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Glossop artist, writer and art historian, Michael Howard, is exhibiting at Wall in the Barn at The Craft Barn in Hadfield, with a stunning collection of paintings of Kinder Scout.

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Entitled ‘Eye, Hand and Heart’, the exhibition will take place over the bank holiday weekend, 28th April to 1st May.

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The four-day event at the much-loved local art venue will display a selection of watercolours that Michael has painted over the years, including an incredible 6 foot long scroll depicting a view of the highest point in the Peak District and its beautiful, dramatic scenery.  This exhibition centres on a selection of paintings that Michael has made in response to the majestic presence of Kinder Scout, created while out walking on the moors with his dogs, Pippa and Bess.

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Michael said: “There is something very special about drawing and painting directly within the landscape: a sense of connectivity as the eye, hand and heart interact in response to our fabulous ever-changing environment.”

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A selection of Michael’s tiny sketchbooks, that weave writing and drawing together, will be on view to give a fascinating insight into his unique creative process. These works will be accompanied by several paintings that reflect the artist’s various interests and loves - domestic scenes, still life and pieces inspired by other artists’ work.

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Michael said: “I realised that, in doing so many studies of Kinder whilst walking our dogs on the moors, I had a collection of work that reminded me of the great nineteenth century Japanese artist Hokusai, who made 38 Views of Mount Fuji and, of course, Cezanne's obsessive and magnificent studies of Mont Sainte Victoire.”

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Michael has lived in Glossop, Derbyshire, for over thirty-five years. He is an artist, lecturer, and writer of art books, plays and poems.  During his career, Michael has published over twenty books on the history of art including L.S. Lowry: A Visionary Artist; An Evening at the Cabaret Voltaire; Ghislaine Howard: the Human Touch and many books on the Impressionists, including Monet, written in association with the Musée Marmottan, Paris, and Gauguin, in association with the Gauguin Museum, Tahiti.

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Being There, a collection of his poems and paintings, is currently being published by Gnosis Press and will be available to purchase at the exhibition.

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Manager of the Wall in the Barn, Julia Norton, shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming exhibition: “It is an extraordinary privilege to be able to curate and present the work of such a well-respected artist and art historian. This show will provide a wonderful mix of his work, from work inspired by Braque, to beautiful still life pieces and not forgetting the collection of watercolour paintings created ‘en plein air’ which captures the mood and beauty of our High Peak landscape”.

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‘Eye, Hand and Heart’ will open for an evening viewing (6.30 – 9pm) on Friday 28th April and then continue throughout the weekend from 11am to 4pm each day at the Wall in the Barn in The Craft Barn, just off Station Road in Hadfield.

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