Winner of three Academy Awards, four BAFTAs and several other major awards, this brilliant film is an adaptation of E. M. Foster’s novel set in Florence and the English countryside during Edwardian times. Lucy, a young Englishwoman (Helena Bonham Carter) is on holiday in Italy with her cousin Charlotte (Maggie Smith) where they meet a bohemian, Mr Emerson (Denholm Elliott) and his son George (Julian Sands). George tries to seduce Lucy but Charlotte sees the incident and both women return to England prematurely. Lucy then becomes engaged to the wealthy but uptight Cecil (Daniel Day-Lewis). At the same time the Emersons rent a cottage nearby and George again tries to seduce Lucy. An abundance of humour, both subtle and overt, is woven into the unfolding story. But the true brilliance of this film is the way in which it makes a barbed attack on the English class system while telling a touching love story set in splendid surroundings.

La Jetée (The Jetty), 1966
This highly-influential science fiction film won the Prix Jean Vigo for short film. In just 28 minutes of mostly still black and white scenes it tells the haunting story of a post-nuclear experiment in time travel which spans many centuries. In a destroyed post-apocalyptic Paris after World War III, some survivors in underground tunnels investigate time travel. A male prisoner is selected to travel back in time to re-enact a violent childhood scene, he is then projected into the far future where he meets highly-advanced technological people who give him the power to regenerate his own society. The story unfolds in a heartbreakingly despairing way as it explores the relationship between the personal and the universal.

The Man with a Movie Camera, 1929.
Set in various Soviet cities, this film is an experimental documentary with no story and no actors. In so far as there are any characters, these are the cameraman of the title and the people of the modern Soviet Union. As there are no actors, story or set, the film is regarded as ‘absolute cinema’ on the basis of its complete separation from theatre and literature. The film is famous for the range of cinematic techniques invented or further developed by Vertov, including double exposure, fast motion, slow motion, freeze frames, jump cuts, split screens, Dutch angles, tracking shots, and stop-motion animations amongst others. These pioneering techniques, together with a (more-recently added) impressive soundtrack, provide a unique montage of Soviet life.

I think I suffer from “Fatal Chicken Attraction”. My brain can’t rest when I think of chicken wings, chicken feet and those provocative looks the girls have when taking a dust bath. This idea is so different from my previously more formal exhibitions but it involves a true passion, and since I can express this passion in a gentle humorous way I feel I would like to share it with you.

Lois Sykes was educated at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and studied further for 2 years at Atelier Goetz in Paris.

She has exhibited in many shows in the US and London and the South East, notably the Museum of Fine Art in Philadelphia: Art Expo, New York City; the Osborne Gallery, Covent Garden; Piers Feetham Gallery, Chelsea; the Barbican Centre, London; the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, London; the London Contemporary Art Fair; the Medici Gallery, London; the Fine Arts Society, London; the Society of Equestrian Artists.

A number of paintings have been reproduced in card format by Georgian House Publishing, Colour House Graphics, and Camden Graphics. Current Work can be viewed online at www.CricketFineArt.co.uk, www.felineartists.org, and www.Lois-Sykes.com.

Always one to look for the unusual, always one to find the unexpected, Lois Sykes continues to interest and entertain with her paintings and images of life about the countryside and around the farmhouse. Breathing new life and humour into animal paintings, Lois does not undermine her subjects. Her paintings are uncluttered and easy to look at. The balanced contrasts of the figurative elements and the suggestion of animal personalities lead one into stories they may tell. The lovely, colourful, tightly cropped compositions focus the viewer on her statement – her work is full of amusement and a love of life.

My images are created when I am lost in a sea of elaborate swirls and whimsical fancies; a dreamy yet conscious state of mind. This collection invites the viewer to discard reality for a spell and become submerged in the delicate detail of the art. Playful aspects frolic while darker elements hide amongst the innocent, and gentle wisps of folk art caress the paper.

I have been involved with Printmaking for many years now, but have been drawing for most of my life. There is something very honest and free about drawing, it is the key to unleashing inner beauty. My own practice involves a plethora of relief printing as well as hand drawing, and I believe these methods dovetail into one another nicely. I am so attached to lino cutting; perhaps it has something to do with the drawing element that is infused with the intricate carving of the material, or the way that I delight in the linear boldness and the little specks that are left behind during the cutting process. I prefer to hand-colour the images with water colours because of the fluidity effect; I like a contrast in the art between the intense bold lines and a colourful but softer filling.

I have exhibited in many venues throughout Kent and in London, my illustrations have been featured in published magazines and posters, last April I was commissioned by UCA Maidstone to create a piece of artwork that commemorated its first year as a university. A large lino print featuring an odd assortment of creatures now hangs in the foyer.

I gather inspiration from various sources – I am fascinated by the sea, its mysteries and its movement, I am constantly depicting it subtly in different ways but retaining my linear qualities. Music and literature of a certain nature inspire me as do my family and friends, my images are often sparked off by random conversations or events that unfold from adventuring. Weaving in these personal motifs makes my work stronger, but also more playful. My interest in secretive creatures and telling tales visually adds to the playful element, tales of humans that want to become something else – a state of metamorphoses that could be organic or bestial.

Joanna uses oil paints, varnish and resin lacquer on aluminium sheet, to build up layers of abstract space and floating organic forms. She evokes a sense of familiarity and at the same time otherworldliness. This exhibition explores the confusion of scale, taking inspiration from embryonic images and human anatomy.

Joanna mixes abstraction and figuration plus a suggestion of landscape viewed from above, these notions are only suggested at as the element of mystery is important to the work. The images are mainly derived from a merging of satellite and microscopic photography, searching for common patterns within nature.

