The acclaimed East Anglian artist Constance Stubbs is having a major retrospective of her art at Blackthorpe Barn, Suffolk in August 2011. The exhibition comprises over one hundred and twenty mixed media paintings, drawings and etchings, tracing the career of one of the region’s most prolific and brilliant artists.

Youngest Grandson, c.2002, mixed media, ©Constance Stubbs

Constance Stubbs became an established artist following her move to Pakenham in Suffolk, which afforded her the opportunity to develop and further her diverse talents resulting in her one woman shows around East Anglia and in London. Constance Stubbs has been a key member of the Artworks group for many years and her paintings always delight the visitors to the Artworks exhibition with their abundance of colour and expressive use of mixed media.

Portrait of the artist Constance Stubbs in her studio

Constance Stubbs studied at Cheltenham School of Art and in 1946 gained a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, where she worked under Professor Robin Darwin, and her tutors included Ruskin Spear, John Minton, Carel Weight and Rodrigo Moynihan. Sir Hugh Casson, President of the Royal Academy 1976-1984, once said that: ‘Constance Stubbs is probably the most exciting British painter today. Without doubt, she is amongst the foremost ranks of portraitists.’

Sir Hugh Casson, c.1989, ©Constance Stubbs

Constance Stubbs’ work has been exhibited widely, including the Royal Academy and the Hayward Gallery, to much praise & critical acclaim.

Nareesh, 2003, mixed media, ©Constance Stubbs

Constance Stubbs’ undoubted artistic reputation rests on her wonderful gift for drawing, etching and portraiture, combining technical virtuosity with originality of composition through her perceptive and compassionate portrayal of everyday life. Her innovative mixed media collage techniques, using acrylic or watercolour with gouache, chalk and pastel, builds up delicate layers of radiant and exotically coloured textures on canvas or board.

Skinny Dipping, mixed media, c.2000, ©Constance Stubbs

The Constance Stubbs retrospective exhibition is at Blackthorpe Barn, Suffolk for one week only, from 13 – 20 August 2011, open daily, admission free. If you can’t make it to this exhibition, you can see more of Constance Stubbs’ artwork at her official website: www.constancestubbs.com

Rescue from the sea bed (Wreck of Medusa series), c.1998, ©Constance Stubbs

Constance Stubbs, 13 – 20 August 2011, Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham, Nr Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 9LZ.