Compton Verney, Warwickshire

Alfred Wallis

We had a great afternoon at Compton Verney in Warwickshire. They put on some wonderful exhibitions there and are currently showing Alfred Wallis and Ben Nicholson and Wool Work: A Sailor's Art both of which are on until 5th June. What the folk say is on until 11th December.

My particular interest was in the wool work exhibition and we were given a talk by one of the curators, Bridget Crowley, entitled "Flags and frigates: The art of the mariner, which was most interesting and covered the history of the wool work pictures. These are not often on view to the public due to their fragile nature and the risk of the colured wools fading if exposed to bright light. A few of the pieces on show were available to buy as cards, but I can't wait for a catalogue to be produced, showing more if not all of the work in this interesting and colourful exhibition.

I have always loved the naive paintings of Alfred Wallis, and to find so many on display at Compton Verney was quite a surprise. The curators have put together an exhibition filling several rooms with the work of Wallis and the artist Ben Nicholson who first discovered him at his home in St Ives. There are more of Alfred Wallis's paintings here than on permanent display in Tate St Ives, and it is well worth the journey to Compton Verney to catch this exhibition before it finishes on 5th June.