Thursday 9 August 2012

Review

My good friend Paul Mingard, who, with his wife Christina, runs Hawthorn Cottage Industries, posted this lovely review of my show on Facebook.


Went to see Harry Bell's exhibition Town & Country at Newcastle Arts Centre. Not enough people were there though. Harry's paintings of Newcastle show his love of the city. His vision is romantic and optimistic without ever becoming sentimental. The paintings of the station at night really capture the feelings of anticipation and expectation you get when leaving on a train, or arriving home after a trip. His city is not the traditional one of Newcastle, 'Fog On The Tyne' and all that. It is very much a post-industrial metropolis; people hurrying for the metro; shopping and hopping on and off buses. It's a shame Newcastle doesn't love Harry as much as he loves the city. As a postscript the paintings of old hedges and walls made me want to go and study them for myself. He notices and records things we see, but don't observe.


Paul Mingard (9 August 2012)

Don't forget to check out Christina's fine paintings on the Hawthorn Indutries website.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen to that. Pity it's not a review in a national daily.
Kev

harry bell said...

Yes, it is a pity, but it's always good to get some egoboo.