Contrasts - unearthing the hidden landscapes of Zennor and the Helford River

Sophie Velzian and Deb Ramsay Trease have hit a major milestone with their first joint exhibition in St Ives and is a realisation of a dream. The two originally met 15 years ago, in Berkshire, both at the time working for global corporations – one in technology, one in the charity sector. Over the years they discussed and dreamed of moving West, to their spiritual home of Cornwall, and pursuing an art career. It seemed a distant dream. Wind forward to January 2017 and Deb was the first to make the move, settling in West Penwith in a granite cottage on the moors. She renovated her studio and in 2020 gave up the charity career to become a full-time artist.

Sophie followed in 2020 with a move to the Helford River, and after building her studio she left her corporate career altogether in 2023 to pursue her lifelong ambition to be a full time artist. She had originally studied at the Slade School of Art in the 1990s and held that burning desire to paint for all those years.

Since moving to Cornwall the two friends have been in constant contact, taking courses with numerous landscape artists including Paul Lewin and Paula Dunn, and holding exhibitions separately with other groups or on their own. 

Both are inspired by their Cornish landscapes. For Deb it is the rugged remoteness of the moorlands near her West Penwith home and around Zennor. For Sophie, the languid and verdant enigmatic coves of the Helford capture her imagination and her desire to represent atmosphere, emotion and sense of place. 

The exhibition will feature landscapes, seascapes, abstracts, collages and more, and runs from August 31st to September 6th, 2024 and both artists will be in the gallery every day from 10am to 5pm, with the Private View on Saturday 31st August from 5 to 7pm. 

Event Details:

• Exhibition Title: Contrasts

• Dates: August 31st to September 6th, 2024

• Venue: The Crypt Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Monday to Saturday)

• Contact Sophie Velzian: Website | Phone: 07791 618065

• Follow Deb Ramsay Trease: Website | Instagram

About The Crypt Gallery: The Crypt Gallery, located beneath St Ives Parish Church, has a rich history as a space for contemporary art. Its vaulted ceilings and stone walls provide a unique backdrop for exhibitions and cultural events.