I was invited to be the inaugural Artist in Residence at the World Heritage Palace and Gardens of Monserrate in Sintra, Portugal. I spent eighteen months painting in the gardens and the surrounding countryside making a series of paintings which were exhibited in the palace. The artist at work The Palace The Opening Night The Paintings many of the paintings from the earlier Lisbon show were also exhibited NOTES ON THE PAINTINGS AND THE EXHIBITION What is the nature of enchantment? A layering of realities, a resonance which has a sense of “the other”, a scintillation of significance, human time suspended or slowed, plant time unhindered, weaving into the abandoned spaces. With its repeating history of both splendour and decadence the palace and gardens of Monserrate emanate this quality of enchantment. Part of the nature of enchantment
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