November 2023

Great Houses & Gardens of England

From 8 to 23 November 2023, Simon Dickinson Gallery hosts an exhibition featuring new works by celebrated portraitist Phoebe Dickinson. Great Houses and Gardens of England includes approximately 60 paintings executed over an eighteen month period during which the artist travelled around Britain and captured many of the nation’s most iconic and storied houses and gardens. Inspired by the new generation of homeowners who are transforming these great houses, and channelling Sargent, William Nicholson and Dutch Golden Age Masters, Phoebe has created a series of modern conversation pieces which show behind-the-scenes glimpses of life in the British stately home today.

Dickinson has been given unparalleled access to capture unexpected glimpses of iconic houses such as Badminton House and Belvoir Castle, as well as more private settings like Biddick Hall in Durham, or Iford Manor, through conversation pieces, interiors, landscapes, and even still lives. Highlights include Castle Howard, where Phoebe was given the opportunity to capture in-vogue interior designer Remy Renzullo at work redesigning the interiors; and the process of restoration at Castle Howard. These new paintings are presented in dialogue with the work of earlier creations – from the Palladian interiors of William Kent at Houghton Hall to the romantic garden designs of Julian and Isabel Bannerman which grace the grounds of Seend Manor and Houghton‘s walled garden. These threads help draw the series together – while also showing how these places have changed over time, as each new generation makes their mark.

Kindly sposored by Tengu Sake

Tengu Sake specialises in bringing premium quality Japanese sake & spirits to the UK market. You can find our sake in many prestigious restaurants and bars throughout the country and also online at the UK’s first dedicated sake shop: www.tengusake.com.