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Keeping it Real: New English Art, 1920 - 2020
26 September - 4 December 2026

Keeping it Real: New English Art, 1920 - 2020

Current exhibition
  • Overview
  • Works
  • Press release
  • Related Artists
Overview
Carel Weight The River Arun Oil on board 31.5 x 40.5 cms (12.40 x 15.94 ins)
Carel Weight
The River Arun
Oil on board
31.5 x 40.5 cms (12.40 x 15.94 ins)

ART EXHIBITION OPEN:


Thursday 8 October, 2pm to 4pm

and

Wednesday 14 October, 10am to 12 noon

 

Eight great British Painters who, refusing the turn to the abstract and the esoteric in the wake of post-impressionism, stayed with figurative realism as the best way to communicate their deep affection for people and places.

 

This exhibition features the work of Augustus John, Laura Knight, Ruskin Spear, Carel Weight, William Bowyer, Peter Kuhfeld, Ken Howard and Peter Brown.

 

Each was to have significant interaction with the New English Art Club. Spear, Bowyer and Brown were presidents of the club. John and Kuhfeld were elected members. Laura Knight exhibited there, being powerfully influenced by her fellow Newlyn artists so many of whom were central in the emergence of NEAC. Carel Weight was never formally a member but was nevertheless close friends with Spear and instrumental in teaching William Bowyer at the RCA.

 

A particular highlight is the introduction of a major new acquisition: Ruskin Spear's Public House, a masterpiece of post war social realism. The exhibition also retrieves some old favourites not exhibited at Champs Hill in the past five years.

 

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Works
  • Peter Brown, Towards Keynsham from Lansdown Crescent, 2000
    Peter Brown, Towards Keynsham from Lansdown Crescent, 2000
  • Carel Weight, The River Arun
    Carel Weight, The River Arun
  • Ruskin Spear, Public House
    Ruskin Spear, Public House
  • Augustus John, Portrait of Edwin, the Artist's Son
    Augustus John, Portrait of Edwin, the Artist's Son
  • Augustus John, Augustus John Self-Portrait, 1950
    Augustus John, Augustus John Self-Portrait, 1950
  • Augustus John, Portrait of the artist's son, David, in uniform
    Augustus John, Portrait of the artist's son, David, in uniform
  • Laura Knight, Gypsy Encampment
    Laura Knight, Gypsy Encampment
  • Laura Knight, Gypsy and Girl
    Laura Knight, Gypsy and Girl
  • Laura Knight, Portrait of an Entertainer
    Laura Knight, Portrait of an Entertainer
  • Ruskin Spear, Self Portrait
    Ruskin Spear, Self Portrait
  • Ruskin Spear, Man with a Pipe: the Artist's Father
    Ruskin Spear, Man with a Pipe: the Artist's Father
  • Carel Weight, The Cricketer, 1984
    Carel Weight, The Cricketer, 1984
  • Carel Weight, On the Balcony
    Carel Weight, On the Balcony
  • William Bowyer, Self Portrait, 2013
    William Bowyer, Self Portrait, 2013
  • William Bowyer, Richmond Hill
    William Bowyer, Richmond Hill
  • William Bowyer, Chiswick Winter
    William Bowyer, Chiswick Winter
  • Peter Kuhfeld, May Afternoon, Jemimah Studies the Text, 1999
    Peter Kuhfeld, May Afternoon, Jemimah Studies the Text, 1999
  • Ken Howard, Charlotte Reflection
    Ken Howard, Charlotte Reflection
  • Peter Kuhfeld, On the Balcony, Venice, 1997
    Peter Kuhfeld, On the Balcony, Venice, 1997
  • Peter Brown, Night from Waterloo Bridge, 2010
    Peter Brown, Night from Waterloo Bridge, 2010
  • Peter Brown, Notre-Dame from Pont de l'Archeveche, Early Evening, 2014
    Peter Brown, Notre-Dame from Pont de l'Archeveche, Early Evening, 2014
  • Augustus John, Portrait of Mrs Eve Fleming
    Augustus John, Portrait of Mrs Eve Fleming
  • Augustus John, Amaryllis Fleming, 1949
    Augustus John, Amaryllis Fleming, 1949
Press release

Eight great British Painters who, refusing the turn to the abstract and the esoteric in the wake of post-impressionism, stayed with figurative realism as the best way to communicate their deep affection for people and places.

 

This exhibition features the work of Augustus John, Laura Knight, Ruskin Spear, Carel Weight, William Bowyer, Peter Kuhfeld, Ken Howard and Peter Brown. 

 

Each was to have significant interaction with the New English Art Club. Spear, Bowyer and Brown were presidents of the club.  John and Kuhfeld were elected members.  Laura Knight exhibited there, being powerfully influenced by her fellow Newlyn artists so many of whom were central in the emergence of NEAC.  Carel Weight was never formally a member but was nevertheless close friends with Spear and instrumental in teaching William Bowyer at the RCA.

 

A particular highlight is the introduction of a major new acquisition: Ruskin Spear's Public House, a masterpiece of post war social realism.  The exhibition also retrieves some old favourites not exhibited at Champs Hill in the past five years.

Related artists

  • William Bowyer

    William Bowyer

  • Peter Brown

    Peter Brown

  • Ken Howard

    Ken Howard

  • Augustus John

    Augustus John

  • Laura Knight

    Laura Knight

  • Peter Kuhfeld

    Peter Kuhfeld

  • Ruskin Spear

    Ruskin Spear

  • Carel Weight

    Carel Weight

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Registered Charity No. 289446,
Champs Hill, Coldwaltham,
Pulborough, RH20 1LY

A privately owned collection of over 300 paintings and sculptures, managed by The Bowerman Charitable Trust for the benefit of public enjoyment. 

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