Martin Beek: Ipsden looking towards Ipsden farm (oil on canvas)

For some months now – well, probably more than 2 years  judging by the dates on the paintings – Martin Beek has become a familiar figure in the local landscape – sometimes standing so still at his easel as to have become almost part of the landscape. If the weather wasn’t good enough for him to set up his easel and oil paints, he always had a sketch book or an iPad on which to catch transient impressions. Rarely did the weather defeat him totally. Now with the exhibition in Ipsden Church, (until the end of May) people can see for themselves just how the village and the surrounding countryside have become something of a glorious obsession for Martin.

Martin Beek: Ipsden looking west (oil on canvas)

Martin has many interests – diverse but not compartmentalised – there is much cross fertilisation  between his painting, composing, photography, historical curiosity and teaching.   Delighting in the physicality of the world and self admittedly primarily a visual thinker, the appearance of beauty – whether in objects, people or  landscapes – enthuses him and feeds into his compulsion to draw and paint. His use of colour in particular forces the viewer to take a fresh view of familiar scenes.

Martin Beek: Near Ipsden House (oil on canvas)

The exhibition occupies the ancient north aisle of the church which lends itself well to such things. We have coffee here after the morning service so those attending church (some of whom may not be interested in art) can wander round looking at the paintings. Sometimes there are mutterings that the colour is all wrong, or that the brush strokes are confusing. But people often come back again to the paintings, curiosity renewed after looking afresh at the world around them. Sunlight brings old brick alive with colour as bright at any on Martin’s palette, while the evening mauves of the shaded golden bales in a painted harvest look so right while at the same time intellectually seeming all wrong. The world is often brighter than we let ourselves see.

Martin Beek: Ipsden (both oil on canvas)

An interview with Martin here is interesting and enlightening, especially where he talks about the people who were influential when he was young.  Hooray and hats off to his primary school headmaster who not only bought him paints but “liberated”  (Martin’s word) him from the classroom by allowing (and trusting) him to go out and paint in the park. (Yes, aren’t we all busily annotating our own personal think bubbles with the same thought?)

Martin Beek: Ipsden. The old granary (digital iPad print on canvas)

Martin Beek: Ipsden. The Mere in Snow (digital iPad print on canvas)

Along with his painting, Martin has worked with people with various learning disabilities and also for Dame Stephanie Shirley’s charitable foundation which researches into and cares for those with severe autism. Painting is known to be important in such challenging work both as for its value as therapy and to have on the walls to provide a stimulating enviroment for living. Further, Martin works alongside an individual in a supported living situation.

Martin Beek: lanes of Ipsden (all oil on canvas)

And now I can’t resist a digression on Dame Stephanie Shirley, for she really is something special.  A pioneering businesswoman and philanthropist, she had come to England as a young child with the Kindertransport. As a young woman she set up highly successful IT businesses and became a wealthy woman. It was a great sadness that her son Giles was severely autistic and she and her husband decided to devote much of their fortune to research into and care of those with the disability. Her charitable giving continues in other areas; in the early 2000s she gave £10 M to set up the Oxford Internet Institute (housed in a Balliol building) and in recent years she gave Balliol £1 M of the £3M needed towards converting St Cross Church into Balliol Archives – a great success. The college I work for has much to thank Dame Stephanie for.

Martin Beek: More lanes of Ipsden (oil on canvas)

Dame Stephanie’s autbiography, “Let it Go” was published. in 2012. It is a stunning book, a  real must read, a gripping story of a life with terrific peaks and terrible troughs, which latter took her to near despair. Throughout she comes across as the warmest and most considerate of human beings for whom the only direction is forward. Autobiographies by those successful in business are rarely underwritten with such love and humility – celebrity is rarely so grounded.   As Dame Shirley is a Foundation Fellow of Balliol, the book came into my hands for cataloguing and after a brief scan of its pages I found it quite un-put-downable so I took it home and read it into the small hours. It is one of the most inspiring books I have ever read.

Martin Beek: Church Lane with sheep (digital iPad print on canvas) The church is the middle building, part hidden by trees.

Unbeknown to me, Dame Stephanie was at the opening of Martin’s exhibition. I wish I had known, I’d have loved to have gone up to her.  A patron of Martin’s work  I believe she bought a painting in the exhibition. Someone said they heard her say that her Beeks hang beside her Pipers. You can’t really get better praise than that, can you?

Martin Beek: Exhibition poster at the gate to Ipsden Church.

Below are a series of Martin’s watercolours and then at the end 2 photographs taken from his book – do have a look at these as the paintings almost seamlessly flow into the landscape, (such a shame the sunlight, fixed  on canvas, seems to be absent for the photograph). Not all the works in the exhibition are here. The exhibition is open in the church until to the end of May, otherwise look at his paintings and photographs on Flickr.

Martin Beek: Ipsden: From the Ridgeway Path. August 2012. (watercolour) (watercolour)

Martin Beek: Early morning Ipsden. September 2012 (watercolour)

Martin Beek: Ipsden. Ridgeway Path 2012. (watercolour)

Martin Beek: Ipsden Lane 2012 (Watercolour)

Martin Beek: Ipsden
(watercolour)

Martin Beek: Coxes Lane Ipsden. (watercolour)

Martin Beek: Hay bales, Ipsden. August 2012 (watercolour)

Martin Beek: a page from his book sowing work in progress en plein air

Martin Beek: a page from Martin’s book showing work in progress en plein air on painting of the King William Pub.

Martin Beek: Ipsden (oil on canvas)