RSA Isle of Wight Network Meeting

Join us for the next Isle of Wight Network Meeting.

The theme of this meeting is: how fine art contributes to our understanding of the wider landscape of the Isle of Wight and its Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Introduction

The purpose of the project and exhibition ‘The Most Painted Place – Bonchurch and the Isle of Wight School of Artists’ is to raise interest and awareness of the rich art heritage of the Undercliff, which was the most painted part of the British coastline between the 1770 and 1920.  This project is linked to ‘Down to the Coast’ a wider project that has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through its Landscape Partnership Programme. It is being delivered by the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership (AONB Partnership).

The long tradition of painting Island landscapes continues today. Artists’ works contribute to a continuous illustrated record of the physical, environmental and social changes that have taken place since the late eighteenth century. Through this project, Island artists and pupils from the Island Free School are all contributing to wider awareness- raising of the challenges facing those responsible for managing the natural environment.

A wide range of artistic works of the Undercliff were displayed at a major exhibition in June 2019 at Ventnor Botanic Garden. They included images by both professional and amateur artists, as well as watercolours by pupils who received painting lessons in class and ‘en plein air’ from the distinguished Island artist Becky Samuelson SWA.

A technical report and a 16-page colour booklet together provide in-depth descriptions of the project.

We have two speakers this evening:

1. Our first speaker is Professor Robin McInnes, OBE FICE FGS FRGS FRSA

Professor McInnes is a Visiting Professor for Geography and Environment at the University of Southampton.

He is a chartered geologist and civil engineer with over 45 years of experience in integrated coastal zone management and landslide management at international, national and local government levels. He read Geology at the University of Southampton and completed a PhD in Coastal Zone Management at the University of Portsmouth. After working for local authorities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for thirty-five years he established his consultancy ‘Coastal & Geotechnical Services’ in 2007.

Professor McInnes has advised the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the European Commission (DGs Environment and Research) on issues relating to natural hazards. He has developed and led successfully thirteen EU projects funded by LIFE Environment, Interreg and the VIth and VIIth Framework Programmes. He was an invited Expert Attendee at the Global Oceans, Coasts and Islands Forum at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit in 2009 and joint organizer and session chairman at the UNESCO Global Coasts Conference in Paris 2010.

In December 2007 he was awarded the Crown Estate – Caird (National Maritime Museum) Research Fellowship. He was appointed Visiting Professor to the Department of Civil Engineering & Environment at the University of Southampton in 2010-2014. From 1995-2009 Professor McInnes was Technical Chairman of the Standing Conference of Problems with the Coastline (SCOPAC) and he chaired the Coastal Defence Groups of England and Wales from 1997-2009. In 2006 he was appointed OBE for ‘Services to Flood and Coastal Defence’. Since 2007 he has been Managing Consultant of Coastal & Geotechnical Services, which specialises in coastal zone and landslide management internationally.

2. Our second speaker is Becky Samuelson SWA

Becky Samuelson is a painter of seascapes, landscapes and architectural subjects primarily in acrylic, watercolour and oil. She is a member of the Society of Women Artists and The Hilliard Society of Miniaturists.

Becky is based on the Isle of Wight with her studio in St Helens which is always open for visits and been painting full time for 30 years. Becky believes the Isle of Wight is a special place to live and paint and she takes her inspiration from the Island coastline and landscape plus her travels abroad. Light and colour are integral to her paintings and more recently she has been exploring this through her work in acrylic on sailcloth. Painting en plein air gives her the most satisfaction and connection with her subject.

Her work has been exhibited in galleries both on and off the Isle of Wight including Seaview Arts, Bembridge Gallery and Kendalls Gallery Isle of Wight; UK Fine Art, Ledbury; Alexander Gallery Bristol and galleries in Datchet and Petersfield. She exhibits annually with The Art for Youth Exhibition, The Mall Galleries and with The Society of Women Artists exhibition held at The Mall Galleries plus many private exhibitions. Her work has appeared in Country Homes and Interiors, Pastel Artist International Magazine amongst others. She is a contributor to the Leisure Painter Magazine.

If you have any access requirements or require any reasonable adjustments, please let the team know: networks@rsa.org.uk. Please also let us know if you have any dietary requirements or severe allergies.

Location: Quay Arts, Newport, Sea Street, PO30 5BW