Photographic Art

Gatepost has news about the artists and makers C&C showcase online and in our exhibitions. To receive notification of C&C's exhibitions subscribe to the newsletter using the sign up form by clicking here.
  • Gallery Visit: BIG WOMEN

    Firstsite: 20+ women artists curated by Sarah Lucas
    Paul Barratt, Director and Curator at Contemporary and Country by Paul Barratt
    Gallery Visit: BIG WOMEN
    It is not without irony that the exhibition BIG WOMEN, including more than twenty leading women artists, is taking place at Firstsite, Colchester in the heart of Essex, the home of the misogynistic Essex joke.
  • Spotlight: Tassie Russell

    Revealing architectural space in paint and print
    Paul Barratt, Director and Curator at Contemporary and Country by Paul Barratt
    Spotlight: Tassie Russell
    After a career teaching in universities in the UK and Australia, Tassie Russell now works in her painting and printmaking studio on the Suffolk coast.
  • Living the Dream

    Preparing for the year ahead with all its challenges and opportunities
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Living the Dream
    We have witnessed fantastic night skies like this recently - this one painted by Norfolk-based artist, Claire Cansick. Work like this reminds us of the natural beauty surrounding us but also represents the opportunity to lift our gaze to see beyond the everyday. Can we really live the dream?
  • Compendia Guide 2022/23

    C&C are in on the inside track guide to Norwich and Norfolk
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Compendia Guide 2022/23
    Compendia is a new, comprehensive guide to independent businesses and organisations,that make Norwich and Norfolk so unique and such a great location to live. It includes Contemporary and Country. The guide features the best places to find culture, art, eat, drink, go shopping, for sleep and healing in Norwich and Norfolk.
  • Avant Gardeners Concludes

    End of season at Houghton Hall Stables
    Paul Barratt, Director and Curator at Contemporary and Country by Paul Barratt
    Avant Gardeners Concludes
    As the Dahlias tip over into each other, drawn down with the weight of their heads, and we de-install Andrew Jones's wonderful kinetic sculptures in the walled garden, we are thankful to have reached the end of the summer season at Houghton Hall Stables.
  • Second week of River's Edge exhibition

    Showcasing artists and makers from East Anglia
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Second week of River's Edge exhibition
    This is week two of C&C's current exhibition River's Edge at BallroomArts, (Formerly known as The Peter Pears Gallery) - at 152A High Street Aldeburgh. Situated just back from the beach and off the main high street.
  • Exhibition opening for River's Edge

    C&C at BallroomArts, Aldeburgh, Suffolk
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Legend 13, Aldeburgh, by Ed Lee, River's Edge at BallroomArts, Suffolk
    Legend 13, Aldeburgh, by Ed Lee, River's Edge at BallroomArts, Suffolk
    A huge thank you to Ben of Fishers Gin and his team at @fishersgin and Claire and her team at Aldeburgh Outside Catering who made our private view @ballroomartsaldeburgh last night go so well, providing refreshing smoked gin cocktails and delicious canapés. Our River's Edge pop-up exhibition runs for the first two weeks of the Aldeburgh Festival @brittenpearsarts in Snape and throughout the Suffolk coast. The Courtyard Gallery at BallroomArts contains art and handmade items by artists and makers from across East Anglia, all have a connection to the East Anglian landscape.
  • River's Edge exhibition in Aldeburgh, Suffolk

    BallroomArts 7 to 19 June 2022
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    River's Edge exhibition in Aldeburgh, Suffolk
    Coinciding with the first two weeks of Aldeburgh Festival this year, is an exhibition of new paintings by Kate Giles, with sculpture by Jack Wheeler, Beth Groom and the late Emily Mayer. They are joined by artists and makers who have a strong connection to East Anglia and its coastal landscape.
     
    BallroomArts; The Ballroom / Courtyard Gallery, Aldeburgh, Suffolk: 7 to 19 June 2022

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    The Granary Gallery: C&C's pop-up in Norwich
    We are looking forward to welcoming you to C&C's Open Weekend of our pop-up event on the second floor Granary Gallery, The Granary, Bedford Street, Norwich this weekend, from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 April (10.30am to 4.30pm). The artists and makers in our spring installation "It's All Happening Here" have been selected for a capsule collection:
  • Spotlight: Redefining the Still Life

    Polly Cruse at The Granary Gallery from April 1
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Spotlight: Redefining the Still Life
    Norwich-based artist Polly Cruse's work encompasses photography and sculpture within the tradition of Still Life. She focusses on the relationships between the intangible and the material aspects of the everyday. We are showing her work in several of our pop-up exhibitions this year, including at The Granary Gallery from April 1


