July 2026: Ann Clifford
Imagination, Memory and Change
This month, The Rising Gallery at The Black Thistle is delighted to welcome Ann Clifford and her exhibition, Imagination, Memory and Change.
Working across mixed media, collage and paint, Ann creates atmospheric landscapes and seascapes that explore the relationship between memory, imagination and the ever-changing natural world. Her richly layered works invite viewers to slow down, look closely and consider the stories held within the landscapes around us.
Each painting begins as an abstract surface, built through an intuitive process of layering collage, texture and experimental mark making. Fragments of text, symbolic marks and subtle visual references are gradually woven into the composition, hinting at histories, forgotten narratives and imagined futures.
As the work develops, recognisable forms of land and sea slowly begin to emerge. Rather than depicting a specific location, Ann's paintings evoke a sense of place shaped by time, memory and transformation. The layers themselves become part of the story, reflecting the way landscapes are continually formed through erosion, accumulation and change.
Central to Ann's practice is the balance between intention and discovery. While symbolic references provide moments of structure, much of the imagery is allowed to emerge organically through the painting process itself. This interplay creates works that feel both deeply considered and wonderfully open to interpretation, encouraging each viewer to bring their own memories and experiences to the landscape.
Ann has lived most of her life in and around the Chew Valley, where the surrounding countryside continues to inspire her work. Although her creative journey began at an early age, it was not without challenges. After being told by a teacher that art "really wasn't for her," she stepped away from painting for many years, instead pursuing textile art before eventually returning to collage and paint. Today, abstraction remains at the heart of her practice, with landscapes and seascapes naturally revealing themselves through the creative process.
Imagination, Memory and Change celebrates the quiet beauty of places both remembered and imagined. Through texture, symbolism and intuitive mark making, Ann's work reminds us that landscapes are never static; they are living spaces, continually shaped by the passage of time and the memories we attach to them.
Visit The Rising Gallery, located within The Black Thistle in the heart of Shepton Mallet, to experience Ann Clifford's latest collection throughout the month. The gallery showcases a changing programme of exhibitions by local and regional artists, celebrating creativity in all its forms alongside the botanical surroundings of The Black Thistle.