Keynes College is delighted to present their latest exhibition ‘Pleasure in Painting’, by local artist and alumna Elizabeth Akehurst, which is on display on two levels in the Atrium until 8th April 2020.
Elizabeth is particularly thrilled to be returning to Keynes once more, as she last exhibited back in Keynes in 2004 and will be showcasing her impressive paintings spanning over the past 16 years.
When: Friday 24 January 2020 from 17.00 – 19.00
Where: Keynes Atrium
All are very welcome to the the Private View.
Elizabeth explains: “Painting is not where I began. I came to this University in 1969 to study mathematics and it was here I met my husband Andrew Akehurst (Eliot 1969-1972) who was studying English. Three years later I left with a first class degree and went on to postgraduate studies at Cambridge, part of the first cohort of women admitted to King’s College Cambridge. After I completed an MSc at Newcastle we came back to Kent in 1976 and I went into teaching. However, a strong interest in painters and paintings has always formed an integral part of my life and having children and giving up full time work provided space.
I began to paint in the 1980’s, first in watercolour, then as the opportunity allowed, in oils. By the 1990’s I was exhibiting widely and able to drop many other commitments and declare myself a professional artist. I have been with David and Dawn Lilford in Canterbury at the Liford Gallery since 2000 and they have represented my work at Art Fairs in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. I have exhibited at other galleries across England and Scotland.
My paintings are in the collections of the University of Kent, Canterbury and Medway Council and in private collections both in England and abroad. I was presented with a Kalaimaiyam International Art Award in 2019.
I had a solo show here in Keynes in 2004 so it is real pleasure to have another. This has given me the chance to show work from the last sixteen years.” – Elizabeth Akehurst
Boats in the Early Morning
All artworks are available to be purchased by emailing keynesmastersoffice@kent.ac.uk or by contacting the artist directly on akehurst@btinternet.com. A price list is available from Keynes Reception.