  • Gallery Visit: The Art of Roller Skating by Debby Besford

    An Original Projects exhibition at PRIMEYARC, 5 March - 1 May, Market Gates, Great Yarmouth
    Paul Barratt, Director and Curator at Contemporary and Country by Paul Barratt
    Gallery Visit: The Art of Roller Skating by Debby Besford
    The Art of Roller Skating is an exhibition by artist and documentary photographer Debby Besford, celebrating the artistic roller skating heritage of Great Yarmouth.
    The exhibition has been organised and hosted by Original Projects, held at PRIMEYARC, Market Gates, Great Yarmouth, from 5 March  to 1 May 2022. The exhibition also incorporates stories, artefacts and memorabilia invited from the community, to activate relationships, events and activities throughout the show.
  • Photographic Art

    Why is photography still not seen as art by some?
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Photographic Art
    Art can be defined as a“diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artefacts, expressing the author's imaginative or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power.” With this in mind, why is photography still not seen as art by some?
  • Gallery visit: 528Hz Love Frequency

    Chris Levine at Houghton Hall
    Paul Barratt, Director and Curator at Contemporary and Country by Paul Barratt
    Molecule of Light by Chris Levine, 2021
    Molecule of Light by Chris Levine, 2021
    On a warm October evening we went to the first public showing of 528Hz Love Frequency a series of immersive light installations by Chris Levine at Houghton Hall.
  • Autumn Collection 2021

    Colin Self prints included among collection of art and the handmade from across East Anglia
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Autumn Collection 2021
    Autumn is upon us and I am listening to Marianne Faithfull and Warren Ellis' new album of orchestrated spoken poetry called "She Walks in Beauty" with sleeve and promo imagery provided by Norwich-based pop artist Colin Self. We are currently showing Colin's series of limited edition prints including some that feature on the album in our current pop-up exhibition at Houghton Hall.


  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    (left to rIght) artists Katarzyna Coleman and John Kiki and curator Sarah Lowndes
    (left to rIght) artists Katarzyna Coleman and John Kiki and curator Sarah Lowndes
    We made a much anticipated journey to Great Yarmouth yesterday to see the inaugural show in the new YARE GALLERY situated on the South Quay. Titled WEATHERING: NEW ART FROM EAST ANGLIA, it features  the work of the "Yarmouth 5", artists Katarzyna Coleman, Bridget Heriz, John Kiki, Emrys Parry and Brüer Tidman plus works by other artists from this side of the county of Norfolk. Including Molly Thomson, Esmond Bingham and others. We are currently showcasing the work of several of these artists in our pop-up exhibition Rock Paper Scissors at the Stables at Houghton Hall.

  • Rock Paper Scissors opens

    Art and objects produced with their making in mind
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Painting the gates at Houghton Hall by Elaine Pamphilon ©2021
    Painting the gates at Houghton Hall by Elaine Pamphilon ©2021
    We're opening the doors to our latest pop-up exhibition encompassing art and handmade objects fashioned with the process of their making in mind. We are welcoming visitors from Wednesday19th May, until September 26. Come and discover beautiful, dynamic and thought provoking works from more than 40 exhibitors.
    Visit the website for opening times and ticket prices to enter the Houghton Hall estate and to gain entry to the Tony Cragg sculpture exhibition:Houghton Hall Book Tickets
  • Spring Salon - #1

    Living with art and the handmade
    Spring Salon - #1
    We are publishing a series of images from collections we are currently putting together for clients. Here is the latest Spring Salon installation showing new work by Norwich based artists working with paper (Joni Smith and Ruth Howes) as well as Molly Thomson who creates these delicious constructed boards that sing with colour through her use of multiple layers of poured paint.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    C&C's next exhibition will be Rock Paper Scissors
    Contemporary and Country’s exhibition Rock, Paper, Scissors encompasses art and handmade objects fashioned with the process of their making in mind. It will run alongside the exhibition by Tony Cragg, opening at Houghton Hall, Norfolk on 19 May and closing 26 September, 2021. Tickets to enter the Houghton Hall Estate are on sale from 19 April (entrance to the Stables will be part of the entrance fee)
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Creative moves for 2021
    We are delighted to continue to work with a selection of established and new artists and makers in 2021. We are also working hard in reaching out to new creative talent from our area, east of England. Some are struggling to keep up their practice under the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions but many are working on creative expressions of hope.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Happy New Year
    Many thanks to all the artists and makers we have worked with over the past year. We also send our best wishes for a creative year ahead with all the challenges we face together. Happy New Year to our supporters for a prosperous and healthy 2021.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Supporting fundraiser for East Anglia Children's Hospice (EACH)
    Having supported East Anglia's Children's Hospices for a number of years for the Nook Campaign, through to on-site fundraising during our 2018 season at Houghton Hall, we are delighted now to have been able to help source artworks from artists' C&C work with to donate towards their next fundraising auction to be held in February / March 2021. More details will follow early 2021.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Hoping for a great Christmas and a creative 2021
    Very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all our friends, customers and those artists we've met and worked with over this past year. Join our mailing list and be the first to hear about our 2021 events or add something unique to your home from our Anglian Collection.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Revisit our recent pop-up's virtual walk-through
    Revisit our pop-up via our walk-through tour or view our "Anglian Collection" via our website - see link in bio. Pick up something to grace your home or delight a loved one this Christmas.
  • Debby Besford's Roller Skaters

