Contrasting perspectives, India and Nepal through the eyes of two artists

Louise Smurthwaite and Sophie Martin travelled together around India and Nepal for 4 months in 2014 and this exhibition will show the work they produced during and inspired by this trip. They had the idea that it would be interesting to replicate views from 2 different artistic perspectives and so the artworks in the exhibition are all from images drawn at similar view-points. Whilst Sophie is showing her original on location drawn pen and watercolour illustrations, Louise as a printmaker is exhibiting screen prints directly inspired from the sketchbook drawings she completed at the same time and place as Sophie. The contrast in focus of the images when exhibited alongside each other should make for a very interesting comparison of artistic interpretations. Alongside the original artworks the artists will also exhibit their original sketchbooks, prints, cards, books and zines inspired by the trip as well.

During their trip Louise and Sophie also undertook a volunteering placement with Art Refuge UK. They spent a few weeks in Dharamsala in Northern India and in Kathmandu in Nepal facilitating art workshops for disadvantaged groups including refugee children and adults. The exhibition will also involve some documentation of the artwork produced from their volunteering experiences. Proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to Art Refuge UK to help fund ongoing earthquake relief work in Nepal.

Dates: 5 October-22 October 2015.