New Major Art Exhibition at River & Rowing Museum – ‘The Art of Bill Mundy’

Bill Mundy is the only living miniaturist to be represented at the Victoria and Albert Museum and this winter the River & Rowing Museum is proud to be exhibiting his works from 16 November – 2 February 2014.

Elected a full member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters in 1979 and the equally prestigious Miniature Artists of America in 1992, his career has included 20 years spent living in Asia. He held the position of ‘Court Painter’ to the Johor Royal family in Malaysia and, after his return to England in 1978, he was commissioned to paint an equestrian miniature for Her Majesty the Queen. He now lives and paints from his riverside home in Henley.

‘The Art of Bill Mundy’ examines three principal themes: portraiture; trompe l’oeil and depictions of life on the river Thames. These are all areas in which Bill Mundy has excelled using a watercolour technique, recently described as ‘Pointilism in Miniature’. A visitor to the exhibition can expect to be inspired by a range of works including an array of portraits. The exhibition includes: “When the Queen came to Henley”; a painting of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee visit to Henley; and “Portrait in Time”, a painting that includes a working watch movement and explores the progression of time.

Bill Mundy says:

 “I am thrilled to be exhibiting at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley. Living in the area makes this exhibition very special to me; this award-winning venue is perfect for my first comprehensive retrospective exhibition. The three main themes of this exhibition are portraiture, trope l’oeil and depictions of life on the river Thames.”

Paul Mainds, Chief Executive of the River & Rowing Museum, says:

“Bill is, of course, well recognised as a talented and established artist, a reputation that in itself would justify an exhibition. It is however the fact that so much of his work is inspired by and represents the life and personalities of Henley that makes this special exhibition fit so well with the Museum’s themes.”

The awarding-winning River & Rowing Museum, recently ranked in the Top 50 Museums in the world by The Times, announced record visitor numbers last year and looks set for another exciting year of exhibitions, workshops and activities with a jam-packed winter programme for the whole family.

Visit rrm.co.uk for more information.