A well of inspiration – “Visions of Eden”

I have just come back from helping my friend Pauline Medinger with her first solo exhibition. I have followed her progress for the last 5 years, and it has been so inspiring to see her art fill the large Hilltop Lodge at RHS Gardens Hyde Hall in Essex.

It all started with Pauline having a dream in which she saw 7 images that told the story of the garden of Eden. She promptly proceeded in painting 7 large panels (135 cm x 75 cm), which she hopes will one day tour cathedrals and churches, and then decided to produce some more work around her love for creation to make a solo exhibition worthwhile.

Pauline was about to open her exhibition in March 2020 when Covid hit. Due to underlying health conditions, Pauline was told by her doctors that she had to shield, so she has effectively stayed at home for the past 2 years.

Despite numerous health scares and having her exhibition cancelled for a second time in 2021, Pauline continued to create. The initial 7 paintings have turned into over 100 (!) pieces of original artwork.

Apart from the Eden panels, there are other large original paintings in acrylics, watercolour and mixed media pieces of unique stitch drawings on a painted background. There are also sublimination monoprints of plants and several one-off sculptures.

The visitors I have spoken to were all taken aback that one person has created such a volume of varied works and said that many of the pieces evoked joy.

So if you have the chance, go and see the work – we could all do with an injection of hope, after all.

The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 5pm until Sunday, 20th March. There is a website which shows a selection of the work at www.edencreativeart.co.uk