A new documentary film celebrating artists both past and present who have responded to the landscape of the Stour Valley will premiere online this month.
In ‘Stour Surrounding – Artists and the Valley’ we hear how this special landscape – of renowned John Constable, Thomas Gainsborough, Cedric Morris and Alfred Munnings – continues to shape and speak to the work of contemporary artists today.
Moving between studio interviews and beautiful footage across the valley we hear from painter and sculptor Maggi Hambling who speaks of ‘absorbing’ the landscape, and from Simon Carter, and May Cornet who talk expressively about how they respond to the Stour Valley and landscape in their own individual ways.
The film will launch with a live premiere online at 7pm on Thursday 29th October and will be available to view online, for free, on the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty YouTube Channel. You will be able to tune in live here.
The film has been produced by artist Jevan Watkins Jones with Offshoot Films. It was commissioned by the ‘Improving the Stour Valley for Visitors’ project, which is hosted by the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and is funded by The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
The Stour Valley is a nationally significant area for artists, positioned on the border between Essex and Suffolk – an area sometime referred to as Constable Country – and with its wide skies, abundant natural light and gentle green horizon, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an inspiration for landscape artists in particular.
For centuries its inhabitants and visitors have celebrated this valley with their artistic skills and talents. From famous artists of the past who painted this special landscape, such as Constable, Gainsborough, Nash and Munnings, to contemporary artists working, teaching and displaying their works in galleries today, the Stour Valley is a unique and exciting destination for those with an interest in art.
The film aims to shine a spotlight on the area’s artistic history and share the story with a new audience of nature and art lovers.
You can find out more about the Stour Valley visitor development project here.
For more details please contact Oka Last and Katherine Davies, Stour Valley Visitor Development Officers at visitstourvalley@suffolk.gov.uk or phone 01394 445225.