WILTSHIRE ARTIST CELEBRATES HER FIRST SOLO EXHIBITION AT LAUNCH OF THE VIEW ART GALLERY

Wiltshire artist Caroline Day, who is well known for her floral artwork, is opening her first solo exhibition at the new View Gallery in Royal Wootton Bassett this weekend (Saturday March 2).

The exhibition, Everyone Blooms, will run for a month and will be open to the public from 10am to 4pm until Saturday March 30 (excluding Sundays and Mondays). The View Gallery is on the first floor of a recently renovated £3m building and shares the location with RWB Auctions and the soon to open Quercus Bistro, both of which can be found on the ground floor.

A series of complementary events will run throughout the month, including floristry classes, a talk by an art historian on representations of florals in art history, and also a ‘meet the artist’ day with Caroline on Saturday March 16 where she will be drawing and answering questions about her art.

“I’m thrilled and honoured to be holding my first solo exhibition here in my home county,” Caroline, who lives in Old Town, Swindon, said. 

“My compositions are rooted in a reverence for places and nature, during the ever-changing seasons. Florals, in particular, allow me to engage with colour, light and structure in a wonderful way.”

Caroline, who was brought up in Swindon, studied fine art and specialised in ceramics before finding her niche in impactful floral art and ‘place’ art. She also taught art for 15 years before deciding to commit her professional life to creating art full-time back in her home town.

She is heavily involved in the cultural life of Swindon and North Wiltshire and is well known for her particular love of David Austin Roses which have the look and depth of peonies but are actually famous roses which fascinate her – along with other flowers including cherry blossom and forsythia.

Her artwork creates an almost 3D effect known as ‘chiaroscuro’ which means the ‘illusion of a 3D space’ and she has received numerous commissions. In 2016 she won a commission from English Heritage to create an exclusive range of artwork for them – Rose In Bloom – based on her love of David Austin Roses. Her work has been used on a range or merchandise for English Heritage which is now available as far afield as Japan. Her artwork for this Wiltshire exhibition is a new collection.

“These beautiful roses have always intrigued me,” Caroline said. “I approach the anatomy of an object, or a flower, in much the same way as I would a human form, emphasising its planes and contours. This exhibition will feature pieces which include David Austin roses and also cherry blossom – I’ve been working long hours to finish the pieces, and it’s very exciting for me.”

Jennifer Allison is the Gallery Manager at the View Gallery:

“We’re so proud to be able to share this new collection by Caroline, who is the first solo artist to feature at the View Gallery. While the works are beautiful to see, they also encourage the viewer to look deeper, to notice the small details, and to reflect on our own perceptions of beauty and the inevitable passing of time. We cannot wait to share her art with as many visitors as possible.”

The purpose of the View Gallery is to share works by professional artists from across the UK, both emerging and established, and to showcase a range of mediums, styles and prices. The 2024 calendar has already been planned with themes ranging from ‘Earth’ through to ‘Colours’, and even a special Halloween inspired exhibition.

While all the works displayed in the Gallery are available to purchase, the team are keen to encourage people to come in and view the art, even if they aren’t looking to buy. 

“The space is a beautiful place to contemplate art works and to find out more about contemporary art,” Jennifer said.

For more information about the View Gallery, Caroline’s exhibition, and other events in 2024, visit https://theviewgallery.co.uk