Rebecca Swainston

'Forbidden Places'  

A dreamlike universe of secrets,  misbehaviour and ambiguous narrative

The Culmination of Two Years Work of Paintings and Drawings  

12^th June – 31^st July 2010

Modern Artists Gallery is delighted to welcome back Rebecca Swainston to the gallery with an exhibition of over thirty new works this summer. This will be the artists' fifth show at the prestigious Berkshire gallery and will include an eclectic range of paintings, watercolours and drawings.  

The universal appeal and recurrent success of Rebecca Swainston's work is in her ability to express how objects, clothes and spaces hold memories and reverberations of people and events. Much of this is expressed through the animals in her paintings which symbolise the personality traits of the people and strike up connections and meanings of their own. With the echoes of things not quite seen or imagined she is also able to explore mental boundaries and the places where we retreat inside ourselves. The lively, and often comical images hint at relationships, secrets and misbehaviour.   Swainston artfully blurs the line between reality and imagination which leads to a dreamlike universe within which the viewer can escape. The themes spring from domestic and personal life but the visual vocabulary draws on a wider cultural and universal experience. The result is a series of compelling images with layers of narrative and an ambiguity which will encourage visitors to return to her work time and time again.  

The artist's commitment and skill is evident in every stage of her work: the careful preparation of smooth gesso surfaces, her mastery of drawing and exuberant use of colour. The images are intricate and beautiful with a seductive jewel-like quality. She works extensively in sketchbooks which have become fascinating visual working documents, some of which will be available to view at Modern Artists Gallery.  

STOP PRESS  Reading Berkshire UK February 3rd 2011: Rebecca Swainston selected for prestigious exhibition Uncertain Moments - Uncomfortable Truths   showing at the Reading Museum Berkshire UK
Artist Rebecca Swainston is selected to show work at Reading Museum for the New Contemporary Exhibition  Uncertain Moments - Uncomfortable Truths.   Her painting   'Woman Blue Child and Spirit Dog' will be shown alongside work by  other UK artists, such as Carel Weight, Mary Fedden, June Redfern, Philip Sutton and Cecil Collins.
Swainston, who regularly exhibits at the Modern Artists Gallery Whitchurch on Thames, produces powerful, figurative work,  which is challenging and thought provoking.  Images that invite visitors to unravel a complex narrative where animals and objects often portray the concealed aspects of the human figures.
Commenting on her selection, Rebecca said ‘It is a great honour and very exciting to have my work chosen for a prestigious exhibition at Reading Museum.’
Elaine Blake, curator of the exhibition said ‘I have admired Rebecca’s work for many years and it is a pleasure to include a piece by her in the exhibition.’

Education

1987 – 8            MA Fine Art Chelsea School of Art

1984 – 7            BA First Class Hons. Fine Art Printmaking, Winchester School of Art

1983 – 4            Foundation in A&D, Brighton Polytechnic