Let’s get straight to the art of the matter. The British coastline’s top holiday home destinations have always inspired artists. There’s a huge legacy of work that captures the beauty of our seaside’s and landscapes. When you’re enjoying leisure time in your UK holiday home a visit to see some pictures and soak up the culture is a great day out and why not go outdoors to explore the places that inspired the artists in the first place? Take this artistic and creative trip around the country and don’t forget to pack your paint brush!
Famous art from Norfolk and Suffolk
Let’s start in the county of beautiful beaches and the world-famous Broads. The names that come instantly to mind are the greats like Crome and Cotman. In more recent times we have Colin Self, born in 1941. As a world-renowned pop artist Self was, in his early days, encouraged by the likes of David Hockney and Peter Blake.
If you’ve chosen to have your holiday home in or near Norfolk don’t miss visiting Norwich Castle Museum where the art collections span centuries and styles. And the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts is a must. This vast collection includes ancient works as well as paintings by the likes of Modigliani, Francis Bacon and, in an exhibition planned for 2022, Grayson Perry. You can explore Constable Country from holiday homes in Suffolk
Another Suffolk based painter, and painter of Suffolk, is Edward Seago. An artist of world renown he painted the East Anglian landscape in an instantly recognisable style. Like many others he found inspiration in the Norfolk Broads too. They call the area Constable Country because of John Constable. Without a doubt he’s the most famous artist associated with Suffolk, and Essex. Everyone knows his pictures. The Haywain is recognised as one of the greatest and most popular English paintings. Today, Constable’s paintings are in museums and galleries in London and across the world. But, you don’t always have to see the work itself to appreciate its beauty. From a holiday home in Suffolk, you can explore the countryside and places that inspired him. Although it’s inevitably changed to some degree since the 19th century this is still a place of rare beauty. Constable Country, the rolling landscape of the Suffolk and Essex borders.
Explore the art of Essex with a static caravan
Now, into Essex. It’s a strange fact that right now perhaps the biggest claim to artistic fame that Essex makes is not in the form of a painting, or even a sculpture. In the tiny village of Wrabness you’ll find ‘A House for Essex’. This creation by Grayson Perry is indeed a house. It’s a work of art in itself and it’s the location for other works in which the artist has explored the character of Essex.
Exploring Essex yourselves, from your holiday home, will quickly reveal that the county has a plethora of galleries and museums. Southend, Colchester, and Chelmsford all have places where you can see art on display.
It’s at Dedham, a beautiful place well within Constable Country, that you’ll find the home of a world famous artist. The Munnings Art Museum is in the former home of Sir Alfred Munnings. He always called it ‘the house of my dreams’ and he lived and worked there for forty years until his death in 1959. Munnings was outspoken, a one time President of the Royal Academy and a prolific painter of some of our most memorable images. The museum holds the largest known collection of his work.
Tingdene Mablethorpe Chalet Park is nearby to the origins of the famous ‘Skegness if so bracing’ painting for the Great Northern Railway!
Some would perhaps argue that it’s not in the ‘Fine Art’ category, but Lincolnshire’s Skegness is the subject of one of the most enduring images ever conceived. The “Jolly Fisherman’ who proudly proclaims that ‘Skegness is so Bracing was painted by John Hassall in 1908. Commissioned by the Great Northern Railway it’s acknowledged as one of the most famous holiday advertisements of all time. The original hangs in Skegness town hall.
Lincolnshire continues to inspire artists today. Tingdene Mablethorpe holiday home owners can step on to a beach featured in photography and paintings currently displayed online. And The Lincolnshire Wolds, captured by artists such as Helen Dunning, are another landscape to explore from your holiday home.
A holiday home in Teesside gives you access to world famous artist L.S Lowry
Swing further north and Teesside is a place where the holiday home owner can find real treasures. The collection at Middlesbrough’s town hall includes work by L. S. Lowry no less. More modern pieces by artists such as William Tillyer are in the collection too.
Middlesbrough is also the home of sculptor Mackenzie Thorpe. He’s been given the freedom of Middlesbrough and is never shy of telling the world where he comes from.
If you’re spending holiday home time in this area of the UK coast, it’s well worth exploring places like Whitby. The town’s Whitby Galleries is one of the area’s leading small art galleries.
One of the great joys of having your own UK holiday home is being able to explore the surrounding area. Getting to know your home from home is a real pleasure. And finding out about the art of the area is a wonderful bonus. From learning more about artists of yesteryear who were perhaps born and bred there, to seeking out the places and landscapes they painted, is a great way to engage with the geography. Finding out about more modern artists and discovering how they relate to the area can lead to exciting discoveries.
Simply shopping in small galleries can be really rewarding. A piece of original art doesn’t have to cost a fortune. It can though become a treasured possession. What’s more it can add to the character of your holiday home. A local picture will be a souvenir and special object for you; it will also be an informative and interesting piece for your family, friends or guests if you rent out.
And remember, a picture doesn’t have to be ‘new’. An attractive picture - especially if it’s of the area - can be an older piece, in an original frame. If that’s in stark contrast to your modern décor it doesn’t matter. On the contrary. You’ve added to your memories and the charm of your holiday home.
