Between 22nd January and 8th February 2025, The Pastel Society held its 126th Annual Exhibition in the Mall Galleries, London. The exhibition featured over 380 works in dry media (pastel, graphite, charcoal etc) across a wide range of subject matter. Exhibitors fell into 2 categories – members and non-members of the Pastel Society. Members have undergone a tough peer-reviewed selection process, can be considered some of the best pastel artists around and can exhibit up to 6 pieces at the exhibition. Non-members enter potential works via an on-line open selection process and a jury, selected from Pastel Society members, chooses works to be shown at the exhibition. Competition is fierce for places and at this year’s exhibition only 1 in 8 non-member pieces that were submitted for consideration made it to the walls of the Mall Galleries.
A number of the Unison Colour Associate Artists had pieces that were featured in the exhibition and most were able to attend the Private View, the evening before it opened to the public.
Michele Ashby PS
Michele is a member of the Pastel Society and had 3 stunning monochrome works on display.
Here she describes one of her pieces “Hanging”…
‘Hanging’ is a monochromatic pastel portrait that captures the languid essence of teenage-hood with a poignant sense of stillness and ease. Through the deliberate use of negative space, the piece emphasizes the quiet confidence and unhurried posture of its subject, creating a powerful narrative about adolescence. The stripped-back monochrome palette intensifies the raw emotion and simplicity of the moment, drawing the viewers focus entirely to the figure and its unguarded demeanour. Part of a series, this work highlights the universal language of teenage body-posture with an understated yet evocative elegance. – Michele
Fiona Carvell
Fiona had 3 of her amazing still-life pieces in the exhibition but was unable to attend the private view evening. Here are Unison Associate Artists Lynn, Cathy and Rebecca in front of Fiona’s pieces. The exhibition this year is particularly relevant to Fiona as she is up for selection to the Pastel Society – the subject of a future blog. Below are her 3 pieces and her description of them.
Glass factories were located at Seaham and Sunderland on the North East coast of the UK during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Producing millions of bottles and glassware, waste glass was dumped directly into the sea and has been washed up ever since. It is widely collected today by locals and visitors alike, searching for tiny fragments that are now worn and shaped by the sea.
The compulsion to collect things is a very human trait and sometimes has no conscious reason other than a fascination with colour, texture and form. Transformed by the sea from its original state and devoid of practical purpose, sea glass is returned to us as something to treasure. – Fiona
This piece continues the theme of found objects connected to the sea.
I often gather shells, feathers and fragments of seaweed whilst on beach walks. I selected these pieces because of the variety of textures and shapes. I have painted seaweed many times but it is very different in a dried, hardened state, becoming almost sculptural. The shadows created from this throw an element of movement into otherwise very still composition and made me think of how seaweed changes state when it comes into contact with water. – Fiona
Elena Degenhart
Elena had her beautiful seascape “The Tempest” (50cm x 40cm) on display.
“The Tempest” was created during the first winter after my family and I had moved from Germany to the south of France, a tempestuous time both on the Mediterranean coast and in our lives while we were finding our way around in the new country. It was also very much affected by the military conflicts in the Ukraine and the Middle East and the level of violence and destruction that was hard to process, mentally and emotionally. There was a lot of going back and forth, while working on this piece. I washed it off twice and set it aside for weeks before going back into it and working over the ghost painting that still shows here and there like the traces of the past and unhealed wounds. Initially, I wanted to add a figure of a child looking out to the horizon but decided to leave it out. As a result, the piece has an “unfinished-feel” about it. I believe that the absence of things we naturally expect to see often says more than their presence. I also feel that the “unfinished-ness” describes the nature of the sea more adequately, as well as the human nature, expressed through the landscape. Soft pastels are an ideal medium for me to immediately translate an emotion or a not-quite-formed-in-words thought into a visual image. – Elena
Elena also had the opportunity, whilst in London, to briefly visit the Tate Britain Gallery and proved that she likes “Bacon” for breakfast.
Rebecca de Mendonca
Rebecca had her atmospheric and compelling equine piece “Through the Steam” (55cm x 37cm) selected.
‘Through the Steam’ is part of a series, inspired by my local horse races. I am fascinated by low light, and how interesting the world becomes when you look into the light as the sun gets lower towards the end of the day. Combine that with cold weather and the exquisite forms of horses cooling down after a race, and magical images emerge.
