Wivenhoe House hotel has launched its latest art exhibition, celebrating 200 years since John Constable painted ‘Wivenhoe Park’.

The centrepiece of the exhibition is a specially commissioned piece called Wivenhoe Water, by artist Kate Bright, who grew up in Suffolk and is now based in London, who was chosen from a field of nearly 40 professional artists to create a contemporary landscape painting of Wivenhoe Park to mark this special anniversary.

Wivenhoe Water, Kate Bright

This stunning piece, unveiled by Bryn Morris, Registrar at the University of Essex, will be added to the permanent collection at Wivenhoe House.

Twenty artists from across East Anglia who took part in the hotel’s open art day in June have also submitted work for the exhibition which is open to the public until December.

The collection also includes a collaborative re-creation of the original ‘Wivenhoe Park’, where 12 community groups each completed a segment of the work in their own unique style.

Community Canvas

Oliver Brown, General Manager at Wivenhoe House, said: ”We are launching the exhibition almost 200 years to the day that Constable packed up his paints and palette having completed this early masterpiece which now hangs in pride of place at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

“This exhibition is the culmination of an amazing year, collaborating with artists, the University of Essex, and the local community. We really appreciate everyone’s hard work and achievements and look forward to more artistic adventures in the future.”