr Sutton’s exhibition program for 2021 being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, he has decided to set up his own gallery in the St Michael’s Arts & Vintage Quarter in Bridport.
The first exhibition, showcasing his work from the past 20 years, will be managed by his daughter Rebekah and granddaughter Rifka.
Rebekah said: “It is a pleasure to bring together all of the works Philip has made since 2000 for the first time.
“Philip’s paintings show his brilliant observation of landscape and life as well as his love of color and enjoyment of nature. It is important to him that his works are seen and enjoyed and we all hope that the new gallery will add to the creative dynamic of St. Michael’s Art and Craft Quarter in Bridport.”
Mr Sutton struggled in the lockdown, being unable to see friends and family for extended periods, but this neither slowed down his output nor dampened his spirits. During the time he hosted impromptu exhibitions showing his latest works on his lawn.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by MAGZOID staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)