Speaker Series - Joshua Reynolds

The first event of the new year in our regular Speaker Series is a fascinating talk by local Artist and Art Historian Jenny Pery on Joshua Reynolds, the Devon born English painter who specialised in Portrait painting.

Jenny Pery was born in Calcutta, India, and read languages at Oxford before becoming an artist and art historian somewhat later in life. She studied Fine Art at Glasgow School of Art (taught by James Robertson), St Martin's School of Art, the Byam Shaw School and Exeter College of Art and Design, where Karl Weschke was an important influence. She later acquired an MA in Printmaking at Camberwell College of Art and Design.

Now living and working on the edge of Dartmoor, she is an active member of the Devon Artists Network, and holds Open Studio exhibitions every autumn. Jenny Pery exhibits her work frequently in group shows in the South West of England.

Jenny Pery combines her own art with writing on Art and Artists. She is the author of many copiously illustrated books on painters past and present, and has researched and written a long paper for The Devonshire Association’s ”Transactions”  on Devon’s most famous artist, Sir Joshua Reynolds (born July 16, 1723, Plympton, Devon, England—died February 23, 1792, London) He was a  portrait painter and aesthetician who dominated English artistic life in the middle and late 18th century. 

Join us in the gallery at Paradiso when Jenny, who modestly describes herself as a jack-of-all-trades, underplaying her considerable achievements as an artist, art historian and linguist,  shares her knowledge and passion for this most famous of artists.

'I'm still learning and I just love exploring the absolutely fascinating lives of artists. I regard the study of Art as essential "food for the soul", and I have done, and will continue to do everything in my power to help other people understand and appreciate it:'

Tickets are priced at £10 + booking fee and there are a limited number of tickets available - book yours now using the THIS LINK TO OUR BOOKING SYSTEM! Doors will open at 6.30 pm for a 7pm start. There will be a licensed bar available on the evening.