Ann Shrager NEAC

Thompson’s Gallery, Aldeburgh are delighted to be holding a solo exhibition of new work by Ann Shrager.  This new body of work has been inspired by her recent travels to Kenya and the Masai Mara.  Ann paints beautiful ethereal paintings which give you a strong sense of the heat and shape of the landscape she is portraying.  There is more of a hint of a narrative than a sharp depiction in Ann’s work, they are gently capturing a moment of everyday life on a different continent, a small glimpse into traditional way of life.  Ann has not been to Kenya for many years so it is extremely exciting to be able to show these works from her recent trip.  

As well as paintings from Kenya, we will also be showing work from India which has for many years been associated with Ann’s paintings.  Elephants with their mahouts, ladies washing laundry, colourfully dressed ladies swaying gentle through the landscape, goat herders in the light of dusk.  We get a romanticised portal into the life and landscape of Rajastan.  Ann has a deep fascination with different cultures and backgrounds and India is her favourite place in the world, she is taken by the colour of the landscape and the warmth and beauty of the people she meets.

Ann credits her parents with being the largest influences on her painting as they always encouraged her to create and to develop a keen eye for placement and aesthetics.  Growing up she was surrounded by objects and flowers, all placed carefully by her mother who had an artistic and creative flare.  Her father was a skilled furniture maker and made beautiful inlayed wooden furniture and would also extend his skills to making picture frames for Ann in which she placed her painting which would then be shown at the Royal Academy.