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The temperatures are beginning to rise, the sun block is coming out, the BBQ’s are being lit – it can only be the great British summer! Many of us have fond memories of time spent blissfully by the sea, or walking through the foothills of the Lake District. Maybe it was a beautiful break in the warmth of some far-off land.Many an artist has made it their passion to capture the essence of this glorious period. To celebrate the season, Gallery Rouge will be showcasing work by some of the countries leading talent at their ‘Scenes of Summer’ exhibition. The event will unveil an inspirational range of Original Paintings and collectable Limited Editions by award-winning artists from all over the world.[caption id="attachment_179" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Rebecca Lardner 'True Blue I'"][/caption]Headlining the event will be the work of hugely popular artist Rebecca Lardner. Recently voted ‘Best up and Coming Artist’ at the Fine Art Guild awards, her paintings wonderfully portray scenes of the British South Western coast. Rebecca’s distinctive oils on canvas are beautifully depicted portrayals of life on the land and the sea. The large ensemble cast of figures, boats and sea birds creates an impression of ceaseless activity, and this is heightened by the natural curves of the classic English harbour which provide movement and energy. Her palette is based strongly on the colours of the sea, with blues, greens and greys dominating the entire canvas.It is all too easy to be charmed by the quirky yet stylish harbour scenes. But to look closely at these images is to glimpse a world of beam trawlers, long liners and crabbers; a thriving community, overlooked by painted or stone faced granite cottages. Ancient medieval walls divide the shore from the sea, and highlight the natural curves of the classic English harbour. The unspoken contrast between the constant activity of the harbour and the watchful serenity of the fishermen’s cottages is in her own words, “a composition waiting to be realised”.Other artists showcasing their talent include Peter Wileman - President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. Peter’s powerful Oil Paintings have established his international reputation as one of the finest artists of his generation. His dramatic land and seacapes are characterised by a highly expressive, painterly technique and display a structural clarity and atmospheric impact that few contemporary artists can hope to rival. His artistic achievements have been recognised with various accolades including the Frank Herring award at the Mall Galleries in London and the Cornellisen Prize for Outstanding Work. 

Providing an international flavour will be paintings from Canadian artist Danielle O’Connor Akiyama.  Painting in a variety of media, Danielle creates luminous floral images that vibrate with life, energy and colour, whether through a riotous party of flowers or a single magnificent blossom. She has received numerous awards for her paintings which she describes as “sanctuaries for the soul.”

The ‘Scenes of Summer’ exhibition will be held at Gallery Rouge throughout mid September, with a special champagne evening hosted on the evening of September 11^th.

      For those captivated by the glamour and style of New York, James Blinkhorn's work was an exhibition not to miss. Many of his pieces are painstakingly constructed, with over 300 hours of work involved. Working in pastels and oils, James' early work was constructed on slate. Thankfully, he now works on board, which makes hanging the painting less fraught!His new collection, featuring not yet seen original work, is complimented by a new series of limited edition pieces.   To see more of James Blinkhorn's work at Gallery Rouge click here

       Since opening, Gallery Rouge has hosted exhibitions for Internationally acclaimed artist, Philip Gray, and local, yet world renowned artist, Gillian Burrows and as part of Kuldip’s ongoing commitment to showcase artist’s work in this way is now proud to announce the gallery’s latest exhibition featuring the work of another talented local artist, Paresh Nrshinga from Thursday 24th through to Tues 29th April, 2008.Paresh Nrshinga was born in Kenya and moved to England at the tender age of three, where his talent began to emerge in early childhood.  His unique paintings are masterpieces of original talent, inspired by his extensive travels around the world, combined with his deep spirituality.  Influenced by artists such as Pollock, Warhol, Klimt and Picasso, Nrshinga’s paintings reflect his flirtation with abstract expressionism. Through his passion for music he developed a unique flair for transferring and transforming the energy of sound onto the canvas in the form of colour and movement, thus creating vibrant visual effects.  His paintings are an adventure of self-discovery.Nrshinga has exhibited in several galleries in France, UK, North America and Dubai and the young artist’s work features in many valuable private collections worldwide.Kuldip is delighted to present the work of this exciting and spiritual artist at Gallery Rouge and told us “In Paresh’s work you can feel the movement, the motion and the fluidity of his strokes. The style is unmistakable; there is purpose, structure and balance in all he produces. The diversity of his compositions demonstrates that Paresh is steadfast on his journey of discovery, and I look forward to watching his work evolve to the next level.”To view Paresh's work, please click on this link

In addition to his attendance at Gallery Rouge's Grand Opening, Philip Gray assembled an easel and pastels in the gallery, inviting members of the public to add colour and shape to the pastel board throughout the day.  Incredibly, at 4.30pm Philip began to blend the vast array of colours and shapes into a dramatic sky to illustrate the process that he continued at his studio.  Philip committed to transfer the random 'scribbles' into a finished piece which he has donated to the gallery now it has been completed.Kuldip will be displaying the pastel prominently so that everybody who contributed to this original work of art will be able to view the finished piece in person.

      The last six months has seen a great deal of work in preparation for the launch of Gallery Rouge. Having undergone extensive refurbishment, the gallery is now open for public access. In the heart of St Albans, located over two floors spanning some 1,000 square feet, the gallery aims to bring you the best in contemporary fine art from some of todays leading talent.To mark this event, we will be joined by celebrated artist Philip Gray on Saturday October 20th, between 2pm and 5pm. Born and bred in Cork, Philip's work captures the enormity and power of the Irish landscape. Depicting actual locations along the Irish coastline, one cannot help but be aweinspired by the sheer size and scale of his work. You will quite literally be blown away.   Please feel free to join us for the auspicious event - we look forward to seeing you then!To see more of Philip Gray's work at Gallery Rouge click here

Gallery Rouge  is Hertfordshires' most innovative and exciting art destination, offering a unique product range for the 21st Century art lover. Situated on Chequer Street in the heart of historic St Albans, the gallery offers a vibrant mix of contemporary fine art. Catering for a diverse audience, the gallery regularly displays work ranging from colourist and abstract, to figurative and photorealistic. Whether you are new to buying art or a seasoned collector, we look forward to helping you find art that will work perfectly in either your home or office surroundings. Why not visit us today at our Gallery in St Albans or view the official Gallery Rouge Website.