Dear Vincent: Postcard From A Future Artist

HENRIETTA LOADES-CARTER THOMAS STIMPSON MBE

THOMAS STIMPSON MBE

HENRIETTA LOADES-CARTER

DEAR VINCENT: POSTCARD FROM A FUTURE ARTIST

Welcome to a captivating exhibition that delves into the profound collaboration between artists Henrietta Loades-Carter and veteran artist Thomas Stimpson MBE, exploring the enigmatic world of Vincent van Gogh's self-portraits, letters, and the struggles he faced. This unique perspective unravels the intricate threads connecting these artists to Van Gogh: their shared experiences of religion, loneliness, the artist's journey, health struggles, walking in his footsteps in cultured London.

Through their art, Loades-Carter and Stimpson invite you to contemplate the power of creativity as a healing force, addressing mental health and the passion artists possess to narrate their stories through their art. Their work vividly demonstrates how art transcends barriers, offering comfort and transformation.

In a world increasingly marked by hostility, this exhibition becomes a beacon of hope, urging us to consider how we treat those marked by life's scars and what supports their recovery. It is a compelling exploration of Vincent Van Gogh and his passion, heart, and longing, a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit and a timely message for today.

Previous pages: portraits of the artists. Following page: Dear Vincent Letters (detail), next: Stimpson in the studio.

STIMPSON PAINTINGS

Commentary

As an Artist and veteran, I have journeyed through the depths of human emotion in different places, encountering both the beauty of nature and the scars of trauma. As an artist, my creativity becomes a vessel through which I navigate this complex terrain.

In my work, I strive to master the delicate interplay between emotion and the human experience Through the figures and portraits I create, I aim to capture the raw essence of each individual's unique story, reflecting the depth of their emotions, scars, and resilience realized by personal experience

The landscapes I paint are not just physical places; they are emotional landscapes, where nature's beauty intertwines with the complexities of the human psyche. Through my art, I seek to convey the healing power of reconnecting with the natural world and Art, offering solace to those who have experienced trauma

As an artist, I am driven by the belief that creativity has the potential to heal, transform, and transcend My journey as an Artist and veteran has shaped my perspective, and I channel my experiences into every brushstroke and canvas, striving to evoke emotion and ignite a sense of shared humanity in those who engage with my work.

It is during our moments of darkness and despair we must focus to look, to see and experience the light.

Thomas Stimpson MBE

Dear Vincent Letters

2022

Oil on Canvas

120 X 100 cm | 47 X 39 ins

Transition

2022

Oil on Canvas

120 X 100 cm | 47 X 39 ins

Within Nature and Japan

2022

Oil on Canvas

120 X 100 cm | 47 X 39 ins

A Room With Vincent.

2022

Oil on Canvas

100 X 120 cm | 39 X 47 ins

Biography

2012 -2014 Thomas Simpson undertakes his formative mark making in Art therapy at several locations these include the National Society of Epilepsy were he spends several weeks. The initial piece of plain white paper put in front of him was so overwhelming and distressing he leaves the room. Further sessions begin with Help for Heroes and Combat Stress He is medically discharged from the services in 2014 Art becomes the key to his ongoing recovery His initial works are raw and naïve yet capture the isolation and loneliness brought about by his diagnosis, he is recognised by the Art teacher who encourages him to continue producing work which occurs in a flurry of pieces, whilst he stayed up into the late morning producing over 30 canvasses over a week

2015 – 2018 Stimpson continues to explore mark making primarily in acrylics supported at Combat Stress in Art therapy sessions and within the art room He also continues to produce work on short stays at Tedworth House in Salisbury with Help for Heroes. During this time he enters some work recognised by The Army Arts Society displayed in Salisbury and at the Maudsley Hospital as part of an exhibition on mental health.

2019-2020 Stimpson has 3 pieces of work in the Mall Galleries as part of the Creative Force exhibition organised by Help for Heroes and is interviewed on Radio with several radio stations and ITV and BBC for evening news to promote the exhibition He also Attends the Royal Academy as part of the ‘In practise’ events showing several pieces of work in Burlington House at the Royal Academy sharing and talking about his art with other artists.

