Wirral Arts: Work by Wirral artist Margaret Ransome on show at London’s prestigious Mall Galleries

Apr 20 2011 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

WORK by a Wirral artist is on show at London’s prestigious Mall Galleries from today.

Margaret Ransome, who lives in Heswall, will display a still life called Long Standing as part of The Pastel Society’s annual exhibition.

Margaret told Wirral Arts: “It’s quite a shock.

“I just took two pieces down and managed to get one in.

“It’s such a great feeling and made me think it’s all heading in the right direction.”

The Pastel Society has held an open submission exhibition in central London for more than a century.

This year, the exhibition theme is ‘colour’.

Margaret said: “I used very subtle, plain colours and I think that may have stood out from the brighter colours of other work.”

And the success Margaret has found with this work provides an important link to her history as artist.

Now producing largely abstract pieces using acrylic, Margaret began her creative development with pastel work.

She said: “It means I can stick to the traditional stuff, which is great.

“I can still develop that but it is quite tight work, whereas the acrylic work is very free, I never know what is going to happen.

“It’s wonderful to have that contrast in the work.”

And both techniques are proving successful.

Last year, Margaret won joint first prize in the National Wirral Open Exhibition for a set of three abstract paintings in acrylic, and her style is proving popular with both local and international buyers.

Originally from Tuebrook, Margaret says “nature, colour and shape” provide inspiration and she finds Wirral an ideal base as an artist.

The Pastel Society’s annual exhibition at Mall Galleries, London runs from today until Sunday May 1