Fall for stunning Maggi Hambling masterpieces

A stunning indoor waterfall experience is wowing visitors to the Abbot Hall Art Gallery, in Kendal, in the South Lakes, Cumbria, where Maggi Hambling's No Straight Lines: Waves and Waterfalls exhibition opened on November 6.

A series of monumental and dramatic waterfalls is on show to the public for the first time, encompassing three paintings, the full height of the gallery walls, depicting water cascading from ceiling to floor.

This jaw-dropping sight is already the talk of the North West art world, representing the panache and care with which the South Lakes-based Abbot Hall goes about staging all of its exhibitions, to offer its visitors exceptional insights.

Abbot Hall is also boasting another coup, having Maggi Hambling's exciting new monoprints on display for the first time. These capture the essence of waves and waterfalls, on a smaller scale and demonstrate the versatility of the artist.

Those who have not yet discovered the work of this distinguished painter, sculptor and printmaker will be delighted by Abbot Hall's introduction, which sets off works of art that have achieved new heights of meaning within the art world. She is renowned for seeing no straight lines in people, animals or any other part of nature, this viewpoint giving her work a unique character.

Hambling's recent North Sea Paintings, which also form part of this exhibition, fully convey her slant on waves and surf, physically expressing the powerful and restless movement of the sea.

Also on show are her bold paintings and charcoal sketches, of leading figures such as Max Wall, Oscar Wilde and Stephen Fry. These works, alongside representations of her mother, father and lover, Henrietta Moraes, truly demonstrate her expressionistic style and dynamism.

This range of fabulous work by Maggi Hambing is on display at Abbot Hall until December 21. The Abbot Hall Gallery opens from Monday to Saturday, 10.30am-4pm and admission costs £5.00, providing access to the permanent exhibition in the ground floor rooms, as well as the No Straight Lines: Waves and Waterfalls exhibition. For further details visit Abbothall.org.uk.

Those wishing to head to the South Lakes to enjoy not just this exhibition, but other cultural gems within the area, including Blackwell (The Arts and Crafts House), Kendal Museum, The Brewery Arts Centre, The Quaker Tapestry and the Museum of Lakeland Life, can visit Lakelandgateway.info for more details and accommodation options.