Kurt painting on the river Liffey

Press Release

‘Kurt Jackson: River’ is a chance for people to see a diverse selection of work created over the course of the last ten years by Cornish-based artist (and Caught by the River contributor), Kurt Jackson.

The works range from large-scale oils and acrylics to small-scale etchings and sculpture. All of them are based on projects inspired by rivers including the Thames, Avon, Dart, the Liffey in Ireland and our very own River Tamar.

“Over the last decade Kurt Jackson has followed many rivers from the source to the sea,” explains Assistant Exhibitions Officer, Emma Philip. “He’s recorded the experience of these journeys at the riverbank in a variety of ways including on canvas, on paper, in collage and in words. Our exhibition features a selection of these works in a number of mediums and should give our visitors a real insight into Kurt’s creative process.”

The exhibition is a key part of a season of shows linked to Cornwall at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery. Exhibitions of works from its fine art collection by the St. Ives School of Artists and a show about the life of 18th Century Cornish landowner, Sir John St. Aubyn are already on display. A further exhibition featuring the drawings of former St. Ives School artist, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham is also set to open on Saturday 22 May.

The Museum is offering a number of events and activities in connection with the ‘Kurt Jackson: River’ exhibition. These include free, non-bookable family-friendly holiday workshops on 7 April, 2 and 3 June and contemporary craft workshops for adults on 5 June (£25 per person, booking deadline 27 May) and 3 July (£25 per person, booking deadline 24 June).

‘Kurt Jackson: River’ is on display at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery from 27 March to 10 July. Opening hours are 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays. Admission is free. For more information about the Museum’s exhibition programme visit www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk or call 01752 304774.

Biography

Kurt Jackson was born in 1961, in Blanford, Dorset; the son of two artists, and was encouraged from an early age to paint and draw. He grew up exploring the hedgerows and streams of his surroundings, often sketching the animals he observed. His father’s painting was a constant presence and he would paint plain air watercolour landscapes for recreation during family holidays – regularly taken on the Cornish coast.

Before reaching university age Jackson travelled extensively throughout the world including the Amazon Rainforest and the Arctic Circle. His parents were active in the peace movement and he was taken on many political demonstrations. By his late teens he had developed his own affiliations to libertarian politics and environmental issues.

At university Jackson initially opted to pursue his interest in natural history, and he graduated from St. Peters College, Oxford with an honours degree in zoology. However he spent most of his time attending classes at Ruskin College of Art or painting in the countryside surrounding Oxford.

In 1984 he and his wife Caroline settled in Boscastle. In 1989 they moved to West Cornwall where they still live with their three children. He has exhibited throughout the UK and in Ireland, Germany, France and the USA.