Sunday 2nd June, 5.30 -6.45pm saw a very special event.
For some months now CNarts co-founder Lesley Wildman has been sorting out, cataloguing and reframing the work of the late Ian Seymour Wells. Ian was a much loved character in Chipping Norton who retired here from London with his wife Terri some twenty years ago. Ian sadly passed away after a long period of illness in March this year and will be very missed. Terri had asked Lesley to go into Ian’s studio that had laid dormant and locked for a couple of years. What she found was a treasure trove of immense talent. Ian was known as an artist in the town but by most as simply ‘that man that sketches’. Few people had had the privilege of seeing Ian’s work other than the sketches that he did on newspaper while sitting in the town’s cafes on a daily basis. In his studio was a vast collection of his drawings, painting and sketches going back many years.
Ian was born in Australia in 1937. With a talent for drawing at a young age, he trained at the Sydney school of art. He moved to London in the early 60’s and not only exhibited but was also a drawing tutor at Central St Martins and the London School of Dance. A very engaging but modest man, he lost faith in the gallery culture when a large exhibition of his work due to be held in Australia was cancelled. As a result of this, the majority of his work was rarely if ever seen. Until Sunday 2nd June.
The Private View was a huge success. Having heard of his work and seen snippets on social media the Gallery in Chipping Norton’s Theatre was packed by those who wanted to come and see his work. And they were truly beguiled by Ian’s acute skill in so many areas and in so many mediums.
But there is a sting in the tail. After the Private View, the Theatre requested that 14 of the pictures were taken down. The reasons are too lengthy to go into. Although we don’t agree with their request we have to respect that they have their particular reasons. These are in no way a reflection or judgement of Ian’s work, but a quirk of their considerations to some of their clientele. As such that Sunday evening was a rare event. For those that had the opportunity to come we thank you. It is an evening that will be remembered for a long time. One of the visitors commented on social media that it was ‘an historic and important show for Chippy’.
The reduced version of the exhibition will be on until June 23rd and there is still a lot of amazing work to see, especially his phenomenal ‘Cafe Newspaper Sketches’. Details for opening times can be found on the Theatre website at chippingnortontheatre.com
