Exhibition: The Great Outdoors

The Great Outdoors by Tonya Mitchell
1 – 30 September 2022 – (extended to 12th October 2022)
Bowlees Visitor Centre Gallery

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.

Tonya said: “I hope visitors will feel the romance of the area. I hope they will be captivated by its history as well as its beauty, by its wild force as well as its peace. And hopefully they will feel a connection to the land the paintings represent. “In my work I aim for a mix of stripped back simplicity along with detail, hopefully capturing the spirit of a place as well as giving an accurate depiction. From the beginning of my artistic journey, I wanted to show on canvas the spirit and soul of our countryside.

Simon Wilson, Programme Manager at the North Pennines AONB Partnership said: “This exhibition shows a variety of inspiring places in the area, but we’re particularly happy that Tonya has been able to bring the canvas of Summerhill Force to Bowlees. Hopefully visitors will be inspired to take the short walk from the visitor centre to see it live – although not quite as full of water at this time of year.”

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.