Artist of the Month - Marion Taylor
Posted 18 September 2023
Our artist of the month for September is Dorset Visual Arts' Member Marion Taylor. Marion's painting Red Barn, Eggardon was selected for the Thelma Hulbert Gallery Open. The exhibition is on until Saturday 28th October. She is also currently exhibiting as part of the Artists of the Jurassic Coast Exhibition at Eype Centre for the Arts until the end of September.
Here's what she had to say about her practice and working in Dorset: Marion attended the Somerset College of Art in the heady days of the late 70’s leaving with a Diploma in Textile Design and Surface Pattern. Marion has lived in West Dorset for over 30 years and is a regular participant in Bridport Open Studios and Dorset Art Weeks.
Blackthorn Winter, Eggardon
Working mainly in Acrylic on Wood Panel and Gouache on Paper, Marion draws her inspiration from the beautiful West Dorset landscape which surrounds her home and studio, in particular hills such as Colmers and Eggardon are a constant inspiration. A keen walker and an avid observer of the changing seasons each bringing varying arrays of colours and smells - there is nothing like the perfume from the first Violet.
Marion has also appeared with Julia Bradbury on the ITV series Walks with a View where she chatted with Julia about her love of Colmer’s Hill. Marion has published two books, Colmer’s Hill - One Artists Obsession and West Bay - A Journey in Art from Bridport Harbour to West Bay, both these books explore how prominent artists through time have portrayed the iconic locations. One of Marion’s well known Colmer’s Hill paintings features annually on the Brid Lit brochure cover. Marion was delighted have been chosen to exhibit at the lovely Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton for their Open Exhibition 2023.
Colmers Hill, Autumn
How does working/living in Dorset influence my artistic practice?
Marion arrived in Dorset with a young family intending to stay for a year or two, 30 years later she still lives and has her studio here. West Dorset is a magical place which weaves its magic on many people particularly artists and writers. As an avid walker Marion feels a very close connection to the changing seasons and it is these stomps around the locality, across fields, up hills and delving into woods and coppices which informs her work and gives it an authenticity.
You can find out more about Marion Taylor's work on her Dorset Visual Arts' Profile, on her website, and her Instagram.