Exhibition of Black Country artist Edwin Butler Bayliss
An exhibition of works by one of the Black Country's most important and prolific artists, Edwin Butler Bayliss, will be on display at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Express & Star went along ahead of the opening on Saturday 19th January.
The son of a local ironmaster, the inspiration for his works came from the foundries and mines of the Black Country and the areas depicted in his paintings include Bilston, Moxley, Tipton and Wednesbury.
His works have both local and national importance documenting the Black Country at the height of Britain's industrial growth and his landscapes show how industry had a permanent impact on the local environment.
Butler Bayliss, who was born in 1874 and died in 1950, worked in a range of media including oil and pastel and the exhibition includes a number of his works that have never been on public display before.
He depicts the Black Country as a smoke-filled and dangerous place to live and work, often showing figures silhouetted against a dull, grey sky and ravaged landscapes with blast furnaces and chimneys in the background.
In contrast to these industrial scenes are his seascapes of the Welsh coastline including Aberdovey, Anglesey and Cemaes Bay. These paintings feature members of his family relaxing and playing on the shore and Butler Bayliss applies a refreshing cool palette of blues and greens.
These works are full of light and colour, a stark contrast to the dark dusty greys and searing reds and oranges of his industrial landscapes.
Also featured in this exhibition are the works of some of his contemporaries including William Sidney Causer, Richard Samuel Chattock and Joseph Vickers de Ville as well as present-day artists including Robert Perry, Brian Steventon, Paul Hipkiss and Arthur Lockwood.
A demonstration of how the Black Country continues to be a source of inspiration today.
A number of events, workshops and talks will complement this exhibition. There will also be a series of monthly local history talks on the theme of the Black Country for the duration of the exhibition.
For more information about the exhibition, which runs from January 19 to April 27, 2013, and the special events, please call 01902 552055 or visit www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk.
Local business: BMA Motors, Bilston
