Fiona Millais 'A Path Through the Landscape'

Bohun Gallery is delighted to be exhibiting the new collection of paintings by Fiona Millais.

Millais’ work is produced on the completion of a journey – either abroad or within the British Isles and the paintings evolve from memories, drawings and notes. The landscapes of coast and farmland, woods and heathland are a constant and enduring subject, explored by daily walks with her faithful dog. From stored memories and objects picked up on these expeditions, Millais creates layers of texture, tone, colour and interwoven history on the canvas. Stones, leaves and feathers become visual reminders of the place and time and music and literature often provide additional source material.

A source of fascination for artists over the generations has always been the connection between the natural rhythms of the land and how it reflects the human presence, or lack of it. Fiona Millais’ landscapes are shaped by society and our ancestors, leaving marks and echoes through time. She depicts expanses of farmland as intricate tapestries shaped by prehistoric coastlines and planted woodlands dissected by natural waterways. A further layer of recent exploration for the artist is based on the coastlines of Cornwall and Western Scotland where land, sea, islands and her own family history are entwined. As the great grand-daughter of Pre Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais, Fiona is part of a rich artistic heritage – a quality that permeates her enigmatic imagery.