A vibrant exhibition of large-scale paintings depicting beautiful still life scenes has gone on display at The Larder, in the city centre.
Henna Hilton, a Preston-based artist, takes her inspiration from daily life, working primarily in acrylic on canvas, creating still-life images of the space around her. Her focus is the beauty of the mundane: a plant, a chair, or vase on a table becomes a musical, bright, and colourful scene.
“I’ve been painting since I was little but only started painting on large canvases five years ago,” said Henna. “My paintings are all still life, rooms around my home or little arranged scenes, sometimes made up with a plant added here or there.”
Her work is large, her backgrounds are stunning and each piece is full of light – you cannot help smiling and wanting to live in the world she creates when you see these gorgeous canvases.
“I enjoy painting on large canvas because I can get lost in the atmosphere of the scene, it becomes a whole new space,” said Henna.
“Henna is a little bit Van Gogh, a little bit Veronica Funk, with a touch of Nora Shipley,” said Joey Afrin Black, from Art at The Larder and organiser of the exhibition. “But totally Henna Hilton!”
Henna also creates in 3D. She said: “Depending on the day I take my creativity to another medium, working with Papier-mâché, designing and producing wall shrines for little trinkets, small adorned mirrors, and hand-painted boxes.”
The Larder will have some of Henna’s Papier-mâché pieces on show too and will also be displaying her hand-finished tote bags in the café space.
“Come along and see these fabulous cheery works to brighten up this dreary February,” said Joey. “We felt Preston would be in need of something jolly after never-ending January and this is most definitely it.”
All pieces can be bought directly from the artist and collected at the end of the exhibition.
The Larder will be launching the exhibition and having a Meet the Artist event, where Henna will have tote bags and prints available to buy, on Saturday 4 February from 1pm to 3pm at The Larder Café, Arts and Community Hub, 50 Lancaster Road, Preston.
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