Virginia Ray | Featured Artist

VIRGINIA RAY Featured Artist

1st to 30th October 2021

Virginia Ray studied History at Lancaster University and has an MA in Fine Art from Farnham UCA. Virginia’s work has been exhibited in Surrey, Norfolk, London, Yorkshire and Ibiza, she also works as a freelance artist with the Watts Gallery in Compton, Surrey.

‘Curlews Crying, Craddock Moor’ Oil and Mixed Media (Including copper dust) on linen canvas A: 50cm x 50cm | F:55cm x 55cm £895 A= Artwork | F= Frame

Virginia’s mixed media landscape works are inspired by the dramatic weather and rich industrial heritage of West Cornwall, and include materials taken from the land itself - slate, tin, copper and stone dust – so that each work engages with Cornwall’s natural elements and celebrates the rich materiality of the land. The collection is informed by walks on which Virginia photographs the unique scenery, retracing the footsteps of those who once populated this working mining and quarrying area.

‘After the Rain on the Old Railway, Minions to Moorswater’ Oil and mixed media (including stone & copper dust) on linen canvas A: 125cm x 100cm | F:130cm x 105cm £2,495

‘The Best Ore was Under The Sea, The Tin Coast’ Oil and mixed media (including tin dust and beach material) on linen canvas A: 100cm x 100cm | F:105cm x 105cm £2,295

Walking the landscape towards The Keuswask.

‘Outcrop of Granite, Towards The Cheesewring’ Oil and mixed media (including stone & tin dust) on linen canvas A: 100cm x 100cm | F:105cm x 105cm £2,295

Once the mines, quarries and railways closed the villages grew silent and the land grew quiet.

‘And the Land Grew Quiet, Towards The Cheesewring’ Oil and mixed media (including stone dust) on linen canvas A: 50cm x 50cm | F:55cm x 55cm £895

Once mined, the tin metal would be shaped into bars. A scream was emitted as the worked tin was bent. This was known as ‘the tin cry.’ The sound was caused by the shearing of the crystals in the metal.

‘Echoes of ‘The Tin Cry’, Trevellas Cove’ Oil and mixed media (including stone & tin dust) on linen canvas A: 80cm x 80cm | F:85cm x 85cm £1,895

Standing, looking out to sea, old mine shafts stretching out under the calmness.

‘Working a Mile Out to Sea, The Tin Coast’ Oil and mixed media (Including beach material) on linen canvas A: 40cm x 40cm | F:45cm x 45cm £495

Granite from The Cheesewring Quarry was used to build several structures in London including London Bridge.

‘Abandoned by The Quarrymen, Towards The Cheesewring’ Oil and mixed media (including stone dust ) on linen canvas A: 50cm x 50cm | F:55cm x 55cm £895

I have incorporated slate dust into the surface of this painting, recalling the cart loads of slate carried to the port to be shipped around the country and even as far as The Netherlands and Brittany. The grooves made by the carts can still be seen on the road today.

‘The Old Slate Road, Port Gaverne’ Oil and mixed media (including slate dust and beach material) on linen canvas A: 70cm x 50cm | F:75cm x 55cm £1,095

A walk through The Kenidjack Valley, littered with engine houses and mine shafts, opens out to this exhilarating and beautiful view.

‘Where The Valley Meets The Sea, Kenidjack Valley’ Oil and mixed media (including slate dust and beach material) on linen canvas A: 70cm x 50cm | F:75cm x 55cm £1,095

The old railway transported the mined minerals to Moorswater, where the loads would then be transferred onto boats to take to Looe Harbour for shipping. The famous Hurler stones can be seen looking to the West of this location.

‘Walking the Old Railway, Minions to Moorswater’ Oil and mixed media (including stone dust) on linen canvas A: 80cm x 80cm | F:85cm x 85cm £1,895

‘Jackdaws Nesting, Minions’ Oil and mixed media (including stone and copper dust) on linen canvas A: 50cm x 50cm | F:55cm x 55cm £895

‘A Resting Land, Towards the Cheesewring’ Oil and mixed media (including stone dust) on linen canvas A: 50cm x 50cm | F:55cm x 55cm £895

This painting was inspired by an old 1824 poster, advertising excursions through Cornwall. The painting presents an exaggerated image of these enormous rocks.

‘Excursions Through Cornwall, The Cheesewring’ Oil and mixed media (including stone dust) on linen canvas A: 50cm x 50cm | F:55cm x 55cm £895

Slate from Delabole Quarry has been used as a building material for over 800 years. In the 1800s it would take 1000 men to quarry 120 tonnes of the finest slate block. Today, it takes but five to generate the same amount.

‘Shaping the Land, Delabole Quarry’ Oil and mixed media (including slate dust) on linen canvas A: 30cm x 30cm | F:35cm x 35cm £295

I have incorporated an old photograph and slate dust, evoking the social, economic and geological layering of this land.

‘Edging the Land, Delabole Quarry’ Oil and mixed media (including slate dust) on linen canvas A: 30cm x 30cm | F:35cm x 35cm £295

The Par ad e , Po l ze a th , Co rn wa l l , P L 2 7 6 S R 01208 869301 | art@whitewatercontemporary.co.uk www.whitewatercontemporary.co.uk @Whitewatercontemporary