2020 Stimpson completes a mural as a gift to a local school some 7 meters by 2.40 meters as a well-being retreat for school children. As an Ambassador for Art Charity Outside In Stimpson is selected for the National competition held in Piano Nobile Gallery receiving favourable reviews on his work about the homeless. This is held by the Charity in their collection. Stimpson continues with Outside In developing his practise and in 2022 is selected for the Artist’s Advisory Group a role he will be in for 4 years.

2021 – During the pandemic Stimpson connects with the Soldiers Arts Academy being able to deliver some online teaching on Still life to veterans as well as to the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. This was a huge help in his ongoing recovery and development as an artist

Nov 2021

Stimpson has his first exhibition with a collaboration with Artist Wenke at Studio 105a A new gallery in London with the exhibition called Within Nature

2022 This successful exhibition starts a flurry of activity and Stimpson now has more collaborations with award winning female artist Henrietta Loades-Carter and award winning portrait artist Lindy Allfrey He acquires funding from ACE at this point to create a body of work and “Develop His Practice”.

He has recently been accepted and offered an opportunity to undertake a BA(Hons)in Fine art and hopes to commence this in late 2023. He starts on the Artist’s Advisory Group with ‘Outside In’ to connect with artists with disability or face barriers to the art world and part of a diverse committee with Outside In. He is also an Ambassador for Soldiers Arts Academy, Help for Heroes and supports Soldiers Arts Academy In 2022 Stimpson is accepted by Arts Council England for a grant to help him ‘develop his practise’ He begins an extensive research project on Vincent Van Gogh and carries out his biggest collection of paintings inspired by visits to The Courtauld Institute Of Art in London to see the Vincent Van Gogh Self Self Portrait Exhibition as well as visits to The Hayward Gallery to see Louise Bourgeois exhibition and Milton Avery at The Royal Academy, Late Dame Phyllida Barlow RA CBE at The Tate, along with Cezanne at The Tate Modern. Visits to see the Portraits by the Royal Institute of Oil Painters provided inspiration and allows Stimpson to consider his artistic style and direction Further research after seeing Freud at the National provides more knowledge and results in further study in markmaking. Online study with Shane Wolf figuarative artist allows Stimpson to further consider and explore figurative art whilst undertaking evening classes of online drawing and painting

2023 Stimpson continues to stretch himself with an exhibition in combination with a film about military homelessness in central London Exhibiting symbolic and conceptual still lives He supports Combat Stress with their art exhibition showing with Maggie Hambling CBE. The Vincent Van Gogh Project continues and he sets his sights on technique and a possible project inspired by Sir Stanley Spencer finding master artists encourage him greatly

LOADES-CARTER PAINTINGS

Commentary

Loades-Carter's passion for art has been a constant throughout her life. She believes that art has the power to heal and empower individuals Her journey as an artist has been influenced by a diverse range of artistic movements and genres. Some of the key influences on Loades-Carter's artistic style include:

Expressionism: Loades-Carter believes that art should be a form of emotional expression Her work often features bold colors, exaggerated forms, and raw emotion.

Symbolism: Like Paula Rego, Loades-Carter often uses intricate symbols and metaphors in her work to convey complex ideas and emotions

Post-Impressionism: Loades-Carter is also inspired by the revolutionary approach to form and perspective taken by artists like Cezanne. She believes that art should offer new ways of seeing the world

Renaissance: Holbein's exploration of the human condition has also influenced Loades-Carter's work. She believes that art should reflect the complexities of human existence, including our struggles and our triumphs

Loades-Carter's art is not just about self-expression; it is also an invitation to viewers to reflect on their own experiences and emotions. She hopes that her work can offer solace and catharsis to those who engage with it

Through her art, Henrietta Loades-Carter seeks to create a sanctuary where she can explore the profound facets of the human experience. She believes that art has the power to connect us to our own humanity and to each other, and she is committed to using her talent to make a positive impact in the world

"I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart."

