Plantlife was the third in an annual series of exhibitions at Fen Ditton Gallery that focus on the natural world.

A developing part of the gallery programme this series foregrounds artists, makers and designers across media who draw particular inspiration from the natural world and create memorable objects and images in response. 

Due to the pandemic, the exhibition took two forms; The first ''virtual' edition of this exhibition with the opportunity to view by appointment (view details of this exhibition here) took place in June 2020. The second version of the exhibition brought back some of the superb works that were on display then; Pauline Burbidge's 2m sq quilt (listen to Hannah’s interview with Pauline here), Malcolm Appleby's gingko leaf brooches and Lizzie Farey's willow drawing; and combines them with new additions such as domestic ceramics by Daphne Carnegy and Annie Hewett, solarplate etchings by Susie Turner, intricate wood engravings by Andy English, black and white photography by Paul Hart and Lotte Attwood, engraved glassware from Katharine Coleman and Gillies Jones (listen to Hannah’s interview with Gillies Jones here), botanical works by Barbara McGirr and Sandy Sykes, ceramic bowls by Jane Perryman and a concertina watercolour drawing by Anna Raven.

The exhibition also highlighted works that artists had created during lockdown, inspired by their gardens or the plants they encountered on daily walks; drawings by Nigel Hall, an original feather meadow print by Rebecca Jewell and new drawings by leading designer and ceramist Frances Priest from her Patterns of Flora project.

Once again (with your help!), we donated a percentage of sales to support the work of Plantlife conservation charity, as they call for councils to make road verge cutting regimes more wildlife-friendly. Road verges are a vital refuge for wild flowers and the wealth of wildlife they underpin. There’s been some good news locally: Cambridge County Council councillors asked for a review of grass cutting regimes across the county. Plantlife's Road Verge Campaign Manager has had initial discussions with the councils highways team and their contractors to discuss verge management guidance. And other positive progress is happening, with the On the Verge Cambridge verge volunteer group working hard to raise awareness for flower-rich verges and greenspace across the city. 

This exhibition is open 10th October - 15th November 2020
Opening times are Saturdays and Sundays from 11am - 5pm
Other appointments are available by appointment: please contact us on info@fendittongallery.com to book

As is the times we are living in, masks are compulsory and visitor numbers will be limited to 6 at a time. You can read our COVID-19 policies here.

Exhibiting artists: Malcolm Appleby, Lotte Attwood, Jonathan Buckley, Pauline Burbidge, Daphne Carnegy, Katharine Coleman, Andy English, Lizzie Farey, Studio Gillies Jones, Nigel Hall RA, Paul Hart, Annie Hewett, Rebecca Jewell, Barbara McGirr, Jane Perryman, Frances Priest, Anna Raven, Susie Turner

Pasqueflower by Jonathan Buckley

With the kind permission of award-winning garden photographer, Jonathan Buckley, we have produced a limited edition run of high quality giclee prints of this beautiful image of the Pasqueflower - the flower of Cambridgeshire!

Originally photographed for Sarah Raven's Wildflower book, all profits from the sale of these prints will be donated to Plantlife Charity to support their Road Verges project.

Pasqueflower, Jonathan Buckley
297 x 210mm
Edition of 20, giclee print

14 - 22 September 2019

In an era of technology, the inherent importance of art in our lives is ever-more apparent. The benefits of switching off and losing yourself in a work of art that has captured your imagination are unrivalled... but where to begin?

You are invited to view this collection of contemporary artwork and prints that explore and enhance modern life.

Exhibiting artists:
Lotte Attwood
Rosemary Cullum
Nigel Hall
Katharine Le Hardy
Justin Hawkes
Felix Higham
Harriet Hoult
Iona Howard
Alice Kirkham
Roger Law

An exhibition of artists’ perspectives on trees in celebration of the work of Oliver Rackham OBE (1939-2015) and the Woodland Trust.

21 September - 28 October 2018

"Oliver’s work has had a profound influence on our understanding of trees and woodland as places where history and ecology, human influence and natural forces have combined and interacted to create complex and continuously fascinating places." Mike Townsend, Principal Advisor, Woodland Trust

Twelve artists, one subject -  trees and woodland : an exhibition devised to celebrate the life and legacy of  Oliver Rackham and to support the work of the Woodland Trust.  All works are for sale and a percentage of sale proceeds will be given to the Woodland Trust as a contribution to work they continue in Oliver’s memory.

Oliver Rackham was the leading historian and ecologist of British woods as well as a fellow and master at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He spent many years researching the history and ecology of ancient woods and the remarkable adaptability of trees, which allowed him to write with extensive knowledge and insight, bringing the history of woods to life. In 1986, he decided to write a number of distinct volumes on the ancient woods of Britain. Although only one was published, he worked on several others including The Woods of the Helford River, Cornwall. Sadly it was not quite completed and remained unpublished at the time of his death in 2015. The Woodland Trust has been working closely with Corpus Christi College to finish and publish the book, so that Oliver’s outstanding knowledge can be passed on to future generations. 

Exhibited works are drawn from different disciplines and demonstrate distinct visual responses to trees and woodland: all however are conceived by artists for whom this subject has been a central concern. David Nash’s massed charcoal rendering of the ‘giz’ of old lime trees; a pine cone minutely observed in pencil and then transformed into chased silver by Michael Lloyd; Paul Hart’s acutely observed photographs of trees edging the industrial farmlands of the fens; an oak log elegantly realized as a dramatic black seat by Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsley. Printmaking, drawing, engraving and tapestry are all explored as the means to capturing the experience of trees and their continuing presence in our twenty-first century lives.  

All works will be for sale and a percentage of sale proceeds will be given to the Woodland Trust to support the work they continue in Oliver’s memory.  

Exhibitors:

Norman Ackroyd – Etchings and Aquatint; Malcolm Appleby – Engraved Silver; Lotte Attwood – Black and White Photography; Wilhlemina Barns-Graham (1912-2004) – Drawing; Sara Brennan  - Drawings and Tapestry; Buckmaster and French – Etchings;  Paul Hart – Black and White Photography; Michael Lloyd – Drawings and Chased and Handraised Silver Vessels;  Garry Fabian-Miller – Photograms; David Nash – Drawings; Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsley – Furniture/Wood ; James Ravilious (1939-1999) – Photographs of the work of Jim Partridge in woodland in the late 1980s.

8 - 24 July 2018

International Blues launched an occasional series of shows devoted to a single colour. Working with Oxford Ceramics Gallery, Amanda sourced a vibrant selection of modern ceramics from Japan, Denmark and the UK which were installed alongside screenprints and lithographs by Howard Hodgkin (1932-2017) and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912 -2004) and a tapestry by Jo Barker.

International Blues and subsequent shows planned on 'red' and 'yellow',  acknowledge the considerable importance of Cambridge-based research into pigment and the culture of colour  in particular through the work of the late John Gage. 

Ceramic exhibitors included:
Michael Casson; Walter Keeler; Jin Eu Kim; David Leach; Bodil Manz; Maeda Masahiro; Niisato Akiro; Colin Pearson; Lucie Rie; Inger Rokkjaer; Shinobu Kawase; Janice Tchalenko.