Daily life

Feb 27
2 min read

Words by Mercedes Smith

Moments of recognition revealed by qualities of light and relationships of colour.

Paintings by Cornwall based artist Mary Mabbutt featuring contemporary still life flowers including astrantia and love in a mist arranged in studio pots, alongside intimate interior scenes of her Falmouth art studio, sewing room and kitchen. The collection explores colour relationships, light filled domestic spaces and carefully observed everyday objects such as painter’s tools, work tables, cabinets, boots and dinner settings. Influenced by Matisse, Morandi and Italian frescoes, her work balances form, composition and warm summer light. Photographs include Mary Mabbutt in her studio and selected works from her solo exhibition at Whitewater Contemporary in Polzeath, North Cornwall, highlighting contemporary Cornish art, still life painting in Cornwall and fine art exhibitions in Devon and Cornwall. — Astrantia with Love in a Mist

Mary Mabbutt’s paintings are inspired by colour, space and form in the everyday. Her new collection begins with the classic still life convention of flowers placed in a pot, positioned centrally in the picture plane and painted directly from life. As the collection develops, we follow the artist’s focus as it moves outwards into the depth and detail of interior spaces, taking in views of her art studio and her work table with its array of painter’s tools, all bathed in the warm light of summer. Other works are drawn from Mary’s sewing room or kitchen, reflecting the domestic objects and spaces that are central to daily life.

Mary’s exploration of shape, composition and the relationships between various colours is inspired by her interest in the studio paintings of Henri Matisse. European still life painters Henri Fantin-Latour and Giorgio Morandi are also influences, along with the velvet tones and flattened perspectives of ancient Italian frescoes.

Mary studied Fine Art at Loughborough College of Art and Design and at the Royal Academy Schools in London. In 2002 she received the South West Arts Major Award and has received awards from the John Moores painting Prize Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, and the National Open Art Exhibition at Plymouth City Museum. Her work is held in collections at Arts Council London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, and private collections in the UK, Europe and USA. She lives and works in Falmouth and exhibits internationally.

See Mary Mabbutt’s new solo exhibition from 4th to 28th April at Whitewater Contemporary, The Parade, Polzeath, PL27 6SR.

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