Russian-born fine artist Julia Borodina has certainly embraced the landscape of her adopted West Yorkshire.
The lush green hills surrounded her home in Grange Moor feature as prominently in her work as images of Welsh valleys, Venetian street scenes and Siberian buildings.
One quality binds them all together – Julia aims to find beauty in her subject matter and she paints using flashes of brilliant, at times luminous, colours.
Visitors to Batley’s Art Gallery over the next six weeks can see a selection of Julia’s landscapes and townscapes, which are being displayed in the Art Kiosk and balcony area.
She explained: “In my work I am always searching for beauty, whether I am painting an awe-inspiring view in Venice or overgrown nettles outside of my village, both these subjects attract my interest. I greatly enjoy working outdoors as it give me an opportunity to develop suitable compositions and experiment with light conditions.”
Julia came to the UK to study for an MA in painting and met her husband Christian. Now based in Kirklees, where she has a small studio, she teaches watercolour painting to adults at Leeds College of Art and is also involved in the college’s children’s art school.
Her paintings are being shown alongside an exhibition of around 100 works by members of Dewsbury Art Group, whose spring show has been a mainstay of the gallery’s annual programme for several decades. The group is based on Lower Peel Street in Dewbury.
Founded in 1963 the group, which also produces theatrical events, has a mixture of amateur and professional artists covering a wide range of styles and media.
The exhibitions run until March 21 and the gallery is open from 9.30am Monday to Friday and from 9am on Saturdays. Closing times vary and the gallery is not open on Sundays.
