All Things Considered

Fenwomen
Posted by Simon Lewin

Caught By The River have just published Ken Worpole's review of  'Fenwomen - A Portrait Of Women In An English Village' by Mary Chamberlain with photographs by Justin Partyka, published by Full Circle Editions.

"This handsome new edition from East Anglian publisher, Full Circle Editions, contains a vibrant and colourful photo-essay of contemporary life in the village by acclaimed photographer Justin Partyka. This gives the new edition a particular resonance to today’s Fenland inhabitants, who will recognise modern village life in these images, though they stand in some contrast to the life described in the original interviews. The photographs – some peopled, some wholly concerned with the arable landscape, the drains and ditches and the large skies – are finely composed and atmospheric, yet they also raise unresolved questions about how to represent the human presence in the landscape without seeming too super-realist, too Martin Parr."

Read the review in full or view more of Justin Partyka's work.

Posted by Simon Lewin on March 1st, 2011

Evening Star
Posted by Simon Lewin

Our friends at Old Town recently published issue no. 4 of their Evening Star newspaper. The hard copies of this and previous issues are no longer available but you can view all four issues online.

Posted by Simon Lewin on March 1st, 2011

Angie Lewin – Plants and Places
Posted by Simon Lewin

Published by Merrell, Plants and Places presents over 70 of Angie's beautifully crafted linocuts and wood engravings. The works are grouped according to habitat – such as coast, woodland and hedgerow, and garden – together with drawings, paintings and collages from her sketchbooks of grasses, seed pods, seaweed, shells and other objects collected on her walks.

In an engaging introduction, Leslie Geddes-Brown meets Angie in her studio, discusses her artistic inspiration and her fascination with plants, and describes how she creates her prints. Order online from Amazon

Posted by Simon Lewin on January 18th, 2011

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Posted by Simon Lewin

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde with 8 illustrations by Angela Barrett is published by Hand and Eye Editions. Few and Far will host the launch of this book on November 17th 2010, 10am-7pm, when Angela will be available for signings.

Few & Far, 242 Brompton Road, London SW3 2BB. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sundays 12pm to 5pm. www.fewandfar.net

Posted by Simon Lewin on November 15th, 2010

Ed Kluz & Little Toller Books
Posted by Simon Lewin

Here's a wonderful collage by Ed Kluz, commissioned by Little Toller Books for the cover of The Journal of a Disappointed Man.

They've been using some great images for the covers of their classics of nature writing and rural life. View the series online

Ed Kluz will be exhibiting a series of new collages at our St. Jude's In The City exhibition opening at the Bankside Gallery (next to Tate Modern) next week.

Posted by Simon Lewin on November 2nd, 2010

Few and Far
Posted by Simon Lewin

Last week Few and Far in London hosted the launch of A Pack of Dogs - an anthology of writing about dogs illustrated by Christopher Brown.

Few and Far is a seasonal and personal collection, selected by Priscilla Carluccio, of clothes from India, Italy, Morocco, vintage and contemporary furniture, jewellery, toys and craft.

Some of the images that feature in the book will be available as limited edition linocut prints at our St. Jude's In The City exhibition in London (at The Bankside Gallery) from Wednesday 10th November 2010. And Chris will be signing copies of the book with us on Sunday 14th November between 12-4pm.

Posted by Simon Lewin on October 20th, 2010

David Gentleman
Posted by Simon Lewin

This week sees the opening of a new exhibition at the Fine Art Society on Bond Street.

'David Gentleman at Eighty' celebrates the 80th birthday of this artist and designer who has worked in a range media - wood engraving, watercolour and lithography.

The exhibition also sees the launch of a new edition of 'Ask The Fellows Who Cut The Hay' by George Ewart Evans (Gentleman's father-in-law) which is illustrated throughout by 60 of the artist's beautiful watercolour paintings and drawings. David worked on the images all through the summer, autumn and winter of 2009 in Blaxhall, the Suffolk village on which the book is centred.

The exhibition runs at the Fine Art Society, 148 New Bond Street, London, during March and April 2010. You can find out more about the book via the Full Circle website.

Posted by Simon Lewin on March 23rd, 2010

Caught By The River
Posted by Simon Lewin

We've talked about Caught By The River a fair bit this year - it's one of the websites I find myself visiting most frequently.

Their book, a collection of words on water, was published earlier this year and is a joy. I've got a copy, but if I didn't, I'd be hoping for one for Christmas. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in rivers or the great outdoors in general. You can purchase a copy direct online.

Posted by Simon Lewin on December 16th, 2009

Durham Book Festival
Posted by Simon Lewin

Our friends at Caught By The River will be taking part in the Durham Book Festival on Sunday 1st November 2009.

Sound recordist Chris Watson will present a unique soundscape and spoken word presentation of The River Coquet (a river I am desperate to walk & fish), Kathryn Williams reads 'The Ouse Burn', a magical piece of writing about what happens when rivers flood into your life. And author of 'The Accidental Angler', Charles Rangeley-Wilson reads from his written work and introduces a new short film about what makes our chalkstreams so unique.

Tickets for the event are £8 (£6 concessions) but there's a 2-for-1 offer available via the Caught By The River website.

Posted by Simon Lewin on October 23rd, 2009

Gavin Maxwell
Posted by Simon Lewin

Caught most of a programme on Radio 4 this morning, presented by Terry Nutkins. I have memories of him presenting Animal Magic and the like.

I hadn't realised he had spent time working with Gavin Maxwell, best known for Ring Of Bright Water - a book about his love for otters and wildlife in general.

The programme was an intriguing and very personal profile of a clearly 'complex' man, but it left me feeling drawn back to the Highlands - but the almost cliff-hanger ending suggests that next week's episode will explore a slightly darker side to the story. This second episode will be broadcast on Friday 23rd October. You can listen to the first episode via the BBC website for the next few days.

Posted by Simon Lewin on October 16th, 2009