Lee Campbell

Romantic Paintings, The Thames & Eel Pie Island

I've just completed 5 landscape paintings much bigger than I've usually worked and found it be a real pleasure, especially as the gallery who commissioned the work was keen that I did not put too much detail in. Previously I've had requests to make quite detailed work of local scenes such as 'The View' from Richmond Hill looking down on the bend in the Thames River. This view has been painted by artists since Turner's time and beyond and is preserved from building development. The flood plane known as Petersham Meadow has cows grazing on it and the hill above is a favourite place for romance, with many weddings and proposals taking place with 'The View' as a back drop.

The Thames painters from the 18th century - J.M.W. Turner and James McNeil Whistler are both great heros of mine and the River Thames has personal significance so you can imagine how I appreciate having my studio on Eel Pie Island in the Thames just up river from the island in the view. Eel Pie Island was very famous in the late 1950's and '60s firstly as a jazz venue then the place where some of the first rock bands - The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart etc. played. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eel_Pie_Island

The community of Eel Pie Artists have an Open Studio event this weekend. This is a bi annual event and the next one will be in December.  See my site for more details: www.leecampbell.co.uk