    Portraits in motion
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Debby Besford's Roller Skaters
    We are delighted to see this new series of work by Norfolk-based photographer, Debby Besford. Brought up in Great Yarmouth, Debby herself was a junior champion of roller skating as a teenager and knows all too well about the community of competitors seeking to excel at this sport.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Over 25,000 visitors and hundreds of sales later...
    As we expand our work with artists and makers from East Anglia we are entering the second half of our pop up event alongside Anish Kapoor at Houghton Hall, Norfolk - open until November 1.  At the time of writing there have been over 50,000 visitors on site and we have secured over 300 sales for local artists and makers. As works are purchased and taken away we are able to fill gaps to keep our exhibition fresh - making sure that any return visit will not disappoint!
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Putting paint to canvas
    The painters we are showing in A Fine Balance at Houghton Hall Stables, capture the splendor of the natural landscape; depict the beauty of coastal reaches; open fields, fens and woodland. Some work in an abstract style while others are more figurative in representing the landscapes they see and wish to convey.
  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Taking A Fine Balance online
    As some of you will already know, our showcase #finebalance will not open at Houghton Hall until this current health crisis has abated. However you can still support our artists by viewing and buying their work online to nurture the cultural talent across our region.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    A Creative Weekend in Norwich
    Join us at Art Fair East - St Andrews Hall, Norwich. From 29 Nov to 1 Dec 2019 (PV on 28 Nov) See website for opening times and details of all the exhibitors we will be showcasing at this event. Drop an email via the website if you want to come to the Private View on Thursday 28 November (6pm-9pm)

  • Through the Lens of Debby Besford

    Great Yarmouth's Pleasure Beach by Norfolk based photographer
    Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Pleasure Beach at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk 2019 by Debby Besford
    Pleasure Beach at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk 2019 by Debby Besford
    Debby Besford has been recording the changing yet enduring face of Great Yarmouth. She was born in Yarmouth and has recently been given exclusive access to document the ever changing face(s) of the town's Pleasure Beach.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Collections
    Take a look at our "Collection Guides". If you have someone who is particularly difficult to buy for, a Norfolk by Design Gift Voucher may be the answer - our Gift Vouchers are redeemable online or at our forthcoming pop up events throughout 2019.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Bringing a Bit of Yarmouth to Houghton Hall
    We are pleased to be showing the photographic work of Debby Besford – an established professional photographer who lives in Norfolk with her family and works throughout the UK. Her work showcases a rich and diverse portfolio of images specializing in, Contemporary portraiture, Corporate and Editorial. Her images are beautifully composed with each of her subjects feeling at ease in front of the camera. There is a strong sense of trust and sensitivity between the photographer and her sitters.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Norfolk Line, Richard Long at Houghton Hall, 2017
    Norfolk Line by Richard Long at Houghton Hall, 2017
    Our next pop up event opens in the Stables at Houghton Hall this spring and continues throughout the summer. We will be featuring a selection of Norfolk’s finest artists and craftspeople to coincide with a solo exhibition by renowned British artist Richard Long located within the gardens and park.

  • Paul Vater, Director of Contemporary and Country by Paul Vater
    Into the Woods, December 2016
    Into the Woods, December 2016
    INTO THE WOODS
    2-4 December, 2016
     
    We are delighted to announce the dates for our forthcoming showcase of Norfolk’s finest artists, designer-makers and craftspeople. The exhibition is a pre-Christmas survey of work produced or sourced from Norfolk and the eastern region. Thank you to our sponsor, Norfolk Country Cottages.