Swimming in the Night Sky
Eileen Cooper RA
Solo Show
Rabley Gallery (West)
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Opening times:
8 April – 27 April
Thurs – 11.00 – 16.00
Fri – 11.00 – 16.00
Sat 13th, 20th, 27th April – 11.00–15.00
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The figure is ever present in the imagery of Eileen Cooper.
Throughout ‘Swimming in the Night Sky’ she elegantly brings together the elemental qualities of sky and water. Iridescent and translucent layers of pastel, ink and gouache suspend her figures in floating worlds.
Words by Eileen Cooper RA:
I’d been reading about the German born British astronomer Caroline Herschel who discovered several comets. She was the first woman to receive a salary as a scientist . It makes me smile to think of her in the 1780’s sitting alone at her telescope ‘sweeping the skies’ in search of interesting objects.
I already knew I wanted to make work about the Night Sky and over a couple of years this imagery has developed. I hope the drawings have a feeling of intensity that only happens when ideas, imagery and the process fuse together. As in much of my work, the sea is ever present .
Image credit: Art UK
Eileen Cooper RA
Eileen Cooper is an artist known for her strong and passionate commitment to figuration.
Originally from the Peak District, Cooper has exhibited widely in the UK and internationally. Her work is held in many public and private collections including the Tate Gallery; the Arts Council Collection; the British Museum; Manchester Art Gallery; Mima, Middlesborough; New Hall Art Collection, University of Cambridge; the Royal Collection; Victoria & Albert Museum; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas; Kunsthalle, Nuremberg; Walpole Library, Yale University.
Ink and watercolour on paper (2026), 21 x 15 cm (8.27 x 5.91 in), EC298
Ink and watercolour on paper (2026), 21 x 15 cm (8.27 x 5.91 in), EC297
Ink and watercolour on paper (2026), 21 x 15 cm (8.27 x 5.91 in), EC296
Ink and watercolour on paper (2026), 21 x 15 cm (8.27 x 5.91 in), EC291
Ink and watercolour on paper (2026), 21 x 15 cm (8.27 x 5.91 in), EC295
Ink and watercolour on paper (2026), 21 x 15 cm (8.27 x 5.91 in), EC294
Ink and watercolour on paper (2026), 21 x 15 cm (8.27 x 5.91 in), EC293
Ink and watercolour on paper (2026), 21 x 15 cm (8.27 x 5.91 in), EC292
RABLEY GALLERY
Rabley Drawing Centre
Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 2LW
T +44 (0)1672 511999
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