Artist Carry Akroyd To Exhibit Unique John Clare Display At Peterborough Museum

Posted on: 28/06/2021

Visitors to Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery will be treated to a special exhibition of the poems of John Clare from Friday 9 July.

Printmaker, painter and illustrator Carry Akroyd will bring John Clare’s poetry into the present day with her Found in the Fields tour, which includes a 16-lithograph hand-drawn print series that incorporates text from the Helpston-born poet’s work.

The poems will be displayed alongside vibrant print-based artworks to help illustrate John Clare’s material and its relevance today. All of the artwork on show holds some connection to John Clare’s work, either directly or indirectly.

Carry Akroyd has selected extracts of varying lengths from poems of her choice to put together a set of works reflecting the joys and the damage seen in nature, as seen both by John Clare 200 years ago and the artist’s eye today.

John Clare was recognised in his day as ‘The Peasant Poet’ and was considered a curiosity to be so gifted from an impoverished and illiterate background. The exhibition highlights some of his best work and a free guided tour by Carry Akroyd can be booked by telephoning the museum.

A series of John Clare poetry recitals by Peterborough residents will also be posted on the museum’s YouTube channel.

Running alongside the exhibition is Hugh Lupton’s On Common Ground; an evening of stories, songs and music exploring the life and times of John Clare, which will take place at the Key Theatre on 15 August. Tickets can be purchased from the Key Theatre.

For more information and accompanying images from Found in the Fields, email Sheena Carman at scarman@cityculturepeterborough.org.uk

Notes to editors

Found in the Fields will take place in the art gallery at the museum from 9 July to 5 September, with no booking required. The art gallery has the same opening hours as the museum - Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 4pm.
Carry Akroyd’s ticketed exhibition tours will take place on 10 July, with the first beginning at 2pm and the second at 3:30pm. Places will be limited to ensure everyone’s safety and visitors must wear a face covering unless medically exempt. Tickets can be purchased by telephoning the museum on: 01733 864663.
Hugh Lupton’s On Common Ground will take place at the Key Theatre on 15 August at 3pm. Please note this event is unsuitable for children.

About Carry Akroyd

Carry Akroyd is a painter and printmaker living in Northamptonshire. Her subject matter is the principally the intensively farmed arable landscape with wildlife surviving on the margins. She was elected to the Society of Wildlife Artists in 2000.
Carry illustrated “Tweet of the Day”, the book of the Radio 4 series, and is the jacket designer for the British Wildlife Collection series. She also makes a monthly illustration for The Oldie magazine’s Bird of the Month column.
Her earlier Clare-related images were published with accompanying text as “Nature’s Powers & Spells”; images from this exhibition are reproduced in her book also entitled “Found in the Fields”. She is current President of the John Clare Society.

About City Culture Peterborough Ltd.

Created in 2020, City Culture Peterborough’s mission is to make Peterborough’s rich arts, culture, heritage, library and archives services accessible, engaging and enjoyable for the Peterborough community.
Through a year-round programme of events across a diverse portfolio of venues, City Culture Peterborough is committed to working with partners and local organisations to make sure Peterborough’s proud cultural fabric continues to thrive in the city.
City Culture Peterborough Limited is part of City College Peterborough, who provide education and training services for the city.

Media contact

Pep Cipriano, Communications and Marketing Manager

City College Peterborough | City Culture Peterborough

Telephone: 01733 761361 ext. 359

Email: pcipriano@citycollegepeterborough.ac.uk