Vincent Van Gogh

Art has been a constant inspiration in my life. I was fortunate enough to have a mother who was also an artist, and I grew up surrounded by her paintings. From a young age, I was taken to exhibitions and collected postcards of my favourite pieces The freedom of expression and experimentation that art represents always captivated me I was drawn to the colours, shapes and forms of abstract and figurative works alike. Art became a way for me to express myself, to find control and to understand myself better. Even now, art remains an emotional experience for me, one that is enhanced by the use of colour and form

Over the years, I've continued to develop my skills and explore new themes and styles. I've studied the works of other artists, visited exhibitions, and mentored others while being mentored myself Along the way, I've faced many challenges, including overbearing parents, authority figures, and life-threatening experiences. But these difficulties have only made me more sensitive, intuitive, and passionate about my work. Through my art, I aim to capture the universal emotions of vulnerability, loneliness, isolation, freedom, and hope I like to create works that have double meanings, one that is obvious to the viewer and another that is more personal to me. The juxtaposition, ambiguity, and visceral emotions present in my works are inspired by the works of Hans Holbein, Rego, Cezanne and of course Van Gogh. The themes in Van Gogh’s letters and self portraits and journey spoke to me at a profound level in being a seeker, a reader, religion, the journey of the artist and even down to we both painted plein air. There’s a passion and an energy that controls you in that environment.

Music and words are integral to my creative process, as they help me set the right mood for my paintings I choose music that reflects the mood of the painting I'm working on, and I work in a darkened studio with a spotlight to create an emotional atmosphere. I work with oil on canvas and use large mark-making brushes to create dynamic and bold strokes. I also use coloured glazes to create a layered effect that adds depth and complexity to my work

As an artist, I'm constantly curious and always striving to learn more. I believe that the canvas is my introspective playground, a place where I can explore my own emotions and experiences. Through my work, I hope to give a voice to the unseen and isolated and to inspire others to feel deeply and authentically I want my art to move people, to make them think and to ask questions about their own lives.

Henrietta Loades-Carter

“Normality is a paved road: It's comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow"

Vincent Van Gogh

Previous page: Loades-Carter in the studio.

The Assurance.

2023 Oil on Canvas

120 X 100 cm | 47 X 39 ins

Stormy Waters.

2023

Oil on Canvas

120 X 100 cm | 47 X 39 ins

Biography

1992-93 West Surrey College of Art and Design: Fine Art Foundation Course: studies painting and drawing

Concentrates on life paintings. Studio: South East England. As a teen i was always seeing exhibitions with college and my mother and this love of seeing art never left me. Art has always created an emotional response in me Seeing Munch, Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Bacon and Cezanne at an early age made a definite impression on her. Her first project looked at the self portraits of Cezanne.

1993-96 Manchester Metropolitan University: studied painting Private commission: Exterior of commercial building in Manchester. Studios: Manchester, England. Studies plein air painting, figurative, dadaism and abstract. Show at the Whitworth Art Gallery; Manchester. {Re}Presenting

Poussin This gave her a love of design and figurative work Plein air painting really taught her to work with colour and expression Also recording areas of Manchester and surrounds now no longer there and so she created historical documents. Influences were Arshile Gorky, Milton Avery and Nicholas De Stael.

1996 Summer Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, London.

"David Murray Studentship for Landscape Painting" which took her to Scotland and Spain. She continues to work with expression noticing the changes in Light She also received a letter of recommendation for the academy schools. Castlefield Gallery, Manchester. Volunteer, June 1996April 1997. This position taught her a lot about contemporary art.

1997 Will's Art Warehouse, Parson's Green, London. Group show of "Selected Artists”. The Gallery Manchester's Art House, 131 Portland St, Manchester, M1 4PY. Exhibited in "Summer Exhibition" of selected artists Loades-Carter moves to London and continues to exhibit in Bermondsey, London June 1998 – October 2000 Courtald Institute of Art Office Assistant. She learns a lot about research and art history mixing with professors and phd students now in museum positions. Realising she needed to make her own work she moves on June 2000 - April 2007 Cooltan Arts mental health charity, studied web design, volunteered and then worked as web design tutor. Exhibiting in small local galleries. It was incredibly humbling working with Michelle Baharier and her clients and taught her to use art for a social conscience 2003-2005. Joined Creekside Artists studios and met some really interesting artists Bea Denton, Andrea Gregson and Thomas Hylander. Producing work for Deptford X with Creekside Studios, every year 2003-2010. Creekside Artists, Deptford, London. Christmas Studios, every year 2003-2010 In this period Loades-Carter focussed on acrylic ink and photography always looking for the abstract and unusual. The Gallery, Morley College, London. 1in4 Exhibition, Cooltan Arts returning to exhibit with them as they had such an interesting outlook and creativity.

