The Fairfax Battalia were approached early in 2006 by Kathryn Lowries, an established artist wanting to produce a body of work based on the English Civil War, using accurate reference material. To this end it was we allow her special access to our events, and she has since joined us several times throughout 2006, including at Rufford, the EH Festival of History and Leeds Castle. Her civil war prints are to be officially launched at the NEC Spring Fair on the 4^th to 8^th of February 2007. Included here is a small preview of images from part of that work. Anyone interested in more information or to purchase any of Kathryn’s work should contact her via www.klowries.co.uk.

 The Artist’s Statement

 Kathryn Lowries specialises in watercolour, using a traditional painting medium.  Lowries manages to utilise the lucid properties of watercolour to create fresh contemporary, figurative studies.

 In 2007, Kathryn brings a fresh body of work depicting scenes from the English Civil War.  A series of signed, Limited Edition Prints, illustrating history through contemporary imagery.  Kathryn has obtained fresh reference material from working with the Fairfax Battalia of The English Civil War Society, a leading English Civil War re-enactment group.  The period, the atmosphere and tensions of the men on the field are captured with authentic historical accuracy.

Kathryn’s watercolour paintings are spontaneous, rich and full of energy and vivacity.  Her sensitive and delicate touch combined with her vibrant colour palette has earned her two First Prize Awards from the prestigious Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour and a Winsor and Newton First Prize Award.  In 2004 she was awarded the Stoke-Roberts Bursary Award by the Worshipful Company of Painters and Stainers and was awarded a First Prize in one of Britain’s Watercolour Open Competitions. 

 In 2005 Lowries was invited as the specialist in Watercolour on ITV1’s television series, ‘A Brush with Fame.’  During the programme Kathryn co-judged the regional final competition and taught amateur watercolourists, advising them on their watercolour technique.

Kathryn Lowries Dec 2006

.

Regiment of foot.  Foot infantry of musket, pike, drums and officers, march relentlessly across country from one battle or military base to the next.

Left unprotected and vulnerable.  A troop of cavalry charging an isolated block of infantry on the battlefield, trying to break through the ranks and files.

Musketeers.  There were two main types of musket in use during the civil wars – mainly the matchlock musket, the more expensive flintlock being less common.

Chaos of battle. Skirmishes could easily become unstructured fights, and opposing sides were sometimes unclear in the smoke of battle.

A Skirmish. A good musketeer would be trained to fire at least 2 shots per minute. Although lack of concentration, bad gunpowder and the upheaval of battle on the field,  may well reduce this rate of fire.

Copyright & Restrictions