Big thank you to Peter Stiles & The Plough Arts Centre for allowing me to exhibit on their Artist’s Wall. I spent the morning setting up early with a nice cup of coffee. My exhibition is now open but will run officially from the 21st September to 19th October. Al
Last night I spent an enjoyable evening exhibiting work with photographers Adrian Beasley & Stephen Raff. This event was a preview exhibition for this year’s North Devon Art Trek 2019. The name Black Arts originated from our collective work of black & white photography and Bideford Black paintings.
Throughout the evening Adrian showed his skills in photo editing for which he runs regular weekend courses far and wide. He also performed some electronic music, has numerous albums and performs with the group Airsculpture. Stephen took some traditional wet plate portraits which intrigued the audience greatly. I chatted about my sourcing of the Bideford Black pigment, it’s preparation and usage. For us the evening turned out much better than we had anticipated and we’d like to say a great thanks for those who attended. Al
780 x 550mm Bideford Black on Bockingford Paper. Another painting of my favourite walk down the boardwalk to Crow Point in North Devon. This has been completed just in time for this year’s Art Trek opening evening at the Pilton Arts Group in Barnstaple 12:09:2019. I am sharing this evening with the amazing landscape photographer Adrian Beasley and wet plate photographer Stephen Raff. I will post pictures of this event soon. Al
An enjoyable, in the moment, walk with my son Archie up to the Upcott Folly to see the sunset. I heard the sound of a plane overhead and to my pleasure a Tiger Moth flew over us and on into the evening sunset 08:09:19. Perhaps a painting for a winter evening? Al
This window was designed by one of my old teachers, the Bideford artist James Peterson A.R.S.A. and portrays St Helena the Patron Saint of Lundy carrying a boat and St Michael with an aeroplane. There is also a map of Lundy with white horses as well as many sea birds which include, of course, a Puffin. It was given in memory of Arthur Manley Tucker and his son George. The father was buried off Lundy and his son was killed in action with the RAF in WW2.
To start Art Trek this year Adrian Beasley, Stephen Raff and Al Brown will be holding an exhibition at The Old School used by The Pilton Art Group, beside Pilton Church. This is also near to the Ladywell in Pilton, Barnstaple EX31 1QT. The evening is a preview of our work Adrian & Stephen are both photographers and myself a multimedia artist. Should be an interesting evening including Adrian’s music and you’ll be pleased to know that drinks will also be available!
Another image in this WW2 photo montage series of planes flying from RAF Chivenor. This is what it may have looked like to see an Avro Anson flying low over the flood barrier heading back to RAF Chivenor, part of Coastal Command 1941.
My mother (who lived as a child in the cottage at Little Raleigh, Roborough, Barnstaple, North Devon) remembers an aircraft crashing into the wall opposite to where she lived, near to where the North Devon District Hospital now stands. Her brother Terrance visited the site the morning after and retrieved some of the clear perspex canopy. He then made rings inlaid with paste diamonds for some of the local girls in Derby. The account in now available from Robert Palmer MA, Titled The Last Flight of Avro Anson N9817. http://www.BritishMilitaryHistory.co.uk. January 15th 1940: Avro Anson 652 reg K6271. While on a night training mission, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a Barnstaple field for an unknown reason. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor. The crew fate remains unknown. PLANE CRASH NEAR BARNSTAPLE Albert Percival Snelling 45, Pilot Killed: Engineer Rescued. MACHINE BURNT OUT: RICKS DESTROYED. The pilot lost his life and the other occupant was seriously injured when a twin engine aeroplane crashed which had for some considerable time been at Barnstaple and North Devon Aerodrome. Bureau Of Aircraft Accidents Archive.May 15th 1941: Avro Anson N9817. Crashes at Roborough, North Devon. Two pilots were killed as was an unfortunate road worker. The crash was documented as youthful exuberance. The had been performing a falling leaf manoeuvre and had sadly stalled their aircraft.August 27th 1941: A twin engine aircraft (probably an Avro Anson ) was reported “missing” in northern Cornwall, perhaps at Harland ; This plane was from Chivenor.July 4th 1958: VV362 Avro Anson, After taxiing in at RAF Chivenor, Devon, an ambulance was reversed in front of it to transfer a patient from the Anson. The pilot increased rpm to prevent oiling the plugs but the aircraft moved forward and struck the ambulance. The fuselage was twisted and the tail damaged. There were no injuries.October 17th 1960: WD451, Following an uneventful training mission from RAF St Athan, the crew mistakenly belly landed at RAF Chivenor. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest and was damaged beyond repair. Both pilots were unhurt. The probable cause was thought to be that the crew mistakenly raised the landing gear on approach instead of lowering the flaps.
The image above is of Blackpool Mill Cottage at Hartland in North Devon. Images of the planes are from the Imperial War Museum Archive. The people are from Google Images of people receiving supplies during a WW2 airdrop. The cottage has been used in many films and TV dramas and is an image of mine.
https://www.hartlandpeninsula.co.uk/self-catering/blackpool-mill-cottage.html
The image above is as if you happened to be cycling around the Braunton Marsh in North Devon during the second world war. RAF Chivenor is very close to the marsh and seeing such scenes must have been common place. Original aircraft image taken from Google Images and the marsh picture is one of mine.
In July 1942 three squadrons of Bristol Beaufighters were located at RAF Chivenor in North Devon to offer protection to shipping in the Bay of Biscay and to undertake anti submarine duties. These comprised of 235, 236 & 248 Squadrons of the RAF. Wikipedia
The cockpit of a Beaufighter 252 Squadron RAF Chivenor Imperial War Museum.
A Beaufighter and personnel of 235 Squadron, October 1942. North Devon Gazette.
Al Brown Artist. 