Northumberland exhibition draws on River Aln
Tony Henderson talks to an artist who has followed a river from source to sea.
When artist John Shiels and wife Gayle decided on their retirement location they opted for a corner of Northumberland where they had spent holidays across 10 years.
The couple, who had enjoyed their breaks in Alnmouth, moved from their home in Ilkeston in Derbyshire to settle in Alnwick.
Now John has marked the move by spending eight months painting and drawing the River Aln from its source near Alnham in the foothills of the Cheviots to the Alnmouth estuary where it meets the sea.
Around 20 of his river aintings, drawings and prints will feature in his selling exhibition Source to Sea – The Aln at Alnwick Playhouse from February 3 to March 15.
“I wanted to do something with a theme and taking on this project has meant that I have learnt so much about the river and the people who live on its banks,” said John, who worked for 30 years as an art teacher.
His artistic journey along the 25-mile length of the Aln takes in views of the river from its source amid conifers near Alnham to Eslington, Whittingham, and in and around Alnwick at Hulne Park, Lion bridge, Canongate bridge, St Peter’s Mill, Bilton, Lesbury and the Alnmouth estuary.
“I wanted to show what the river looks like and feels like as it gradually gets larger and changes from slow moving meandering to quite fast flowing and then that big, wide estuary,” said John.
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“The river links and holds everything together as it flows through the landscape. It is like a microcosm of Northumberland.
“When I paint a scene, I do so because it moves me in some way and I hope this comes across in my work.
“We now call Alnwick home and we could never leave it. We love it.”
Fine art graduate John trained at Norwich School of Art before becoming a teacher of art and design in Warrington, Northampton and Derbyshire.
The gallery at Alnwick Playhouse is open six days a week and is free to the public.