Autumn Sunset

Dame Laura Knight 'The Cornish Coast' c 1917

A trip to the Lakeside Arts Centre at Nottingham University is a must in the Autumn.  The tree filled campus lights up with the glow of reds, yellows and oranges.  The children love the playground at Highfields Park.  We love the coffee (!) and the newly enlarged gallery at the Djanogoly centre has allowed for more dynamic exhibitions to be curated.  We always come home inspired, the Lakeside programme tucked in to a pocket, ready to book up theatre and music events to sustain us through the winter. 

Laura Knight

And so a sunny autumn day found us at the Dame Laura Knight exhibition.  I knew her to be a local artist, born in Long Eaton to lace workers, but I didn't know her to be such a talented and prolific artist.   Dissuaded at art college for painting in a masculine style she wasn't put off and went on to produce a lifetime of colourful, dynamic work that challenged the visual norms of her time.  She was a prolific war artist and the first woman elected to the Royal Academy. For her depictions of the Nuremberg Trials, she was also made the first Dame of the British Empire.

Dame Laura Knight 'Autumn Sunset'

I loved the beauty and atmosphere of this painting, 'Autumn Sunset'.  Rich and evocative of misty autumn days, I think this piece will keep me going through the winter months.