The Great Outdoors by Tonya Mitchell

Bowlees Visitor Centre Gallery

1 September – 12 October 2022

An exhibition of traditional oil painted landscapes with a contemporary twist will be on show at the Bowlees Visitor Centre Gallery during September.

Artist Tonya Mitchell’s solo exhibition ‘The Great Outdoors’ is a collection of landscapes painted in traditional oil paint on canvas. Tonya’s work is a mix of realism and romanticism, and while there is a traditional feel to her landscapes there is also a distinct contemporary influence. Alongside the paintings there will be information about their geological and historical context, reflecting Tonya’s research into the traditions, folk songs, history, and geography connected to each of the places she paints.

Describing her art practice, Tonya said: “I work in oil because I love all it offers, but, as I started painting as a way of dealing with emotional pain, the slow process of an oil painting proved very therapeutic. The hours of work and days of drying time may not be visible to the beholder, but it gives me as an artist time to live with the painting that can typically be four to six months in the making. What many people do not realise is that oil paint is very environmentally friendly, using only natural oils such as linseed and turpentine there is no plutonium in either the paint or the mixers just natural products.”

Bowlees Visitor Centre is run by the North Pennines AONB Partnership and is the perfect place to start exploring the walks, waterfalls and wildlife in the local area, or to inspire a trip further afield in the AONB. The Centre offers visitor information, refreshments at the Falls Café, and a gallery space, plus places to explore, picnic and play in the grounds.