Category Archives: Dartmoor National Park

Fine-art cards of Dartmoor National Park

After graduating from Exeter College of Art in 1989, Ric Horner spent the first two years of his career living and working on Dartmoor in Devon, developing a unique and profound engagement with light, mood and distance. Consequently he produced two solo shows; one at Marloes gallery in London in 1989 and one at Exeter College in 1990.

Twenty-six years later, in 2016, Ric had the opportunity to put together yet another stunning exhibition on the subject, this time at Green Hill Arts in Moretonhampstead on Dartmoor National Park. Thanks to his longstanding friend, supporter and art collector,  historian and internationally acclaimed author Dr Ian Mortimer, Ric was able to showcase a selection of over 40 original oil on canvas paintings in the town’s dedicated art space.

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Dr Ian Mortimer said about this exhibition in his introduction:

“Ric Horner is one of the country’s leading landscape painters. I have no doubt that, in due course, he will be recognised as one of the most significant landscape artists of our time. Ric’s dedication is astounding; his integrity no less so. For me it has been a privilege and an honour to be so closely involved with this exhibition, and to have been able to buy a number of his paintings over the years.

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The “Dartmoor: Theatre of Light” exhibition (10th September to 29th October 2016) at Green Hill Arts in Moretonhampstead was very well received and sold well for the gallery.

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This year, in spring 2024, Ric has returned to the subject and has produced 26 different greeting card designs taken from this solo exhibition, as well as from other Devonshire and Cornish coastal areas.

You will find all relevant images at the link Cards or you can order one of Ric’s catalogues. He is currently selling his cards via MAKE Southeast in Bovey Tracey and the Moretonhampstead Visitors’ Information Centre.

With over 150,000 visitors a year traveling to Dartmoor National Park, there can be no question that Dartmoor and it’s landscape has attracted artists, as well as tourists for centuries and helped fire their imagination. From the thick mists that suddenly appear and roll across the moor to the dark, bottomless mires and the craggy granite tors, each lends an air of mystery and magic, all ripe for associated legends and tales.

  http://visitmoretonhampstead.co.uk. 

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www.ianmortimer.com

 Dr Mortimer says about Ric’s work:

In this exhibition, you will find yourself on a road at night having just seen the first welcoming streetlight of the village: you will soon be home and warm. The sun has gone down behind Laughter Tor leaving a few drifting clouds and vapour trails in the deep blue sky: the seemingly eternal rocky outcrop is juxtaposed with the ephemeral vestiges of the day. But the most striking feature of these Dartmoor paintings is the light. Often the painting is not actually about the hill, rock or any other object in the distance; it is about the space between you and that object. It is a portrait of the light, a place where skies brood, threaten, delight, obscure with mist, groan with rain or brighten with a ray of optimism.”

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“A stunning exhibition of the highest calibre!”

“Poetic, beautiful, bold and absolutely marvellous!”

They are  sublime. So magical and true to the atmosphere”

“Ric Horner’s work is superb – truly spectacular!”

“Breathtaking views and big skies! Fabulous.”

Wow! “I absolutely love your work; such stunning paintings. The most amazing sky and little houses shining like jewels.  What an uplifting exhibition!”

We recently saw your Theatre of Light exhibition in Moretonhampstead and were both really moved by it. I just wanted to let you know how delighted I am to have been able to purchase one of your pictures. I bought your picture of Scorhill (image below). It’s always been a favourite place of mine on the Moor and your picture captures it so vividly.

 

Ric in his studio in summer 2016 preparing for the show.

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Below: Friends Ian Mortimer and Ric Horner on field trip to ‘The Strangles’ in September 2014, where the idea of the ‘Theatre of Light ‘ exhibition was first perceived.

Ric is available for commissions. Please contact him at: enquiries@richorner.com, if you fancy your own favourite views painted.

He is currently ( March 2024) working on large panorama focusing on the pebble bed heaths around Joney’s Cross, a high point halfway between Exeter and Sidmouth looking towards the coast in East Devon.

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Related Images:

White Wood Gallery

 Ric was represented by the White Wood Gallery in Ashburton, Dartmoor from November 2016 until February 2018. This arrangement has now come to an end. This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Ric-@-Whitewood-3.jpg

 Lovely feedback was received from previous buyers:

dartmoor-1-31Dear Mr Horner, as a 50th Wedding Anniversary present to ourselves we purchased from the White Wood Gallery in Ashburton your oil painting entitled “Approaching Rain near Princetown, Dartmoor” (see above). My wife and I have known, loved and frequently visited Dartmoor since we were both young and we felt your painting captures the atmosphere of the Moor very well. We are generally more familiar with the eastern side of the Moor – i.e. Chagford/ Haytor/Hound Tor – and not so familiar with the area around Princetown. We wondered if you were able to give some more detail of the location from which your painting was taken?

Related Images: