The Albany Gallery hosts a two-person show featuring Judith Bridgland and Gerald Green with a collection of stunning oil paintings inspired by their travels and favourite places.

Both artists regularly journey to seek inspiration for their artwork, resulting in beautiful pictures of beaches and cottages from the picturesque Port Eynon in Wales to gorgeous Sorrento in Italy that will be exhibited at the Cardiff gallery from Thursday, 8^th March.

Judith Bridgland was born in Australia, and trained in Glasgow, Scotland where she lives and works.

Working in oils, her paintings use bold, vigorous, rhythmical strokes of impasto paint combined with delicate brushwork and she says Wales is one of her top destinations to visit.

“Wales is a favourite place to find inspirational landscapes, and the wonderful Gower reminds me so much of the rugged west coast of Scotland, where I am based. It’s a long journey but I am especially fond of the little village of Port Eynon,” she says. “I’ve been returning there for a number of years now, with the long curve of the bay and the colours and sand patterns that constantly change throughout the day. The dunes and coastal paths are covered in the most wonderful wildflowers, so different throughout the seasons.

“I also love the sweeping coastline of Rhossili, because you can see such a very long way into the distance – it’s exhilarating! The bay of sand is so vast, it’s difficult to tell how big it really is. You can sit on the cliff there, and watch the clouds and weather roll in, the shadows chasing across the strand and up the cliffs. The mood of the landscape changes in a moment.

She added: “Another favourite place is Three Cliffs Bay, again because you can get such a fantastic all-around view on the clifftop of the dramatic coastline there. There is also the beautiful, serpentine curve of the river flowing across the sand, and the mood of the place can change so quickly depending on the weather and the season. Every time, it looks different.”

Judith takes many photographs during her visits and then, back in the studio, uses the tactile, textural qualities of oils to build up the paintings in an almost sculptural way. Lots of impasto mark-making, using palette knives and a wide range of brushes, build the sense of energy and vitality of the landscape.

In 1986 British artist Gerald Green, who is based in Warwickshire, gave up his career as an architect to follow his passion for painting. His work has been shown in Europe, USA and in 2010 he was an invited artist for the inaugural International Watercolour Biennial in China. 

He too takes inspiration from places he has visited and creates paintings which are his own interpretations of places and everyday events.

Gerald, who is also a published author and contributor to arts magazines, regularly paints ‘en plein air’ and says his paintings are personal responses to what he sees. His approach is to interpret the essence of subjects with an artistic portrayal that depicts them as anything but ordinary. Light is the essential ingredient that he uses to energise and invigorate his work.

This collection includes stunning images of Sorrento’s Grand Harbour, a pretty Powys cottage, a greenhouse scene, a piano and many more.

He says: “My paintings are impressions of places and events from everyday life. Many are painted on the spot with a sense of what I like to call ‘casual reality’ through which I aim to catch the essence of my subjects with the use of light to energize and invigorate the work.

“The collection of 20 oil paintings I am showing in the exhibition depict an eclectic mix of subject matter, things I have come across on my travels, including vernacular rural Welsh cottages and interiors together with other ancillary subjects in a range of sizes.”

Judith Bridgland/ Gerald Green is at Albany Gallery from 8th – 30th March.

Opening hours are: Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm / Sunday 11am – 4pm

You can find out more by calling them on 029 2078 9171, emailing them at info@albanygallery.com or visiting their website.