About the event

Rory Brooke: East London Waterways

Rory is fascinated by East London and the Thames Estuary. He loves exploring out-of-the way locations ranging from scrappy industrial landscapes and utilitarian infrastructure to canals, mudflats and wetlands. This exhibition presents his work inspired by these places, ranging from the Isle of Grain to the Lea Valley and Regent’s Canal. A number of pictures explore the water industry legacy of the Walthamstow Wetlands with attention on pipes, pumping stations and weirs and how these fit with nature in the landscape.

The larger pictures are limited edition screenprints. The black and white pictures are linocuts and the smaller pictures are giclee print sketches coloured in using Photoshop.

A few words about Rory Brooke and his work: 

Rory Brooke’s work explores the contrast between the natural and the man-made, the beauty of what’s often considered ugly. He is interested in underlying issues and context in society, including climate change, the environment, development and our neighbourhoods. His visual language has an emphasis on blocks of colour, strong geometric shapes and contrasting patterns and textures. He mainly focuses on landscape and seeks to draw out and emphasise abstract elements of composition. His usual mediums are screenprint and linocut.

Rory is a former member of Birmingham Printmakers and the founder of East London Printmakers. He has exhibited in group and solo shows including: the London Art Biennale; Woolwich Print Fair; OxMarket Open; Royal Birmingham Society of Artists exhibitions; Royal West of England Academy Annual Open; London City Hall; and the Princes Foundation. He won the ArtGemini Printmaking Prize and Festival of Print Printmaking Today Prize. He was selected to take part in Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year in 2021.

Tai-Shan Schierenberg, painter, on his work: "I love the flatness of the colours, and the way the pigment goes down is very beautiful... It’s quite magical."

Kate Bryan, British art historian, curator and arts broadcaster: "I think his colour palette is great. He's a very sophisticated artist."

'East London Waterways' is a free exhibition and is open every day from Sunday 5 October to Sunday 11 January

NO BOOKING REQUIRED

Exhibition Opening Times
9.30 to 3.30pm

Venue: Walthamstow Wetlands Engine House Mezzanine, 2 Forest Road, London N17 9NH.
Nearest tube/rail: Tottenham Hale or Blackhorse Road

You can find out more about Rory Brooke's work here: Rory Brooke Prints, London and Rory Brooke (@rory_brooke_prints)