Kate Lycett

Opening on May 18th at 10am, my new exhibition at Chantry House Gallery in Ripley.

This collection of new paintings seem to track my family holidays and days out this last year! I painted these little greennhouses first, from The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall. We were there in the summer holidays.

I had an idea that the title for the exhibition should be ‘Gardens’. But then I went to Northumberland in Autumn Half term and got distracted by castles and beaches, and that incredible Northumbrian light.

And then, while Daddy was away I took the children for a treat in York and traded time spent in Harry Potter shops for time allowed to sketch on the city walls. I was a student in York and used to have English lectures in Grays Court. I would look out on the tourists walking the city walls. I love York. When I began university I was recovering from a year of being poorly and York was the cure. Coming from a small Suffolk town York seemed vast, but utterly magical. And I loved the course so much I failed badly in any acts of student rebellion. Instead I was allowed to get a key cut for the textile studios so I could work late at night. I spent three happy years discovering inks and wax pots, and being allowed to paint beautiful things.

This one is based on a memory of going back to spend the day with a friend after graduation. We walked to St Paul’s Square, snuck into the private comunal garden and picked up autumn leaves.

The exhibition will open at 10am. Emma, the owner of the gallery, is someone I met studying art in York. We connected again a few years ago and I’ve been exhibiting at the gallery ever since. I know she shares my love of the city.