Acclaimed printmaker features in next HeArts gallery exhibition

Published: 31 January 2024

The next exhibition in the HeArts gallery on level 4 of Torbay Hospital will feature work by internationally acclaimed printmaker Merlyn Chesterman. This is a collaborative exhibition with MAKE Southwest to support young curator Emily Cartwright. It will be on display from 14 February to 07 April 2024.

This exhibition demonstrates the traditional technique of woodblock print seen through scenes inspired by the natural world of North Devon – where Merlyn lives and works, capturing the beauty and wildness of our surrounding landscape. It aims to show the versatility of printmaking and its ability to represent the beauty of the South West. This exhibition also demonstrates the important role nature plays not only in its physical form but also the effects it can have on the mind when seen through a piece of artwork and the escapism it can provide to the viewer.

Emily who curated this work has always had an affinity with the sea, and often spends time on the Devon coast during her visits home with her sister who is an NHS midwife in London. On a visit to our HeArts gallery, Emily appreciated the escapism and moment of calm that artwork brings to our hospital, and felt that Merlyn’s work would be well suited for all who travel this corridor.