Echoes of the Landscape in Woodstock 

Liz Nicholls

Enjoy 40+ artworks by sculptor Jon Earney & watercolourist Rod Craig in Woodstock, 14th to 21st April  

Art lovers visiting Woodstock this spring are set to be captivated by an inspirational joint exhibition featuring over 40 artworks by renowned watercolourist Rod Craig and sculptor Jon Earney. The exhibition will be hosted at No 14 Gallery. 

Both artists draw much of their inspiration from the beauty of the surrounding Oxfordshire countryside; Rod’s paintings of the majestic ancient oaks of Blenheim are a fitting companion to Jon’s meticulously crafted wooden sculptures as shown in Balance (above), a work in walnut.  

Rod’s light-filled watercolours (Little Green and Here Comes the Sun here) reflect a similar quality to Jon’s translucent polished alabaster sculptures (such as Pierced and Infinity). Jon says: “Working in alabaster is a calming, sensory experience. Smoothing the sculptures is a very long and extremely tactile process – I know it’s finished when it ‘feels’ right.” 

Jon Earney and Rod Craig met through their association with Artists in Woodstock and have exhibited together previously in group shows. Rod says: “I’m thrilled to have a joint exhibition with Jon; a synergy has developed in our respective work and both have an endless fascination for the elements, how time weathers the trees and landscape and the beauty of light on nature.” Jon adds: “When I moved to Woodstock, I saw Rod’s work in a gallery and was immediately drawn. It seemed we were both striving to create a little beauty and permanence in a chaotic world.” 

Woodstock has been Rod’s home for more than 30 years. He started his design business in the town and for the last 15 years has been painting full time – in his studio and out on location. When Rod isn’t painting, he can be heard playing the mandolin in various musical ensembles. He says: “Woodstock is an inspiring and unique place; striking architecture, lovely water meadows close by and of course Blenheim Park on our doorstep. Watercolour is my preferred medium; its vibrancy and fluidity allow me to create dramatic moods and atmospheric paintings of the countryside.”  

Jon’s career path was set in stone early; some of his earliest memories are “walking the beaches in Norfolk with my mother, searching for carnelian and small pieces of agate to take home and tumble polish”.  He started learning lapidary techniques while living in New Zealand, inspired by the resurgence in the Maori art of carving jewellery out of Pounamu (nephrite jade). He taught himself to fashion pendants. “It was a natural progression to sculpting in stone,” says Jon. “I love being outdoors searching. The most organic-looking of my pieces are likely to be from stones I’ve picked up on beaches and mountainsides.  

“More recently I’ve enjoyed the challenge of working in English woods; these are scavenged from hedgerows and recycled from dead trees. Barbara Hepworth has been a huge inspiration, particularly her use of negative space.”