LAKES painter Kate Bentley's latest works are featured in a new exhibition at Brantwood.

The award-winning artist returns to Brantwood having previously exhibited at the Coniston gallery in 2011. 

The new exhibition, Elements, presents an exquisite collection of dramatic oils and watercolours in the Severn Studio, which wholly embrace both aspects of contemporary and traditional painting.

It contains Kate’s latest work for sale, as she aims to make a personal connection with the viewer and stir up the senses with her en plein-air - or open air - creations.

She says: This body of work was born from pure and simple observation of my local environment, that is, The Lyth valley and the Lake District. 

"En plein-air expeditions for me act as resource training exercises and here you can see a collection of work from those locations. It also struck me that it’s the light and weather, forever changing, that makes things more exciting. The risk of a rain shower or sharp wind just around

the corner all helps add a bit of drama."

The studio paintings are conceived by a series of mark making, often with little or no planning. But it is the memories, smells and local weather of each trip that informs the final work.

"It is those elements that I dwell on in my studio practice. Some paintings I start in the field and finish in the studio, especially when I am caught short with the weather or if I feel I have lost the essence of the place and want to work from memories instead. 

"My aim is not to produce a pictorial memory of the place but to remember what it was like to be there and to respond to all five senses."

Elements opens at Brantwood on Friday March 25 and runs until June 5. It will be open from 10.30am to 5pm each day, and admission is included in the price of a house ticket.