A Sapphire Sea
Eames Fine Art Gallery has been nominated for the Critics' Circle Award for Best UK Private Gallery Exhibition, 2024. The awards take place at the National Gallery's Supporters' House in the week of 12th January 2026. The gallery was nominated for the 'Norman Ackroyd: Notes on Water' Exhibition which was at the Eames Fine Art Gallery in September 2024. To celebrate this honour, the gallery will host a new exhibition of Norman's work.
"We launched the idea last year and since then we have enjoyed compiling a beautiful selection of Norman's etchings to present in this show. We decided that it would be particularly fitting, since this is a show in tribute to Norman's work and that very poignant exhibition of 2024, to include work by other contemporary printmakers who have been inspired by Norman's etchings and who also produce works with the same passion and deep respect for the British coastline.
Merlyn Chesterman is an accomplished printmaker with a career spanning more than four decades and international recognition for her striking woodcut prints. Based on the North Devon coast, her work is inspired by the surrounding peninsula, where shifting weather, tides, and light continually transform the landscape and seascape. Merlyn takes full advantage of the beauty and drama of this ever-changing environment, exploring the sea, waves, weather, and wind-shaped trees and grasses.
Embracing the natural texture of her wooden blocks, she creates prints that echo organic patterns and rhythms while operating on both abstract and literal levels. The physical surface of the wood allows her to communicate sensations of light, cold, exhilaration, delight, and wonder. Ultimately, Merlyn’s woodcuts are experienced as much through feeling as through form."
Please go to Diary for more upcoming shows and exhibitions, and Gallery for latest and earlier work.
Work is currently showing for sale at:
and through this website.
Above is a selection from 12 small woodcuts made to raise funds for UK-Med’s work in Gaza. Born out of the NHS, they are the first UK-based NGO to be verified as an emergency medical team by the World Health Organisation. 50% of the price of the prints will go to UK-Med. To see the full set of prints ,including works by @lilykeal and @peterstilesart, please go to @merlynchestermanwoodcuts on Instagram
