In search of the perfect hill?

Adrienne Craddock • Tim Craven • Robert Cunning • Celia de Serra • Richard Gilbert • Sarah Harding • Tereza Horáček • Bridget MacDonald • Lynne Riding • Thomasin Toohie • Matt Williams

Hills as subject matter occupy a distinct place in the history of British culture. In Romantic art they are often linked to the study of light, atmosphere and questions of national and personal identity. Hills can carry expectations o f approachability, gentler inclines, smoother surfaces and contours, as opposed to the imposing, rugged, challenging and often lofty connotations of mountains.

One artist’s perfect hill may not be perfect to another. The perfection may lie in obvious symmetry like that of the man-made Silbury Hill or the naturally created The Whimble. A perfect hill may be one that offers the artist easy accessibility with a variety of features that change through time, weather and viewing position. Or perhaps the perfection lies in the hill offering difficult access to its personality with characteristics that are seldom able to be recorded twice due to climate, seasons or the interactions of humans.

In this show each artist will provide a window into their unique, personal response to a perfect hill.