Process is crucial to the work. The use of aluminium has increased the shine and reflective qualities of the paint as well as made its physical thickness and texture more apparent. The surface is formed by pouring the liquid paint, it then separates forming rivulets and drips that slide off the smooth metal. This helps to shape the composition, giving depth to the flatness. The lines and forms are then built up in layers. It is important that the paintings have their own gravity and no obvious beginning or end. The behaviour of the paint determines the outcome, and appears to remain fluid, wet and still forming. The process is an act of discovery and the result never preconceived.

Joanna graduated from Winchester School of Art where she obtained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art in 2007. Since finishing her degree she has been working as an assistant to Rebecca Newnham a glass mosaic sculptor based in Dorset before moving to Kent. She has recently taken part in Art @ Plush 4, a group exhibition in Dorset, and exhibited in the Stroud House Gallery.

Peter presents village scenes of Ojen in Sierra for his first major solo exhibition. Using acrylic Peter has drawn upon the Spanish style of painting using bold black line to create a distinct Spanish Flavour.

A cataract operation about 8 yrs ago opened a bright shiny world of colour and inspired Peter to try throwing colours at a variety of surfaces. Acrylic paint seemed ideal for the job and he has stayed with it since.

Peter has taken a variety of courses with adult education centres which have generally been very helpful despite an occasional mild bias against acrylics.

He is drawn to strong bright colours and bold shapes and enjoys works by the likes of Rouault and takes inspiration from the magical qualities of past ’masters’ Schiele and Modigliani

This is his first solo exhibition although he has exhibited the occasional painting locally with the Widmore Road centre and also with Bromley Arts Society and more recently at the Mall Galleries in London.

I have painted outdoors with the U3A, but this was fine weather painting only. The town scenes in the exhibition were painted in the village of Ojen in the Sierra above Marbella during a painting holiday. Over the week we were expected to complete 9 paintings in two and a half hour sessions and there were some hard times holding down the easel in the end of summer gusts with one hand whilst painting frantically with the other; the results are for your enjoyment. Peter Cox

Pencil Drawings predominate in this collection, being the preferred medium of Wesley Richards, a retired Architectural Illustrator and his previous profession is clearly reflected in his skill. Executed in pencil and watercolour this exhibition features a variety of subject matter and successfully highlights Wesley’s professional attention to detail.

Starting his Career as a Shopfitting Designer, Wesley Richards continued with this after National Service until 1960 changing to Architectural Illustration, working in an Architectural Practice illustrating both national and international projects, some of his illustrations being exhibited and sold in the RA’s Summer Exhibition.

Eventually becoming Freelance, Wesley was elected as a Fellow to the Society of Architectural Illustrators serving on the Committee and supporting their exhibitions at various venues nationally and internationally in the USA, Venice Bienalle, and South Korea.

Since retirement he has produced predominately pencil drawings, also rendered scale elevations of existing buildings. Amongst the works in this exhibition you will see one of several Scale Elevational Drawings. To calculate the dimensions Wesley has counted the bricks using their 9″x3″ module to arrive at heights and widths, taking numerous photographs for details. For Stone buildings the basic design & measurements are researched from books, backed by his own measurements and again photographs.

A showcase for the work of students from Ravens Wood School’s highly successful Fine Art, Graphics and Photography courses. This is a wonderful opportunity to view the work of fledgling artists created in a range of media from the traditional to the latest cutting edge technology.

The exhibition includes the work of both first and second year ‘A’ level students, so the visitor can share the excitement of seeing new students taking their first steps as independent creative artists as well as enjoying the more developed work of those who are moving on the Art colleges and degree courses. An exciting chance to see the artists of tomorrow at the start of their careers.

I will be exhibiting works in the media for which I am best known, hand coloured etchings. They are produced entirely by hand using techniques several hundred years old. In all works there is an element of humour, they are made with love and are for all ages.” Graham Clarke

“I am so pleased to be holding an exhibition in Bromley. I grew up in Hayes and Shortlands, where at the age of nine, I sold my first painting made in a private wood nearby. Fifty years ago I met my wife Wendy at a youth club in Bromley High Street. Our first home was in Palace Road not far from the Ripley Arts Centre. I found much to enjoy in that small area of old Bromley, discovered an ancient and rare press at a printers opposite and earned our living on it for some years. Forty years later I see that much of what inspired me then is still here, it’s good to be back.” Graham Clarke

Ludasto (Hansakunda),means Swan-lake, Ludasto is found in the heart of Hungary’s country side. In this area families lived far a way from each other, on farms in the past. Many of them left their properties and lands or sold them after post world war decades. The exhibition is about this Holy Place. I would like to show you the mysteries of the forest, the fields, the trees and the sky that is full of holiness.

Vaisnava monks moved in to this peaceful world of Ludasto, to an old school, and their community visits them here, time to time. The Guru (Master) is one of the monks, who still teach his disciplines, not only here, but also around the world, he has followers in Bulgaria, Czech, Romania, Croat, Austria, India and UK also.

Katalin Ubornyak was born in Hungary (Budapest). She studied art in a private school from Mihaly Meszaros and Laszlo Mehes. Katalin moved to India to understand the philosophy and the art and to practise her meditative technique, known as “art yoga”,. She has published a book about Rabintranath Tagore and many art articles and has given lectures and organized camps in the same subject. In 2008 Katalin obtained her Master of Art Degree and now lives in London drawing inspiration from this country for her work.

Katalin has also exhibited in India, Hungary, Austria as well as the UK.