August-September 2010 Creekside Artists Burlesque Theme Group Show (London Fringe), Seven Dials Club, Covent Garden Asked to produce work for this exhibition and enjoyed the abstract nature of how the body was distorted by black garments and feathers!

2011-2013 Organised final Creekside Artists show in Deptford as the whole studio was moved to Bermondsey by developers She moved to the Biscuit factory and they promptly put on a show of abstract photographs. Creekside Artists Group Show, Biscuit Factory, Bermondsey. Art slows with family life in Surrey but she still exhibits with Creekside Artists Group Show, Royal Albert, New Cross

2016- 2019 Art Courses and exhibitions with Fatima Pantoja, Sky artist, West End Centre, Hampshire. Fatima was a great inspiration and fired Loades-Carter up again for painting and experimenting. She researched lots of different techniques but found painting was still her passion What type of painting to do has always been the biggest question Loades-Carter loves the freedom of landscape and abstract but could there be more? To start researching the decision she enters a plein air competition but realises this isn’t enough for her Higherford Mill, Barrowford, Lancashire Plein Air Exhibition June 2019 Third in competition She continues to explore Research seeing Arshile Gorky, Helen Frankenthaler shows and the Guggenheim in Venice.

Loades-Carter joins instagram and finds a wealth of talented people either who can help her or she can help them! Consultant to Demptyspace exhibition app 2019 They have a very intriguing app that helps artists display their work. She is taught online by a director to use professionally her camera and this takes her from strength to strength. Enabling her to compose images and edit them. She also helps various people across the globe especially in America with their artwork hoping to give back what she has been taught.

2019 Slade Contemporary Painting Summer school. Looking at how painting can be contemporary. This really deepened her understanding of contemporary art led by tutors from the Royal College of Art. She always tries to be timely and relevant. Her painting went from strength to strength at the Slade and her conceptual understanding. Producing mostly abstract work but learning about how important the idea is and how to create a site for a work of art Work can include anything but the concept is important.

Loades-Carter traveled to Venice to the Guggenheim and to study the work of Helen Frankenthaler and Arshile Gorky who is a long held favourite of hers Then to see Lee Krasner at the Barbican They helped her think about the importance of colour line and form. Reading round the subject and eventually meeting the author of Ninth St Women.

A Slade colour theory short course helped build on all this knowledge and she continued with a Slade advanced short course for working artists 2020. She continued to exhibit and planned a solo show for 2020 in an abstract phase of her work looking at early Pollock.

2020 She continued to make connections doing international collaborations with digital art and music. There was a slow sea change in her work from collage to painting and digital photography and how they could be used in combination for a really expressive and emotional outcome. This felt authentic to her The pandemic brought out a need in her to express her very deepest emotions which hadn’t surfaced before. She was selected by the Financial Times cultural editor for Selected Summer Exhibition at Green and Stone. London August 2020. And won a pandemic award for art from them

Momentum gathered and she was selected for the The Art of Isolation. Selected Group Show. Espacio Gallery, London. 2020. Felt like a landmark show in terms making timely and emotional work. She felt seen and heard She was seen as one to watch in this show After this show The Art of Isolation Collective was formed in London with international artists and she was a key player in pushing it forward. The Collective moved quickly and easily through several exhibitions showing putting together thoughtful shows in intriguing in evocative places They were also very quick to try online exhibitions knowing during a pandemic this was and interesting way to proceed She also ran rooms on clubhouse app on contemporary art questions.

2021 Mentored by international artist Edward Povey and this continues. Loades-Carter is good at understanding what she needs to know next and she wanted to improve her understanding of the art world and to create even more interesting concepts in her work. She exhibits in Mayfair London with the Taoicollective. With the pandemic easing she takes another studio at Make Space Studios, London giving an opportunity to further her painting research at The Tate Museums and the National Gallery. June 2021Research at a Marina Abramovich show in Brick Lane, London. Her use of psychology, found objects and atmosphere really impacted and Loades-Carter continues to study this fascinating performance artist.

