Lucy Raverat

About Lucy Raverat

Lucy Rawlinson is the self-taught artist granddaughter of Gwen Raverat, and as a child lived for a while in the Old Granary in Silver Street. Her work has been described as ‘naive’.  It shows a freshness and an enjoyment of everyday life, as well as an instinctive sense of pattern and colour. There are often surprising juxtapositions and unusual perspectives in her compositions.

Dreaming in the Bath
1991
Oil on canvas, 100 x 90 cms
Donated by the artist in 1994

MY FAVOURITE WORK: Mrs Alison Wilson, Former Fellow

I like the unusual perspective of this painting, which allows the artist to compose everyday objects into interesting shapes on the picture surface.  There is a contrast between the relaxing haven of the bath and the busy world outside, represented by the angular patterned floor and brightly-coloured rug. In the bath the soothing turquoise water, the gently swirling ripples and the sinuous lines of the girl’s pose create the dream-like atmosphere. B ut looking closely, you see that the reverie is about to be shattered, because the dreamer has left the taps running! In a matter of moments reality will intrude.  This gives the work a modern ‘edgy’ feeling that you don’t find in the paintings of Gwen Raverat, the artist’s grandmother.