One might well ask what three Greek islands, Iceland, Swanage in Dorset, and West Cork in Ireland have in common. And the answer would be found in this very personal exhibition of photographs, which records: coastlines, waters, sunsets and scenery. All of the scenes recorded are clearly very special to Victoria Pearson, the photographer, whose exhibition this is. It is an exhibition that serves to encourage us all to record and reflect on beautiful visual images that we experience as part of our travels, or indeed in everyday life. A comment in the exhibition’s visitors’ book succinctly sums this up: “Beautiful photographs, which make me want to pick up my camera and travel the world.” And in addition to providing an actual record these photographs also provide comparisons and contrasts between the similarities and differences of the cultures and topographies they present.

Gullfoss Waterfall photographed in Iceland captures a frozen water flow creating a frothy ice-creamy foreground, which gives way sharply to the deep blues and browns of the rock face behind it and the hinterland of tundra that completes the background of the picture. Whereas the water surrounding Mizzen Head in Co. Cork contrasts a typical Irish cairn in the foreground with a receding succession of islets, channels and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean in the far background.

Sunset at Swanage (pictured here) captures the ethereal beauty and power of nature in the complexity of a sunset that melds sea, sun, sky, and clouds formations into a series of breath-taking and continuous magical striations of reds, golds, coppers, black and creamy greys.

The exhibition continues until March 8, in the upstairs Gallery at The Theatre Chipping Norton and is open when the theatre is open. The upstairs Gallery at The Theatre provides a delightful intimate exhibition space, as testified by this exhibition. And the gallery is keen to hear from artists and crafts people, particularly those who are local who would like to exhibit in future. Interested artists should email john@chippingnortontheatre.com