Going Out

Artists under new umbrella

Norfolk's newest collective of artists is out to prove than an Umbrella is not just for a rainy day. EMMA LEE takes a look at its first exhibition in Norwich.

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It's billed as “an eclectic and eccentric show” that will introduce some fresh talent into Norwich's art scene.

Umbrella, at St Margaret's Church in St Benedict's Street, brings together the work of 19 artists who are exhibiting together professionally for the first time.

Many of the artists are masters degree graduates from Norwich University College of the Arts (NUCA) and they've called themselves Umbrella to convey the variety of work on show, which ranges from contemporary painting to lace-making, traditional weaving and video.

“We're a bit of a mixed batch,” says Lisa Little, who organised the event with fellow artist Leslie Sercombe.

Several of the people exhibiting are more mature women, for whom the MA course was a life-changing experience.

Gloria Davis' artistic journey began in the late 1950's when she was a student studying fine art at St Albans School of Art. Domestic life took over and her studies had to be put on hold until she retired to Norfolk in 2000 and decided to take some “me time”.

She enrolled at City College, in Norwich, which in turn led to a place at NUCA. She achieved a BA in visual studies and went on to achieve an MA in fine art.

And Christine Durrant left school at 16 and spent years bringing up her three children. She also took a City College course which led to a BA, then an MA in contemporary textiles at NUCA. She is now a weaver, specialising in Japanese ikat techniques and has been selected for this summer's prestigious Salthouse exhibition.

And Lisa herself has taken time to find her style.

She started selling her work when she was 16 and a single parent.

“I started spinning and weaving when I left school. Since I was 16 I've sold my work in shops,” she says. Her career has included 15 years spent as a freelance costume and fairy maker, and she's worked in community arts with schools and children in hospital. She's reinvented herself as an illustrator specialising in stitched drawings and her largest piece of work so far is due to be unveiled to the public early in August.

“I've just done a commission for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital,” she says. “It's a seaside A to Z based on the north Norfolk coast, which took six weeks to produce. I really pushed myself and I'm really chuffed with it. I think I've finally found my style - it's only taken 35-years,” she laughs.

The exhibition has been organised around day jobs and family commitments.

“I'm looking forward to it,” Lisa says. “We've worked our socks off - I've been up until midnight making labels.”

When it came to choosing a place to hold the exhibition, St Margaret's Church was an ideal choice. On one of the main pedestrian routes into the city, they're hoping they'll get quite a lot of passing trade.

“I don't think there was any doubt in anybody's mind that was the best venue,” Lisa says.

And it is a collective with big ideas. This Umbrella is certainly not just for a rainy day.

“We've decided we're going to have an annual exhibition. Next year we're going further afield and are looking to go to Cambridge. That's the plan,” Lisa says.

Umbrella is at St Margaret's Church, St Benedict's Street, until August 7, weekdays 11am-5pm, weekends 11am-4pm, free admission.