When we heard about the book on Tessa Newcomb, “Pristine Vision” by Philip Vann, we felt privileged to be asked to hold an exhibition of her paintings to celebrate the publication scheduled for this year. After all the many words written about her painter mother, Mary Newcomb, it will be fascinating to read the story behind Tessa’s own unique, deceptively naïve, scenes of everyday life, drawn from direct experience.
We have always been charmed by Tessa Newcomb’s paintings and to have Joan Elliott Bates on board to join this two person exhibition is yet an added bonus; Joan’s painterly scenes having the same quality to thrill the viewer.
Currently successfully involved with painting, Tessa’s oils are much sought after but she has been an artist in the traditional sense of the word in the exploration of many media: prints, ceramics, painted boxes, and illustrating books. They all have that ‘it’ quality and cast their magic spell upon us. Born in Suffolk, from early training at Norwich School of Art Tessa went on to gain an honours degree at Bath Academy of Art in 1976 before doing a year’s advanced printmaking at Wimbledon School of Art.
Joan has for many years visited East Anglia and numerous people from this region have enjoyed her depictions of the Suffolk coast and landscape. Her oils reveal a combination of luscious paint, her individual brushwork and a quietly subtle pallet. Her drawing ability finds expression in pen and ink, charcoal and print making. Joan attended first the College of Art, Sheffield then the Slade School of Art, London (1949–52) since when she has exhibited widely in London and throughout the country.
Book details:
Pristine Vision
by Philip Vann
ISBN 978-1-904537-94-6
270x210mm
144pp, profusely illustrated
Hardback
£29.95
Publisher: Sansom & Company Ltd
Joan Elliot Bates nos. 1-16
Tessa Newcomb nos.17-40
Joan Elliot Bates nos. 41-67
Joan Elliot Bates "The Larger Wave" oil 15 x 20 cms
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