In this pastel, I wanted to use minimal colour, and concentrate on the subtleties of tonal contrasts. I worked on a base of Colourfix primer painted on to mount card.
The steam rising from the horses is built up gradually in layers of a little Pan pastel, Faber Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils and then Unison pastels. Although I use this combination of media, nothing has the power of a Unison pastel, so those are the ones that will bring the piece to life.
Working in layers lets me discover the painting as I go along. I work on the whole piece at the same time, and then focus in on the areas I want to emphasize. Even though I need the pastel pencils to create some sharp edges, they only ‘pop’ if I strengthen them in places with a broken shard of Unison Colour pastels. – Rebecca
Arild Frisnes
Arild’s superb and moody pastel, “Spring”, (46cm x 36cm) stood out.
This painting is a manifestation of experiences and impressions from childhood. When there were such conditions we were often out playing and sailing on ice floes and so on. The scene is therefore familiar to me. When you get older, memories from childhood are often glorified and it can probably be seen in this picture. The picture shows the combination of a high tide and melting snow and ice at the mouth of the river. Parts of the ice are frozen solid in the vegetation and lie underwater and ice floes float around. The trees are partly broken after the winter snowfall and create interesting reflections. I have tried to bring out the beauty in this scene, the winter is over and spring is coming. – Arild
Stephen Fuller
Stephen Fuller had his tranquil and atmospheric piece “After the Lifeguards Leave” (28cm x 19cm) selected.
“After the Lifeguards Leave” encompasses the view at last light across Hayle Estuary from the Bluff towards Lelant and Carbis Bay. In this work I’ve tried to capture the transient tranquillity of a Cornish beach as the daylight fades and everything gently slides into a view of pure tone. In the distance the twinkling lights show that the hidden bustle of human life carries on elsewhere, but only in the context of the peaceful, eternal rhythms of nature and the wider universe. The title gently invites the viewer to consider the memory of that one perfect day at the beach whilst recognising that such days are fleeting moments in a beautifully transient life. – Stephen
Lynn Howarth
Lynn, a Scottish artist, had her stunning and unusual work, “Koi at the Botanics” (24cm x 30cm) on display.
“Koi at the Botanics” is a further exploration of my deeply held fascination with water and its reflective surface. My long-standing love affair with painting water and reflections continues to inspire me in new ways. On a visit to the beautiful Botanic Gardens in Glasgow, I spent a day sketching with some of my students and I knew that the incredible reflections of the glasshouse would make a wonderful and unusual subject. – Lynn
Gareth Jones
Gareth’s large and impactful seascape, “The Power of Calmness” (80cm x 60cm) commanded lots of attention.
“The Power of Calmness” is a painting completed after a long layoff following the tragic loss of a close family member in 2024. I felt the need to create a painting that reflected the return to a calm state of mind following turmoil and grief.
A seascape that represented the welcome, reassuring rhythm of life and my newfound clarity of mind and purpose. This piece relies on scale and an atypical palette for impact, rather than the dramatic crashing waves that I frequently paint.
Painted on a full 80x60cm sheet of Senellier LaCarte using mainly Unison Colour pastels. – Gareth
Cathy Pearce
Cathy’s amazing landscape “Bright and Early” deservedly won the Artist Magazine Award at the event.
Early morning walking in the fields is such a delight in the Summer with the contrast of the bright light and dark shadows against a gently green sky. Energetic dots and dashes as well as randomly rolled edges have enabled me to create the uncontrolled organic foliage and grasses. My intention with “Bright and Early” is to give the viewer the sensation of walking through the wild grasses, hearing them swish and rustle too, perhaps. – Cathy
Unison Colour
Unison Colour sponsored three prizes at the Pastel Society exhibition in 20205 – The Unison Colour Prize for Members, the Unison Colour Prize for non-Members and the Unison Colour prize for Under 35s.
“Unison Colour are delighted to be affiliated with such a prestigious and established society and aim to continue encouraging and supporting established and up and coming pastel artists in the UK. In choosing the prize winners, we look for artists who produce exciting, innovative, and experimental work. Their use of colour and distinctive mark making setting them apart from their contemporaries. For us this year’s winners stood out in their respective categories.”
To read about the 3 winners selected, head to the following blog…
