by Rebecca Hannant
A new exhibition of works by local artist Heather Gatt will go on show at Easington Community Hall later this month.
Living on an Island will be the first of its kind for Heather since moving to the area, and if it goes well, she plans to host regular exhibitions.
Heather said her paintings were inspired by the wide skies and changing light, the tempestuous seas and migrating birds, the way the wildness contrasts with tranquil villages, and farms full of history and rural charm.
Heather said: “With the North Sea on one side, the Humber on the other and rural farmland in all other directions, living in Easington is a bit like living on an island.
“When I moved here from busy, bustling Whitby eight years ago I thought I might be lonely. It’s difficult to make the first step and walk into a hall full of people you don’t know. Having hearing loss due to childhood measles puts me at a big disadvantage too. But there is a great sense of community in Easington and Kilnsea and I’ve been made to feel very welcome.
“Having spent years making textile pictures of the dramatic landscape and seascapes in North Yorkshire, it has taken me a while to learn to ‘read’ and appreciate the wild, unspoilt beauty of Holderness. Suddenly this year I got my ‘eye in’ and now I can’t stop painting.”
Heather’s paintings will be on display at Easington Community Hall on Sunday, November 19, from 10am to 4pm.
The exhibition will also provide an opportunity to buy a range of Easington and Kilnsea crafts including textiles, photography and greetings cards. Admission is free, and hot drinks and homemade cake will be available for £2.
