Edged by the Sea - An Exhibition

During the past six months, Cornish artist tutor Victoria Gillow has been working – exploring and painting around our coast – soaking up the longer days and brighter weather. And her exploration has now come to fruition, as she launches a brand new solo art exhibition at Trebah Gardens in Falmouth.

Running from 1 April – 1 May, ‘Edged by the Sea’ is a deeply personal exploration into a bit of coast which Victoria is well-connected to, Helford and Falmouth Bay. The collection of work explores the importance of the sea being ever present.

I work on the coast – on the edges of the sea. I aim to acknowledge how the sea, the rivers, the oceans and its space and light affect me.

Victoria Gillow

Victoria paints within the sheltered shores and on the headlands, all around the Cornish coast. She is deeply interested in how the soft valleys, gardens, coves and harbours, which all surround the edge of the sea, help to shelter and protect us.

We are on the edge, aware of the raw energy, strength and space that the ocean gives us. The shelter allows us to understand, watch and observe, in kind spaces that protect us.

Victoria Gillow

In these spaces, the edges are blurred. For instance where tree lines and headlines move beyond the land and bridge the sky, and the edges of the shore meet the sea. ‘Edged’ also evokes the idea of an emotional boundary, as well as physical, where we often experience a change in feeling and perspective by being on our coast.

Edged by the Sea will be open from 1 April – 1 May, at the Trebah Gardens Exhibition Space and is free to enter.

If you’re inspired by the way Victoria harnesses a sense of place through her work, you can join us on her upcoming course Expressive Landscape Painting, which will combine an en plein air response to landscape with in-studio reflective practice, to hone your skills and personal approach to painting. 

Works by Victoria Gillow