Rowley Gallery Blog
They seem to be mostly larch. This intricate timber frame construction is made from 17 cubic metres of larch. It stands on a traffic island by St Botolph’s church at the start of the A11, the road from London to Norwich, and it marks the place where the Aldgate once stood. Continue reading “The Trees Of Aldgate”
Three Mills is just off the A12 (aka the East Cross Route or the Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach) an unforgiving stretch of urban motorway that flies over east London with little regard for what lies below. We’ve driven past countless times, most often en route to Brighton, but never noticed. The focus was always straight ahead or checking the mirrors or watching for speed cameras or perhaps just occasionally, Look there’s the Fire Station. There was never any reason to stop, in fact it’s quite difficult to do so and it took a few attempts, but eventually we arrived at the Tesco car park. Continue reading “Bridges & Towpaths”
During the last few years I have become increasingly interested in certain distinctive downland hills such as Melbury Beacon, and hill forts such as Hambledon Hill and Winkelbury Hillfort. These either in Dorset or Wiltshire where the short turf on the chalk helps in defining their underlying structure, and where these hills often rise quite steeply from their surrounding valleys. I am also interested in the way artists often get involved with a subject over time, as I frequently return to a theme again and again. Witness Paul Nash for instance and his preoccupation with the two hills at Wittenham Clumps. Continue reading “Eggardon”
Seeing Mary’s painting yesterday of swimming in the River Barle at Simonsbath brought to mind Roger Deakin’s wonderful book Waterlog: A Swimmer’s Journey Through Britain. I first chanced upon a copy at the Book & Comic Exchange, a second-hand bookshop in Notting Hill Gate, part of the Record & Tape Exchange empire, where I used to spend too much time looking for obscure musical and literary delights. I’d not heard of him before but I was attracted by ‘Deakin has written an aquatic Songlines‘ and ‘A delightfully eccentric masterpiece’. It opens with a heavy midsummer downpour and Deakin taking shelter in the moat: Continue reading “For Roger Deakin”
Mary Kuper just brought us a new consignment of paintings. This one is of Simonsbath, Exmoor and the River Barle where Mary was swimming earlier this year. She uses thin glazes of oil paint on board and adds small brush strokes and scratched marks drawn into the paint, creating a richly textured surface. Continue reading “Super Kuper”
Christopher Corr sent these photos from New York for Dominic. He was reminded of Dom’s forthcoming descent of Battersea Power Station. Continue reading “Down The Guggenheim”
I was just sent this lovely photograph of the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park. The trees seem to be keeping their leaves longer because of all the extra rain this year. It comes from a post at the Londonist – Top 10 Things To Do In The Royal Borough Of Kensington & Chelsea – a list of recommendations compiled by visitors to their website. It’s a nice reminder of some of the wealth of attractions we have on our doorstep.
I’ve had this image as the desktop background on my computer for the last three years. It was the highlight of a walk from West Wycombe to Hughenden Manor. We passed many grand buildings and sweeping landscapes but this place, at the intersection of two sunken paths and the curious steps leading up to where the light filters down through the leaves – Beam me up, Scotty – this was my favourite moment of the walk. Continue reading “Holloway Junction”
One of the many highlights of our recent trip to Cornwall was one that I took with me. Just a couple of days before we left London I received a copy of Holloway, a book by Robert Macfarlane, Stanley Donwood & Dan Richards. I kept it unopened in its Jiffy bag with Dan’s handwritten label and best wishes until we arrived, so that it became a part of our holiday. Inside, when I finally opened it, was a beautifully printed and illustrated book that told of the search for an ancient Dorset holloway, previously visited by Macfarlane with Roger Deakin. They were looking for the hide where the hero of Geoffrey Household’s novel Rogue Male went to ground. I’m not sure which I knew first, Household’s book or the film with Peter O’Toole. The abiding feeling was not so much of threat but of the safe harbour to be found beneath trees. Continue reading “Holloway”
Last Sunday Kai successfully completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon, the third in the series of challenges she set herself to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. The previous two events were the London Bikeathon and the British 10K London Run. She raised £755 and her JustGiving page is still open if you feel inclined to add to her total. Many thanks to everyone who contributed and sent messages of support. Maybe next time she’ll try the Kaiathlon.