A NEW art exhibition which celebrates some of Wiltshire's most idyllic landscapes launches in Malmesbury this week.
Art enthusiasts will be able to marvel at Simone Dawood's incredible Distant Echoes - Wiltshire Landscapes exhibition at Caerbladon in Malmesbury High Street from Thursday, April 18 until Saturday, May 25.
Simone worked in media industry in London before relocating to Wiltshire in 2015 to her pursue creative ambitions full time.
The artist says that walking, observing clumps of trees or wider horizons on the Ridgeway has inspired a lot of the paintings in this collection.
Distant Echoes - Wiltshire Landscapes features a wide range of newer oil paintings as well as some giclée prints of her earlier works.
Simone said: “My work is inspired by the landscape that surrounds me.
"Its beauty and generosity surprises and delights me every day.
"I am compelled to respond by striving to capture the essence, colour and unfolding seasonal drama that never ceases to take my breath away.
"I started each piece by making a quick pencil sketches en plein air, sometimes taking photographs; then work on more detailed charcoal sketches back in the studio.
"From there I map out my colour palette and often use layer upon layer of highly saturated colour.
"Each painting takes many sessions to complete to make sure I am happy with the final finish and atmosphere.
"Most of my work is painted onto high quality linen, a surface I favour because the organic grain and texture fits well with the landscape subject."
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