Last Weekend - A Hard Rain…

Just the last weekend of Cambridge Open Studios to see my climate emergency art inspired by the need for climate action; 'A Hard Rain' Series is all about extreme weather especially storms.

Still landscapes and wildlife from the fens, brecks and elsewhere but the palette of climate extremes might bleed in.. especially in relation to wildfires & floods.

So definitely still Fenscape but focusing on Swaffham Prior locations but as you are more frequently going to find it.. soaked with extreme rainfall and occasionally flooded out by an extreme storm..

I'm exhibiting again in The Cage, Swaffham Prior - Venue 145 of Cambridge Open Studios next weekend (Week 4) the 27th & 28th July 2024.

Inspiration from the record year of 2023 and the direction of travel into 2024. Colour palette based on the extreme rainfall scale (beyond all the blues!) Very much a lens on extreme weather and the climate emergency. A witness and advocacy for climate action and climate emergency art

#ahardrain #oilpainting #impressionisticpainting #impressionism

#cambridgeopenstudios #cosart2024 #swaffhamprior #priorartsgroup #thecage #thepoundandkeep #redribbonofclimateemergency #biodiversitycrisis #climateemergency #loveragerebel #bethechange

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2022/july-heat-review

A Hard Rain…

Climate emergency art inspired by the need for climate action; 'A Hard Rain' Series is all about extreme weather especially storms.

Still landscapes and wildlife from the fens, brecks and elsewhere but the palette of climate extremes might bleed in.. especially in relation to wildfires & floods.

So definitely still Fenscape but focusing on Swaffham Prior locations but as you are more frequently going to find it.. soaked with extreme rainfall and occasionally flooded out by an extreme storm..

I'm exhibiting again in The Cage, Swaffham Prior - Venue 145 of Cambridge Open Studios on weekends 3 & 4 (20th & 21st and 27th & 28th July).

Inspiration from the record year of 2023 and the direction of travel into 2024. Colour palette based on the extreme rainfall scale (beyond all the blues!) Very much a lens on extreme weather and the climate emergency. A witness and advocacy for climate action and climate emergency art

#ahardrain #oilpainting #impressionisticpainting #impressionism

#cambridgeopenstudios #cosart2024 #swaffhamprior #priorartsgroup #thecage #thepoundandkeep #redribbonofclimateemergency #biodiversitycrisis #climateemergency #loveragerebel #bethechange

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2022/july-heat-review

Art in a ‘Cage’ - ‘Blue Phase’ & ‘Bathing Towel’ Series

Come to see works from my Blue Phase, Bathing Towel and Blue Genies series’ at Venue 142 of Cambridge Open Studios is the 'Pound and Keep' on Cage Hill aka ‘The Cage’

Last weekend of my first solo exhibition..

Also a ‘Ophelia Fixation’ twist... and other darker materials never exhibited before.

I'm exhibiting at ‘The Cage’ which is the 'Pound and Keep' on Cage Hill, in Swaffham Prior which in July will be venue 142 as part of Cambridge Open Studios July 2023.

The Cage is the Listed Pound walled enclosure surrounding the Keep which is a quirky building that was the village lock-up but now has no function. I have borrowed it temporarily from the Parish Council.

Come and see inside, the two cells are tiny and definitely not a place to be locked up in overnight!!

#swaffhamprior #thecage #thepoundandkeep #priorartsgroup #swaffhamprior #newwebsite #opheliafixation #bathingtowelseries #bluephase #newCOSprofile #onlineexhibition #cosart2023

https://maps.app.goo.gl/xTuenzStd9hz7At5A

Here is a what3words address: https://w3w.co/yummy.thickens.expert

Art in a ‘Cage’ - Opens 15th July 10am

Venue 142 of Cambridge Open Studios is the 'Pound and Keep' on Cage Hill aka ‘The Cage’ - the lock-up and fire station

My first solo exhibition..

From ‘Ophelia Fixation’ twist... to the Bathing Towel Series; the Blue Phase and other darker materials never exhibited before.

I'm exhibiting at ‘The Cage’ which is the 'Pound and Keep' on Cage Hill, in Swaffham Prior which in July will be venue 142 as part of Cambridge Open Studios July 2023.

The Cage is the Listed Pound walled enclosure surrounding the Keep which is a quirky building that was the village lock-up but now has no function. I have borrowed it temporarily from the Parish Council.

