8 March – 12 April 2025

Our 2025 Exhibition programme launches with one of the UK’s most respected abstract painters, Brian Rice.

‘It All Began in Yeovil, The Amazing Career of Artist Brian Rice’ tells the story of the artist whose 70 year career began with his days at Yeovil School of Art.

Brian says,

“I am so pleased finally to show this work from my days as a student at Yeovil School of Art in Yeovil itself,  having never before found a suitable venue to do so. I see this as a celebration of the great training Yeovil School of Art gave to several generations of aspiring artists”

Born in Yeovil, Brian began his art training at the Yeovil School of Art aged 17, where he studied Illustration, Textile Printing and Oil Painting as part of an NDD course.

Now 88, his work is in over 70 international collections, including the Tate Gallery and The Victoria and Albert Museum among many other esteemed collections nationally and internationally. When he moved to London in the early 1960s, he was filmed by American TV as part of the ‘Swinging London’ scene. He met The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and many actors and pop musicians, he was friends with Peter Blake, Jo Tilson, Alan Jones and fellow Yeovil School of Art student Derek Boshier, mixing with fashion designers, photographers, models and designers in TV.

The exhibition presents an extensive collection of over 40 pieces of early works made by Brian in the 1950s, including his first wood engraving ‘Rare Breed’.   Art education in the 1950s was rigorous, “The skills I learnt then still inform my work today” says Brian. 

His art school work includes figurative drawings and landscapes, which may surprise many who are more familiar with his bold colourful abstract paintings. An early portrait drawing titled  “Lady with a Hat’ is seen on the exhibition publicity. Also in the show is his personal archive of photos, such as The Christmas ball at Yeovil School of Art in 1952. The early figurative and landscape work in the show depicts many local scenes, including several of Yeovil town centre as it then was, along with Montacute House and views from Ham Hill.

The exhibition also presents a selection of his later work that reflects his enduring interest in archaeology and ancient landscapes in South West England, and some of the more recent abstract work will be shown to the public for the first time.

MORE ABOUT BRIAN RICE
Website: https://brianrice.co.uk/
Press: https://www.marshwoodvale.com/people/2016/10/brian-rice/
Archive: See online exhibition at South West Heritage Trust as part of the exhibition ‘Brian Rice 60 years of paintings and prints’ at Somerset Museum
Video:
‘Artist Brian Rice: From Peasant to Painter’, Bridport TV (2001)
‘Interview of artist Brian Rice’, RAAM, Exeter (2020)
‘In Conversation at Close : Brian Rice and Prue O’Day’ (16 Feb 2023)
Promotion video for Exhibition at Art Stable, Dorset (Feb 2024)

Exhibition Events

Opening Event – Sat 8 March, 2.30 – 4pm

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the gallery to see this distinctive selection of work. Join us here at Yeovil Art Space to celebrate the opening of this very special exhibition.

Hot drinks and refreshments will be provided, donations are welcome. This is a free event, no booking is required but we would love to know if you are coming.

If you would prefer to RSVP via telephone please call/text 07360861358, any inquiries can be emailed to info@yeovilartspace.uk

‘In Conversation with Brian Rice’ – Sat 22 March, 2.30-4pm

Join us for this special event to hear Brian talk about his work and his time at Yeovil School of Art. A wonderful opportunity to gain insight into the artist’s years as a student and speak in the context of the show. Hot drinks and refreshments will be provided, donations are welcome.

This event is Free but booking is essential.

If you would prefer to book via telephone please call/text 07360861358, any inquiries can be emailed to info@yeovilartspace.uk

A selection of early work

Some of Brian’s work from his student days at Yeovil School of Art that will be shown in the exhibition.