Well, what a blast of Art, Culture and Heritage, as well as bracing walks on beaches, a holiday with friend, Marysia Zipser all crammed in during the early days of September, 2017! No doubt, it was to be expected, as Marysia is an Arts and Culture promoter and the founder of Art-Culture-Tourism (Beeston, UK and International), of which I am a member and represented artist. (I am a professional fine artist, painter, printmaker and mixed media artist.) Here is my page on the ACT website.
It was Marysia's first visit and my second to Blakeney, where my brother and sister-in-law have a lovely static caravan (complete with all the mod cons, including electric shower!) we stayed on the beautiful Friary Farm National Trust site, within the orchard area. Though the weather was changeable, during out stay, sunshine and showers (including a complete wash out in Wells-Next-The-Sea), our first afternoon/early evening was bathed in gorgeous sunshine, facilitating our blissfully blue photos of beautiful Blakeney.
Action-packed, our enthralling experiences were the stuff of exhilarating holiday memories.
Two visits to the must-visit wonderfully quaint Georgian town of Holt, boasting ten Art Galleries (successful family businesses spanning generations), such as that of Michael Hill's Picturecraft Art Gallery and Exhibition Centre and his son Adrian (right) who owns Adrian Hill Fine Art, both displaying outstanding art.
Michael (Left) has been instrumental in founding and promoting The Holt Owl Trail (Arts and Heritage) marking the route with a series of copper pavement plaques.
We also felt like royalty taking up the kind offer of a private viewing of the exhibition of Chris Prout's expressive acrylic landscape paintings and Rachel Wood's wonderfully textured ceramics, both of which complemented each other's work perfectly. The exhibition was curated by Bircham Gallery owner, Chris. Harrison, himself an artist and photographer, producing fascinating abstract photos.
That was only the start of out art extravaganza week.
There was a very enjoyable visit to The Red Dot Gallery, run by Colin Rawlings (right), exhibiting a fascinating eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional art, including many bronze sculptures (stunning pieces of dogs).
Next was The Anthony Fell Antiques and Fine Art Centre, where the wonderfully brightly coloured paintings of Elizabeth Merriman adored the walls, surprisingly complementing the lavish antique furniture on display.
In contrast, there was by necessity a need for contract! Through out our trip there were the bracingly breezy walks along Old Hunstanton and Cley beaches, observing and photographing the sand dunes and colourful beach huts, the spectacular big Norfolk skies and sunlight on Hunstanton Beach, the inspiring visit to Hunstanton Heritage Centre, enjoying coffee, biscuits and cake in Holt and the delicious Deli at Thornham (an Aladdin's cave of delights, with an array of gifts, run by a South African, providing gorgeous food at the café and take away).
Finally, mention must be made to the invigorating and inspiring walk around the beautiful grounds and deer park of Houghton Hall to view The Richard Long Exhibition and other contemporary and traditional sculpture within the beautiful walled garden, complete with a flower shop. What a feast for the eyes it all was!
Certainly, our holiday was one to remember and both Marysia's and my photos bear testimony to that.
Until the next time!
Thank you for reading - Pam Miller