Come and see inside, the two cells are tiny and definitely not a place to be locked up in overnight!!

#swaffhamprior #thecage #thepoundandkeep #priorartsgroup #swaffhamprior #newwebsite #opheliafixation #bathingtowelseries #bluephase #newCOSprofile #onlineexhibition #cosart2023

https://maps.app.goo.gl/xTuenzStd9hz7At5A

Here is a what3words address: https://w3w.co/yummy.thickens.expert

Art in a ‘Cage’ - exploring the darker corners…

Venue 142 of Cambridge Open Studios is the 'Pound and Keep' on Cage Hill aka ‘The Cage’ - the lock-up and fire station

My first solo exhibition..

This current selection of work – some new some older but not exhibited before reflected the looming run up to the pandemic and the enclosed subsequent period. There are some familiar Wicken places but with an ‘Ophelia Fixation’ twist...

Of course there are views of and to Swaffham Prior and other memorable observations of birds, other wildlife and habitats along the way, especially Scottish seascapes.

I'm exhibiting at ‘The Cage’ which is the 'Pound and Keep' on Cage Hill, in Swaffham Prior which in July will be venue 142 as part of Cambridge Open Studios July 2023.

The Cage is the Listed Pound walled enclosure surrounding the Keep which is a quirky building that was the village lock-up but now has no function. I have borrowed it temporarily from the Parish Council.

Come and see inside, the two cells are tiny and definitely not a place to be locked up in overnight!!

The art has taken a slightly darker feel to reflect the venue..

#swaffhamprior #thecage #thepoundandkeep #priorartsgroup #swaffhamprior #newwebsite #opheliafixation #bathingtowelseries #bluephase #newCOSprofile #onlineexhibition #cosart2023

https://maps.app.goo.gl/xTuenzStd9hz7At5A

Here is a what3words address: https://w3w.co/yummy.thickens.expert

Just one week before my first solo exhibition!

Venue 142 of Cambridge Open Studios is the 'Pound and Keep' on Cage Hill aka ‘The Cage’ - the lock-up and fire station

My first solo exhibition..

Still lots of last minute things to do before COS summer 2023 event, including finalising the exhibition list.

So excited to have seen inside, the cells are tiny and definitely not a place to be locked up in overnight!! The building rarely open so come along to see inside!

The art has taken a slightly darker feel to reflect the venue..

https://camopenstudios.org/membership-account/profile/sceloporus-mike/

#swaffhamprior

#thecage

#thepoundandkeep

#priorartsgroup

#swaffhamprior #newwebsite #newCOSprofile

#onlineexhibition

#cosart2023

Preparing for #COSart23

Just been weeding the 'Pound' around the 'Keep' which in July will be venue 142; as part of Cambridge Open Studios

My first solo exhibition..

Still lots of painting and things to do before COS summer 2023 event, including finalising how exactly I will set up in 'The Cage' which is the Listed Pound and Keep in Swaffham Prior.

So excited to have seen inside, the cells are tiny and definitely not a place to be locked up in overnight!!

The art has taken a slightly darker feel to reflect the venue..

https://camopenstudios.org/membership-account/profile/sceloporus-mike/

#swaffhamprior

#thecage

#thepoundandkeep

#priorartsgroup

#swaffhamprior #newwebsite #newCOSprofile

#onlineexhibition

#cosart2023

New Cambridge Open Studios Profile & Portfolios

I have just completed my new Artist Profile and also set up new Portfolios of work which I have not yet uploaded onto this website - so check those portfolios out!

Mike Barker Artist Profile

Early preparations for the July 2023 event - more of that to come later!

Mike

Cambridge Open Studios July 22

Discover our wonderful local artists by following the Burwell & Swaffham Prior Art Trail - part of Cambridge Open Studios 2022. I am exhibiting in Swaffham Prior Village Hall the weekend of the 16th / 17th July and also the weekend of the 23rd and 24th July.

I

am currently working on a series of summer visiting birds such as swallows and swifts, views of

Swaffham Prior and fen wetland scenes, particularly the upper catchment peaty wet woodland

landscapes of Fordham Woods.

These include memorable observations of birds, dragonflies and flora spotted on the way. I have also

captured a range of quick watercolour and pen and ink sketches.

Winter Exhibition This Weekend !

