This new exhibition at Storiel brings together some of Brenda Chamberlain’s paintings and drawings which are held at Storiel and Bangor University art collections. On view are three oil paintings ‘Chapel and Ruined Abbey, Bardsey’, ‘The Fishing Net’ and ‘Still Life with Fish; ‘Doves’, a large mixed-media work; a charming ink sketch ‘Girl with Siamese Cat’, and various other pencil and ink studies on paper. These works date from between 1949 – 1953. An oil painting ‘Grey Breast’ shows how during the early 1960’s her paintings became more abstract.

Brenda Chamberlain (1912-1971) was born and educated in Bangor. She knew from a very young age that she wanted to be an author and an artist. After leaving school Brenda spent six months in Copenhagen, where the paintings of Gauguin influenced her early works, before she then attended the Royal Academy Schools in London. She returned to north Wales, to Llanllechid with John Petts where they set up the Caseg Press in 1937.
Brenda also lived and worked on Bardsey Island between 1946-62, spent many winters with friends in Germany and lived on the Greek island of Hydra(1962-67). Wherever she lived she would paint, write and keep illustrated journals.

Although she had lived in numerous places, she rarely painted landscapes. It was people that fascinated her, and she would draw them at every opportunity. During her lifetime Brenda Chamberlain twice won the Gold Medal in fine Art at the National Eisteddfod and held several exhibitions in London and Wales.

To discover more about her life and see her work the exhibition can be seen at Storiel until 6 April. Storiel is open Tuesday – Saturday – 11:00 – 17:00.