Alec Lewis Exhibition

THE PAINTED WORD

War & Peace

In 1963 Bob Dylan wrote ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’, which was seen as anuniversal protest song for a new generation. He explained “I’m only 21 years old and I know that there’s been too many wars”. His songs are as relevant today as they ever were.

George Orwell saw into our dark future in his book ‘1984’. “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act”, has never been more true in our current geopolitical climate.

The relationship between words and images fascinates and inspires me. Thisexhibition, ‘The Painted Word, War & Peace’ combines these two aspects of human expression, inspired by people that have written about the futility of warincluding singers, philosophers, poets and writers.

Words evoke different images to different people. I begin my process by reflecting on a lyric, poem or quotation that has spoken most forcibly to me and risen above the daily cacophony of distractions and piqued my imagination. By combining these words with the images they provoke in me, I hope to share this resonance with the individual viewer, at once both offering the words to their unique relationship with them, with how I respond to them.  So in that way, it’s a shared experience between me as the artist, and the person in front of my work. 

Being influenced by Kurt Schwitters in my work, I mix paint, ink and pencil with collage – bits of wrapping paper, pieces of cardboard, used tickets ,whatever I have available, to both add texture, and add to the narrative.

Alec Lewis – Biography

After studying at Carmarthen Art School he obtained a Diploma in Art & Design at Maidstone College of Art before entering the world of advertising as an Art Director.

Alec worked on a variety of accounts in London like the Mini and Land-Rover, Big D Nuts, and Pepsi, working with celebrities like Twiggy, Henry Cooper, Alex ’Hurricane’ Higgins and Tony Gregg.

He spent eleven years in Dubai and Bahrain as a Creative Director working on the British Airways account.

He retired in 2008 and moved back to the UK to live in Tenby and started to paint full time again. Much of his work reflects his interest in the written word, whether it’s in music, poetry, myth or legend, and the people that have influenced his life like William Blake, Oscar Wilde, George Orwell and Dylan Thomas. Also included in his work are his musical heroes like Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Leonard Cohen.

Since then Alec has had three one man exhibitions.

• Tenby Museum & Art Gallery, 2018.
• Joanna Field Gallery, Torch Theatre,  2022.
• Gate Gallery, St Clears, 2022  
• Celebration of Welsh Contemporary Painting – joint exhibition at Tenby Museum & Art Gallery 2024/25 

Please contact curator Mark Lewis [email protected] or call us on 01834 860500 to discuss further.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS ON SALES

• When purchasing an artwork, Narberth Museum requires 50% of the purchase price as a non-refundable deposit.  The remaining balance and any delivery charges are to be paid before collection or shipping of the artwork.
• If the buyer requires the artwork to be shipped, Narberth Museum will inform them of postage, packaging and insurance costs within five working days of receiving the deposit. The buyer is responsible for all shipping expenses.
• All artworks shipped will be insured at the buyers’ expense.
• International buyers are liable for all local taxes and fees applicable in their jurisdiction including (but not limited to) import duties and sales taxes.
• Tracking numbers will be provided to buyers on shipping.
• Payment can be made via BACS or credit card. Buyers should contact Narberth Museum with the number and title of the painting they wish to purchase.  
• Narberth Museum will require the buyer’s personal details to process the sale (name, address, email and contact number).  A receipt will be provided.  Personal details will only be used for this purpose and will not be shared with any third parties.
• Remaining artworks will be shipped no later than 17 March 2025.
• Buyers purchasing an artwork in person at Narberth Museum may, under certain circumstances, be permitted to take the artwork upon full payment. This is at Narberth Museum’s sole discretion to maintain the integrity of the exhibition. The decision taken by Narberth Museum in this regard is final and non-negotiable.