AN EXHIBITION of paintings of the South Downs Way by a Winchester artist is on show at a city centre art gallery.
The display titled 100 miles of the South Downs Way is open at Bell Fine Art in Parchment Street until Saturday, July 8.
Painter David Thomas was head of art at Peter Symonds College for 29 years before he retired in 2012 to pursue his passion of landscape painting.
Over the past year, Mr Thomas has focused his efforts on the 100-mile-long South Downs Way between Winchester and Eastbourne.
Last summer, David began painting different views along the route creating a visual diary. The 100 drawings led to further artwork and experiments which are showcased in the exhibition.
READ MORE: Important exhibition for Martin Brothers’ collectors
The former teacher has followed in the footsteps of many British painters, poets and writers such as Eric Ravilious, Vanessa Bell and Ivon Hitchens who were inspired by the South Downs.
David said: “As a motif for a landscape painter it has it all – rolling hills with winding chalk tracks and pathways overlooking that richly decorative patchwork of meadows, river valleys, ancient woodlands and tumuli and villages and market towns.
“Almost along the entire route it is possible to see the clean, flat, horizontal line of the English Channel to the south and its eastern limits from the Cuckmere estuary and at Birling Gap the iconic white cliffs of the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head west of Eastbourne.”
The David Thomas Exhibition is open, with 100 pastel pieces to view, at Bell Fine Art in Parchment Street 10am to 5pm, ending Saturday, July 8. For more go to bellfineart.co.uk/.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here