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Tom Walker walks the line at Pelham House
Renowned artist, Tom Walker, provided a special treat for Pelham House visitors during Easter by allowing them to watch him create original artwork inspired by tight rope walking.
The pastel painter likes to pick unusual subjects for his work. Most recently, he pursued a four and half year obsession with making images about snooker.
Over that period, he created a total of 147 paintings (a maximum break in snooker), some of which were featured on the BBC during consecutive UK and World Snooker Championships.
In fact, at the 2009 World Championships, he was responsible for creating ‘Many Crucibilities’, the Crucible Masterpiece, as the tournament developed.
These beautiful, quirky and hilarious paintings were eventually put on display at a large exhibition in Sheffield last year, followed by another in Salisbury, which was opened by 6-times World Snooker Champion, Steve Davis OBE.
As for the tightrope-themed work he created at the 4-star hotel between April 4th and April 5th, these emerged through a process of improvisation - he had no idea what the finish form would look like when he started. He chose to decide on the day. This was very exciting for the audience and for Tom too!
“The work I did was inspired by Julian Bell's ceiling painting of tight rope walkers at Pelham House. Julian is a good friend of mine and I planned for the art to be a tangential, slightly tongue-in-cheek, nod at his work.”
Walker says the subject is a good one to focus on because tight rope walking is a great metaphor for life.
“Its all about equilibrium, with people trying to balance difficult situations in their lives,” adds Walker. “Some of them face dramatic consequences if they fall. It’s a question of staying on the rope rather than being on the ropes.”
He made some preliminary sketches around the hallway, where Bell's main tight rope painting currently exists. After that, he created a big picture for the longer hall. Some of his work will be displayedin the Foyer eventually.
“The idea was to entertain visitors to the hotel as they pass by,” adds Walker. “It's always interesting interacting with people watching something in the process of being created. I don't have any problems with them coming up behind me and saying: 'Oh, what's that mister?''”
The pictures will also be featured in a special 10 week, two-part pastel exhibition at Pelham House.
The first part will run from April 8th until May 12th, and the second part will commence on May 12th until Jun 8th. Walker will change the pictures half way through this exhibition, to make sure the artwork is kept fresh.
“I think I'll also create some more work based on tight rope walking at home, in preparation for the second part of the exhibition - just to mix things up.”
Walker has been specialising in pastel painting for over 40 years, finding it a wonderfully flexible and versatile medium. He also teaches regular pastel classes and workshops.
In the past, he has exhibited his work in many countries, including Italy, Hungary and the USA. But his works can be found in collections as far afield as Iceland, Japan and Australia.
In most of his images he aims to suggest rather than state, inviting observers to find their own interpretations of his pictures. This fascination with composition and his fondness for the element of surprise underpin his creative imagination.
Walker enjoys creating work at Pelham House because of the warm and friendly atmosphere it offers guests and artists.
“It has a great atmosphere and a very positive attitude towards the local community and local artists. I find this refreshing because in a lot of hotels, you see the same old paintings on the walls, which are quite corporate. They are usually prints rather than originals.”
Uniquely for a hotel, Pelham House has its own resident art curator, Lindsey Galpin. With a background as a painter and stained glass artist, she has infused her creativity and experience to transform the venue into, literally, a work of art over the past four years.
Styled on elegance and romanticism and nestled in the heart of Lewes, Pelham House Hotel and restaurant boasts 31 boutique themed bedrooms within its 16th century Sussex townhouse.
Overlooking the newly recognised South Downs National Park, it is the perfect rural getaway, situated just ten minutes away from Brighton.
If you are interested in staying at Pelham House, take a look at some of the special offers it has on at the moment.
You can also reserve a table in the restaurant, and browse other menus on offer.
