A joint display of paintings, prints and ceramics are the focus of the latest art exhibition at a Lake District spa resort on Windermere.
English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues has partnered with Gavagan Art to bring the abstract works of Sir Terry Frost RA and his son Anthony Frost to its ‘Art in the Atrium’ gallery at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa. The summer exhibition is complemented with the addition of the contemporary designs of local ceramicist James Hake.
Renowned for his use of Cornish light, colour and shape, Terry Frost was a highly distinguished British abstract artist whose work won critical acclaim. His paintings are held in numerous collections around the world including The Tate Gallery in London, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the National Gallery of Canada. He was elected Royal Academician in 1992 and knighted in 1998 for his services to Art and Art Education.
Having gained his BA Hons degree in Fine Art at Cardiff College of Art, Anthony Frost has emerged as a prominent artist in his own right. His work features in various public and private collections including those at The Contemporary Arts Society, Eton College and the Kasser Foundation in New York.
Originally from Lancaster, James Hake is an established ceramic artist who works from a converted barn in rural North Lancashire. He uses oriental glazes to create distinctive wheel-thrown ceramics which reflect the dynamic processes of the natural world.
Having studied design at Manchester Metropolitan University, he honed his technique and individual style in ceramics in Ireland. Inspired by the work of English potter Edward Hughes, James also developed a keen interest in Japanese ceramics, joining a younger generation of potters who are exploring Anglo-Oriental aesthetics.
He has exhibited his work at a host of venues including Ceramic Art London 2025, the industry showcase event for the world’s best potters, the Stratford Gallery, the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal and the Oxford Ceramics Fair.
Executive chairman of English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues Simon Berry says: “As a family business, it’s inspiring to host the works of both Terry and Anthony in the same display, not least because they both stayed with us at Lancaster House Hotel on separate occasions in the late 1990s and early 2000s whilst exhibiting in the North West.
“We are also thrilled to be featuring the work of a local born artist in James Hake. His work is equally fascinating, working with locally sourced materials to produce new types of glazes for broad abstract decorations.”
The latest exhibition in the ‘Art in the Atrium’ gallery at Low Wood Bay runs throughout the summer until the end of September.
Mary Gavagan from Gavagan Art adds: “The work of both Terry and Anthony Frost is closely associated with Cornwall, in particular St Ives and the West Penwith Peninsula.
“Terry served in Palestine and Greece in World War II and as a prisoner of war for four years, he began to paint under the influence of fellow prisoner and artist Adrian Heath. After the war he attended Camberwell School of Art, and his reputation as an artist soon developed as he became a leading figure in British abstract art.
“Anthony’s work is truly distinctive, with vibrant colour. His abstract paintings and collages are often textured, as he incorporates found materials like sailcloth and fabrics into his work. Music is a major influence on his creativity too.
“Taking inspiration from Japanese ceramics, James has developed a palette of his own glazes for the kiln, from subtle Shinos to rich, dark Tenmokus and copper reds.”
Terry Frost also had a fine academic career, with teaching posts at Bath Academy of Art, Coventry College of Art and Leeds School of Art. He was appointed as the Gregory Fellow on Painting (1954-1956) at the University of Leeds and he also spent time working and teaching at the Cyprus College of Art. He later became Artist in Residence and Professor of Painting at the University of Reading.
Anthony Frost has also lectured widely on his subject, notably at Falmouth School of Art, Canterbury School of Art, University of East London and Anglia University. He was artist in residence at the Cyprus School of Art and the Montmiral School of Painting in France.
Also passing on his expertise in academia, James Hake has held the post of visiting lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.
For further information, visit https://englishlakes.co.uk/experiences/low-wood-bay-art-in-the-atrium/
