For one Basingstoke artist a painting tucked away in the attic could become a nice little earner.
Fairfields Art Centre is hosting an exhibition by Kempshott painter Cicely Drewe.
The exhibition launched last month showcases the life’s work of the 80-year-old artist.
But before the paintings made it to the exhibition wall, Fairfields director Andrew Buchanan had to dig some of them out of the attic.
He said: “I have known Cicely for nine years and have really admired her work. So I went round to her house to chose the pictures.
“But a lot of the pictures were in the attic. So it was a case of asking her to go and dig out these old pictures that have not seen the light of day for a long time.
“This exhibition features work from the start of her career as a student right up to today so it covers a lifetime of influences and different styles.”
Cicely started painting when she was 18-years-old and studying at the Winchester School of Art.
She has been painting since graduating from the college 60 years ago.
She said: “When I was at art school we were taught to paint differently than today. We were following the impressionists.
“We would spent days on end doing a life drawing which teaches you a lot, there is so much to see when you are painting and looking closely.”
Having worked in Basingstoke as a tracer and printer she kept up her skills as a member of the Basingstoke Art Club.
And as well as painting, Cicely produces sculptures, a number of which feature in the exhibition.
The centrepiece of the 13-picture exhibition is a painting of an orchard, something which surprised Cicely.
She said: “The big picture of the orchard – it has never been shown before. It was one of the first things we did at art school.
“Now it seems to be the crowning glory of that exhibition which is quite strange. Everybody seems to like it which is good and I am pleased that it is appreciated.”
The exhibition runs until February 19. For more information, visit www.fairfields.org
