Welcome to our Life in Exmoor National Park with Painting by artist Melody Hawtin B.A.Hons and Photography by David Hawtin
Here in Exmoor National Park, the light has a beautiful quality that draws out the subtle tones of this ever changing landscape. Rich colours of gorse and heather through the summer months and the rich reds of bracken during the autumn and winter months. To live, paint and take photographs in this place is a dream for an artist.
Melody and David continue to operate via our website, but hope to be available by appointment from 12th April 2021. Should you require assistance please feel free to contact us via phone or email. As we move out of lockdown we will be open by appointment in Melody’s studio.
BBC Countryfile
Melody was recently filmed as part of a BBC Countryfile profile of Holnicote Estate in Exmoor. The weather was appalling with horizontal rain, but Melody is never put off and managed to maintain a cheerful outlook as she shared her love of the Exmoor countryside. Returning to her studio Melody painted the local scene that she had just sketched, the film follows the progress of the painting and shows something of Melody’s studio in Porlock on Exmoor. The programme will be shown on Sunday 8th March 2020 and is going out appropriately on International Women’s Day. Follow this link is to her specific contribution
Major Solo Art Exhibition
25th June to 25th August 2019 – in Northern Ireland at The Oriel Gallery in Clotworthy House and part of Antrim Castle Gardens in their new space which is stunning. It’s a wonderful opportunity presented by a casual glimpse in my gallery window by the curator, Philip Magennis, while on holiday in Exmoor. Melody’s exhibition was a spiritual journey as a retrospective with work created from when she was 17 to the current day including poetry which is very much part of her romantic, Expressionistic art style. The Exhibition was a great success set in a wonderful building and a wonderful privilege.
Featured work from our Online Gallery
Based in Porlock a working village in the heart of Exmoor National Park, an area from which we draw our inspiration. You will find our gallery on the High Street where we are able to exhibit our work throughout the year, alternately please visit our online shop where you can view and purchase original paintings and fine art Giclée prints of selected works. Most work can be delivered free within mainland UK and at cost for other locations.
Melody Hawtin
As an artist Melody is primarily a painter, although that is a simplification as she is inspired by so many things. Painting, photography, poetry and art history are among her specific artistic interests.
David Hawtin
As a photographer David is interested in light and the prevailing conditions of the landscape, varying daily and season by season it is in the moment that a photograph is captured.
Art Gallery & Studio
Melody and David have a small art gallery on the high street in Porlock which is open on selective days or by appointment, please use the contact page to enquire.
The gallery has a selection of original paintings and a wider selection of prints of paintings and photographs from which to choose.
A few minutes walk from the gallery Melody has a large studio where a wider range of original paintings is available.
The studio is set in a converted old tannery building, spacious with high ceiling and patio doors leading out to the river that runs by, it is an ideal place for an artist.
Giclée prints are produced by David, the images are scanned using a high-resolution scanner. The colours are corrected in agreement with Melody and then printed using a Canon IPF8300 large format printer. Original Canon inks are used and high-quality art papers and canvas, usually Hahnemühle which we have found to enhance the print and to give a good representation of the original artwork.