A glorious selection of paintings by the internationally renowned artist John Lendis, adorn the walls of a spacious new art gallery that has opened in the High Street, Moreton-in-Marsh. They are large works in acrylic that need space to breath, and the Celia Lendis Contemporary Fine Art Gallery provides this in plenty.

This exhibition springs from John’s recent encounter with Ophelia and from the new life that he and his wife, who owns the gallery, are now enjoying in the Cotswolds, after many years in Tasmania.

In this body of work there’s a narrative — Ophelia appears on the canvas in many guises — but there is also a sense of landscape, universal space and urban influences. John sees Ophelia as a metaphor for his relationship with the Cotswold landscape, which he says he is now seeing with fresh eyes.

Within each picture he has added intriguing little cameos of scenes inspired by the world in which he now lives or visits, including London and the suburbs.

Take Ophelia on the Bakerloo Line, for example. At the top of the picture (above) you see a sign for the Bakerloo line and in the right hand corner a glimpse of the Cotswolds. The mass of wires one views on the underground walls while waiting for a train, have been woven into a twisted pattern behind the resting figure too. Other works include snow scenes, an imaginary city and wide vistas of Tasmanian forests.

John’s choice of autumnal colours is impressive, his palette is mellow and gentle. Nothing jumps out of the canvas demanding attention, for despite the many things going on in his works everything fuses together. This is his intention – and it works.

Look carefully at his works and you will also spot influences from William Morris. Hints of Japanese influences can be spotted too.

Celia accepts that John’s pictures will soon be snapped up by London galleries – meanwhile they hang proud in Moreton-in-Marsh.