AN EXHIBITION of almost 40 acrylic paintings centred on Sabrina – the mythic goddess said to live in the River Severn – has gone on display at Droitwich Library’s gallery.
The works have been done by Worcester artist Michael Dames since last September.
Michael first started painting in 1958 when he did a mural at the Birmingham Students’ Union depicting an old fashioned view of the Second City.
He was born in Egypt while his father was over there in the RAF and, since coming to Britain, has lived in a host of places including Sheffield, Manchester, North Devon and Birmingham, as well as Worcester.
He has had previous exhibitions in London, Hull and Oxford.
He said he chose to paint the pictures after becoming intrigued by the River Severn and the way the human and natural world interlocked and interacted.
“The River Severn was thought to be the M1 of pre-motorway Britain.
“There used to be so many boats on there, transporting goods throughout the country – bringing people their olive oil, wine and other items.
“I’m so proud of the Severn – it has been so useful and at the same time so beautiful.”
As well as the transportation, the river also played a key role in the region’s industry, particularly with places like Ironbridge.
The idea for the exhibition began at a U3A painting class when Michael did the first painting of the Severn in just brown paint as that was all that was available at that time.
From then, he went to paint another 37 pieces in a just a number of months.
The pictures in The Sabrina Collection are on sale for £40 each and the exhibition runs at the library until February 27.