House Of Annetta exhibition with TAOI Collective at House Of Annetta November 2021 Fascinating delve into the history of a house and an extraordinary woman. We were the first people allowed to look into the archive. It was in conjunction with the Architects’ group Assemble. It brings emotion and research into the equation

2022 Loades-Carter is currently working on personal body of large works after thoroughly researching Paula Rego’s work past and present and the Francis Bacon at the Royal Academy, London and contemporary painting at the Hayward Gallery Latest research has been at The National Gallery looking at the work of Raphael for the sense of colour and design skills. More research was made at the Hayward Gallery London, Louise Bourgeois exhibition noting her use of space and found objects creating personal and impactful work that as she said herself changed over a period of time Her words seem just as powerful as the work itself.

Having researched at the Courtauld Institute of Art’s own collection and Van Gogh’s self portraits she is now working on a dual show with Thomas Stimpson MBE to be held in September in London 2022. She becomes a mentor with ACE funding.

Exhibitions

House Of Annetta exhibition with TAOI Collective at House Of Annetta November 2021

The Space In Between with TAOI Collective online exhibition at www.taoicollective.art April - May 2021

Space In Between with TAOI Collective at 54 The Gallery, Mayfair. April 2021

Beginnings virtual exhibition @ TAOI Collective. 2021.

The Art Of Isolation, Espacio Gallery, London – Group Exhibition 2020

Summer Exhibition, Green and Stone, London – Group Exhibition 2020

The Curious Box by the West of Centre Art Collective, The West End Centre, Hampshire 2020

Plein Air Exhibition, Higherford Mill, Barrowford, Lancashire June 2019

Selected Artists. That Gallery, Basingstoke, October-December 2018

Creekside Artists Group Show, Royal Albert, New Cross October-November 2013

Creekside Artists Group Show, Biscuit Factory, Bermondsey October-November 2012

Organised and exhibited in final Creekside Artists group show in Deptford JulyAugust 2011

Creekside Artists Burlesque Theme Group Show (London Fringe), Seven Dials Club, Covent Garden August-September 2010

Cooltan Arts 1in4 Exhibition, The Gallery, Morley College, London. October 2005

Deptford X with Creekside Studios, every year 2003-2010

Joint Exhibition. Frameworks Gallery, Grayshott, Surrey. October 2001-2

Group show. Café Gallery, Bermondsey, London. November-December 1997.

“Summer Exhibition” of selected artists. The Gallery Manchester’s Art House. JulySeptember 1997.

Selected Artists. Will’s Art Warehouse, Parson’s Green, London. February-March 1997.

Exhibited in “(Re)Presenting Poussin”. Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester May – June 1995

Awards

Green and Stone isolation daily award 2020

Commended by Brick Lane Gallery in a figurative art competition 2020

Placed third, Plein Air competition, Higherford Mill, Lancashire. 2019

Royal Academy of Arts. Awarded a “David Murray Studentship for Landscape Painting” which took me to Scotland and Spain. July – September 1996.

I also have a letter of recommendation from David Murray for an application to the Royal Academy schools.

BA Fine Art Manchester Metropolitan University 2:1

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Lindy Allfrey-Walker, Arts Council England, and charity Outside In and our families

Published on the occasion of the anniversary of Van Gogh living in London.

Text by artists

Design by Henrietta Loades-Carter

Edited by artists

All works © Henrietta Loades-Carter © Thomas Simpson MBE

All images courtesy the Artists

Photography by Henrietta Loades-Carter

Published by Henrietta Loades-Carter 2023

All rights reserved No part of this book should be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording or information storage or retrieval) without permission in writing from the artist

Thomas Stimpson MBE tstimpson@outlook com

Studio located in Surrey, England

@tom stimpson

Henrietta Loades-Carter

henrietta.loades-carter@loadescarter.com

Studio located in London, England.

www.loadescarter.com

@artistloadescarter

07941166275

Images: Stimpson and Loades-Carter in the studio