Newsletter: June 2017
Read the full newsletter here: June 2017 newsletter (link)
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BBC FOOD & FARMING AWARDS
Dutch artist Tanja Moderscheim paints 9 finalists of the 2016 BBC Food & Farming Awards
On the 28th of April 2016 the BBC4 Food Programme held their annual Food & Farming Awards. The Award’s mission is “to honour those who have done most to promote the cause of good food” (source: BBC Food and Farming Awards) and is often referred to as the Oscars of Great Britain’s food world. The Awards were hosted and presented by BBC Radio 4’s Sheila Dillon, and some of Britain’s best-known chefs, broadcasters and food writers including Yotam Ottolenghi, Ken Hom, Jancis Robinson, Diana Henry, Mitch Tonks, Angela Hartnett and Stefan Gates celebrated with her. The announcement of the winners of the evening can be seen at www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/food-and-farming-winners.
Countryfile’s presenter Adam Henson was one of the judges
As part of my project painting locally grown produce and celebrating the country’s culinary heritage and small businesses (see my previous blog post from February 2016) I painted the produce and products of 9 of the BBC Food & Farming Awards finalists:
Best Street Food or Takeaway: Gourmet Goat (London; Winner), The Glorious Oyster (Devon), Pyclet Parlour (Derby)
Best Food Producer: Charcutier Ltd (Wales; Winner), Hebridean Smokehouse (Hebrides), HS Bourne Cheshire Cheese (Cheshire)
Best Drinks Producer: Hallets Real Cider (Wales; Winner), Magic Rock Brewing Company (Huddersfield), Cairn O’Mohr (Perthshire)
Liesel and Illtud sent a big box of products – which ones do I paint…?
It was great working with the finalists, as I learnt about these wonderful producers and the stories behind their businesses, what drives them, the ethical values they want to pass on and the beautiful parts of the country they work in. They were more than happy to send ingredients/produce and work with me to discuss how best to show off their produce, ingredients and business, on wood panel.
Liesel and Illtud’s finished painting
Nick cooking beautiful streetfood: Gourmet Goat, Winner Best Street Food
Gourmet Goat, run by Nick and Nadia Stokes, were Best Street Food Winners. They sell kid goat meat dishes at Borough Market, London. Their recipes and food have a strong Eastern Mediterranean influence which I sought to bring out in my painting for the Food & Farming Awards. Nick suggested I included the floor tiles of their stall at Borough Market in my painting. These tiles have been brought from Cyprus and complement the goat kofta, Cypriot pita and the various ingredients, spices and herbs in the painting.
Goat Kofta, Wheat Berry, Cypriot Pita, Lemons, Garlic, Olives, Herbs, Spices and Cypriot Tiles: Gourmet Goat, Winner Best Street Food
“Rapture, Cannonball, Grapefruit, Salty Kiss and West Coast Pale Ale: Magic Rock Brewery, Best Drinks Producer Finalist
Refractometer and Hydrometer with Seasonal Fruit: Cairn O’Mohr, Best Drinks Producer Finalist
Watch this space for more paintings of the finalists.
BBC Food & Farming Awards paintings on display along the wall of the marquee
AUTUMN 2015
Autumn 2015: Like last year, I have donated a piece to the Richmond Environment Trust which will be auctioned on 26th of November at York House, Clarendon Hall, Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 3AA. The Annual Art Auction is the Trust’s major fundraising event, with donated works from local artists to Royal Academicians. All profits will go to the Trust, supporting current projects including The Story of our Streets, encouraging children and young people to understand more about the history of their local area and Active Environment, enabling adults with disabilities to discover and enjoy local places of interest.
Auctioneer: fine art dealer John Iddon. The auction starts at 8.00pm with viewing from 6.30pm; Tickets: £10 via Richmond Environment Trust; Email: office@environmenttrust.co.uk
Several commissions have kept me painting whilst the days are shortening. Projects include paintings of Italian cooking ingredients against a whitewashed wall, a pair of small paintings of figs and nectarines, a painting of lemons, figs, walnuts and a Delft blue plate, and a painting of two bluetit birds. I’m preparing sketches for additional commissions.
After a successful July exhibition at Harris+Hoole in Fulham Reach on the Thames riverside, we have scheduled another exhibition for the 12th of December. This will be a great opportunity for the locals to buy original and unique Christmas gifts: paintings, giclees and art cards. Gift vouchers will also be available. I’m currently designing the exhibition poster. Preview of works to follow soon.
SUMMER 2015
I’ve been busy with the first preparations for the Reading Contemporary Art Fair, which is held 22-24 April 2016. I’ll be exhibiting new work including 4 large oil paintings on fine linen and a series of small paintings. Giclee prints and art cards will also be available. Visitors will be able to take home something that suits any budget. Preview of works to follow soon.
In August we had an enjoyable week in Tuscany. At a local greengrocer’s shop I found vegetables and fruits which, placed in soft afternoon Tuscan light, made good study projects in preparation for large paintings.
In July I had a very enjoyable afternoon exhibition at Harris+Hoole coffee shop in Fulham Reach on the Thames riverside. Prints, cards and original paintings were available.
Happy to report further successful sales at the Llewellyn Alexander Fine Paintings Gallery summer exhibition; 124-126 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1 8LN UK.
SPRING 2015
I have teamed up with the charity School-Home Support and I’m excited to dedicate part of my artwork sale to this great cause. The first dedicated artwork is Lilies, which is for sale through artfinder.com.
School-Home Support charity: for 30 years, School-Home Support has been working with children, families and schools to break the intergenerational cycle of deprivation. 300,000 children and young people miss a day a week or more of school – the financial cost alone is equivalent to 50 secondary schools standing empty. The long-term social problems arising directly from this, including poor educational attainment, unemployment and crime, are even greater. 77% of the children and young people that School-Home Support worked with last year are no longer persistently absent. We work directly with both schools and families to get children and young people back into school, ready to learn. Whatever it takes. Follow on Twitter
School-Home Support UK is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, no 1084696 and is a company limited by guarantee, Companies House no 3991440.
WINTER 2014
A review: “I had two pieces of work commissioned with Tanja, both for very important events and it has to be said-she was fantastic. Not only did she manage to create an exact likeness to the photos I gave her, she also managed to work to a tight time schedule whilst answering all of my questions promptly and keeping me updated with her progress. Both pieces were beautifully finished and I wouldn’t hesitate to have more work commissioned with her, in fact I think it’s very likely that I will!”
I’ve been accepted to exhibit at the Oxford International Art Fair for a second year. Oxford Old Town Hall 6, 7 and 8 February, 2015. Come see me at stand A128 in the beautiful main hall, where I’ll have a series of small paintings and prints on display.
Environment Trust Art Auction 6 November 2014: my donated painting was well received and went to a very happy bidder!
Invited to exhibit at the Winter edition, Redlees Open Studios, Isleworth Dec. 5- Dec. 7, 2014
Article and painting on the front cover of Out&About Magazine
SUMMER 2014
My sparrow painting has sold through the Llewellyn Alexander Fine Paintings Gallery (124-126 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE 1 8LN UK) before the exhibition has opened. Runs 10th June – 14th August.
Still life with Delft plate accepted for exhibition at the Mall Galleries, 25 June-5 July 2014; Society of Women Artists
