Topsham

Yesterday we went to Topsham, a village in Devon on the estuary of the river Exe, near to the cathedral city of Exeter.

We were attending a private view of paintings and drawings at 'The Art Room' on the Strand.

The artist Robert Hurdle is ninety-four years old, still active, producing beautiful paintings. This exhibition was showing examples of his early work.

Robert and Himself taught together at art school.

Robert's style has changed over the years. 

I particularly liked this period

and would have very happily taken this little one home!

These two paintings, from the late 30's have their sitters standing before them.

"You looked like Johnny Depp" I told Robert of his self-portrait.

"Never heard of him" he replied.

'The Art Room' is on the Strand, a narrow road that runs parallel to the river estuary. The houses are on one side of the road and their gardens, beside the water, on the other.

Many of the houses are very beautiful and Dutch in style, due to the trade links with that country. 

                               

                                        

The doorway of Shell House.

One of the gardens with a glimpse of the estuary beyond.

Some of the houses  have large upper windows to take advantage of the view.

                           

(A huge block of flats has been built right by the water and they must have a wonderful outlook. But the building is so ugly that I have chosen to ignore it. Town planners, what were they thinking of!!!)

We went to Topsham's small, friendly museum, run by volunteers, for tea and a slice of cake.

Salmon caught in the Exe!

A recreation of Miss Holman's sitting room. She was the founder of the museum.

You can tell from the photos out of doors that it was yet another dull, wet day, but, in spite of it, we had a lovely time.