RITA THORN AND MELANIE THORN POTTEN - UNFOLDING LANDSCAPES

SIXTEEN GALLERY | 17 -- 23 JULY

UNFOLDING LANDSCAPES IS AN EXHIBITION FEATURING SEMI-ABSTRACT MIXED MEDIA INTERPRETATIONS OF NATURE ALONGSIDE IMPRESSIONISTIC LANDSCAPES BY LOCAL ARTISTS RITA THORN AND MELANIE THORNE POTTEN.

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

RITA THORN

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After completing a teaching degree at Cardiff University with a specialism in art, Rita pursued a career in education while simultaneously developing her own artistic practice. Since retiring from a successful teaching career, Rita has focused her time and energy on further expanding her creative journey.

As a mixed media artist, Rita enjoys exploring a wide range of materials and processes. More recently, her work has focused on the properties of acrylic inks and watercolours, often combined with other media, including rich, jewel-like embellishments and collage. Her practice centres on using these varied techniques to respond to elements of the natural world, interpreting them in experimental and imaginative ways.

Alongside her own work, Rita is passionate about sharing her methods through adult education. She encourages curiosity and experimentation above all, giving students the opportunity to explore new techniques and build confidence in their creative ideas.

In recent years, Rita has exhibited her work locally throughout Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. She offers regular weekly art classes and also delivers workshops and demonstrations for a variety of art groups and societies.

RITA'S WEBSITE

RITA'S INSTAGRAM

MELANIE THORN POTTEN

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Melanie is a landscape artist based in the Cotswolds whose impressionistic work explores the beauty and emotional resonance of the natural world—particularly land, sea, and sky. Her paintings reflect a deep connection to place, seeking inspiration from local scenes across the UK and from further afield.

She holds a BA in Fine Art from the University of Gloucestershire and a Master’s in Urban Design from Birmingham City University. This academic background informs her strong sense of composition and spatial awareness.

Melanie’s creative process begins with on-site photography and sketching, sometimes followed by experimentation with mixed media studies before developing final works in acrylic paint. She works with a limited colour palette, occasionally punctuated by bold pigments to heighten contrast and mood.

She gained early recognition by winning the under-25s category at the Broadway Arts Festival Open Art Competition and has twice appeared on Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year—winning her Wildcard heat in 2024. Recent selections include Place des Lices for the RBSA Summer Show and Airing in the Breeze for the Bath Society of Artists Exhibition, both in 2024.

Melanie continues to explore the dynamic interplay of natural elements, seeking not to replicate landscapes but to reimagine them—inviting viewers into a shared, atmospheric experience.

MELANIE'S WEBSITE

MELANIE'S INSTAGRAM