Capturing the wild beauty of both the uplands and fenlands - this show for me encapsulates the best of our wild spaces - from the Erratic Boulder series from Glen Doll in the Cairngorms to the rebirth of life in the early spring series from Fordham Woods….

Come and see Prior Arts Group at is best this weekend the 27th and 28th of November in Swaffham Prior Village hall

10.30am until 4pm Saturday and Sunday

#rewilding #erraticboulders #fordhamwoods #cairngorms #winterexhibition #flagiris

Winter Exhibition 2021

Capturing the wild beauty of both the uplands and fenlands - this show for me encapsulates the best of our wild spaces - from the Erratic Boulder series from Glen Doll in the Cairngorms to the rebirth of life in the early spring series from Fordham Woods….

Come and see Prior Arts Group at is best next weekend the 27th and 28th of November in Swaffham Prior Village hall

#rewilding #erraticboulders #fordhamwoods #cairngorms #winterexhibition #flagiris

Cambridge Open Studios - 1st day tomorrow!

After some careful planning and preparation this week has been a scramble to get everything in the right place and just right. Picking up the printing and a frantic search for some more frames for some watercolours was cutting it fine…

But now I are ready - the materials are all ready to go!

Hopefully, I will see some of you in the Village Hall at Swaffham Prior for the 3rd and 4th and the 10th and 11th of July. There are refreshments and homemade cakes and facilities and parking.

Looking for ward to it!

M

Wicken Fen Vision Area series preview

Preparations for the July 2021 Cambridge Open Studios exhibition are underway. I have posted a sneak preview of the Vison Area series that is centred on Reach Lode and Swaffham Prior.

I will be exhibiting for the first two weekends in July with the rest of the Prior Arts Group in the Swaffham Prior Village Hall. Look forward to seeing you there!

Green Shoots of Spring

The Spring equinox has just past there are brimstones and bumblebees on the wing and buds are bursting all over the place. So it does really feel like spring and a difference is coming at long last!

I have been painting some darker scenes through the winter and I have posted some of that work on here already (I will be uploading more new work this weekend so watch this space). You can keep track of my progress on my Instagram account @mike_barker_artist to see work in progress and also photos of the locations where I draw my inspiration.

I am working on a new series of paintings and drawing called ‘Green Shoots of Spring’ and very much inspired by the Yellow Flag Irises bursting through the wet woodland floor straight from the ‘swamp’.

Goodbye 2020!

Well thank goodness 2020 is over and there are glimmers of hope for the spring (or summer) of 2021… fingers crossed for those efforts.

My work continues to reflect my ecological background and draws on impressionist and modern artistic influences. This can be seen in my early series of fen waterland scenes and the iconic 'twisted pine' landscapes of the brecks.

To cheer myself up in 2020, I undertook a series of paintings imagining the restored wetlands that would follow the rewilding of the Wicken Fen Vision Area. But i have also painted some darker imagery reflecting the times we have lived through.

I have also continued to add to a couple of additional pen and ink series #bathing towel and #octoart which have become slightly obsessional. These are not uploaded here but you can find them on my other Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/observed_erotic_art/ and on my website. If you see something, do just ask, always good to hear from you.

Original artwork is available, and also limited edition giclee prints and as handcoloured prints with watercolour washes, if desired!

Happy 2021 !!!

Winter Exhibition

Proud to be part of the Prior Arts Group Winter Exhibition which should have been in the Swaffham Prior Village Hall. The exhibition has though taken to the streets and is visible in the High Street as ‘Open Windows’ on display. We have also taken the exhibition online with our new group website:

https://www.priorarts.org/

Definitely worth a look if you are in the village and if you are not visit the Prior Arts group website. Everything from myself is also here on my website - if you see anything on my Instagram account(s), https://www.instagram.com/mike_barker_artist/ its possible I haven’t loaded it onto here, so do just ask…

Have a browse through and by all means drop me a line if you have any questions about prints, postage or framing - or indeed anything else!

And don’t forget - https://www.instagram.com/observed_erotic_art/

Enjoy

Mike

Website Launch!

Well here it is! A website of what I have painted and drawn over the last few years, Welcome!!

From those early wildlife and wetland watercolours, through an emotional journey through the Brecks, to a series documenting the efforts to restore wetlands to the Wicken Fen Vision Area. And in case you hadn’t noticed a reminder not to forget your bathing towel ;-)

Have a browse through and by all means drop me a line if you have any questions about prints, postage or framing - or indeed anything else!