MARY NEWCOMB: NATURE’S CANVAS
13TH FEBRUARY – 13TH JUNE 2021
A natural scientist, farmer, writer and artist, Mary Newcomb (1922–2008) was a keen observer of the natural world. Her !uid painting style has drawn comparisons with LS Lowry, Alfred Wallis and other folk artists, while her ability to "nd poetry in every aspect of rural life has echoes of William Blake, JMW Turner and Samuel Palmer. Growing up in Wiltshire, Mary developed a passion for the countryside and bucolic life, further fuelled when she moved to Norfolk in 1950 and ran a small farm with her husband.
In the most in-depth exploration of her paintings and writings to date, admire and contemplate over 50 of Mary’s artworks, interspersed with illuminating extracts from her diary (which she started on New Year’s Day 1986, on the encouragement of her art dealer, Andras Kalman). Compton Verney Art Gallery & Park is an apt location for an exhibition of this kind, not only because Kalman was the original collector of Compton Verney’s British Folk Art collection, but also because of the fabulous Capability Brown-designed setting. ‘Compton Verney is an ideal place from which to enjoy Mary Newcomb’s painting and writing,’ Director Julie Finch observes. ‘The exhibition will, I’m sure, serve as an inspiration for many to connect with the environment, and perhaps see nature and everyday life in a fresh way. The period of lockdown certainly demonstrated that the countryside and art have a hugely positive effect on wellbeing, with unprecedented numbers engaging with galleries and exhibitions online.’