Wonderland with a twist as pair take Grimm look at life

“Malice in Wonderland”, which opens on June 11, features 37 works by Rhea Sherriff-Hammond and Leanne Broadbent.

Influenced by the works of Lewis Carroll, the Grimm Fairy Tales and children’s folklore, the artists aim to transport viewers into a surreal world “where scenes of Yorkshire tradition are skewed with wonderland imaginings, juxtaposing fabrics, threads and textiles with realist oils, acrylics, household paints and etchings”

Rhea, a fine artist working primarily on canvas in oils and mixed media from her farmhouse studio on the North Yorkshire Moors first met Leanne at Hull University where they both studied Fine Art.

Leanne, a former primary school teacher who works from her studio in Bridlington, said her experience gave her scope to reflect upon the world through the eyes of a child tinted “with a slight sinister edge, influenced by literature”.

Leanne will be appearing with her sketch book on ITV’s Countrywise on July 5, following an interview with Paul Heiney on Fraisthorpe Beach.

The exhibition runs until July 31 in the West Wing Gallery.