Skip to content

Ukrainian artist starts residency at Suffolk garden

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Artist Andriy NekrasovShaun Whitmore/BBC
Painter Andriy Nekrasov is an honoured artist of Ukraine and a member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine
  • A Ukrainian painter has started a residency at Fullers Mill Garden, in Suffolk
  • Andriy Nekrasov is an honoured artist of Ukraine
  • He and his family moved to the UK from Ukraine in September
  • Proceeds from the sales of his paintings will go to charity

A Ukrainian painter is starting a residency at a Suffolk garden exhibiting his colourful artwork.

Andriy Nekrasov is a state honoured artist in Ukraine and the first ever artist in residence at Fullers Mill Garden, in West Stow. near Bury St Edmunds.

He and his family arrived in the UK in September under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and have been living with a Fullers Mill volunteer.

Mr Nekrasov will paint in the garden and sell his work to help raise money for charities in Ukraine and Suffolk.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Artist Andriy NekrasovShaun Whitmore/BBC
The artist works in oil, using a palette knife in large strokes

The artist grew up in Kyiv and was inspired to paint by the views of the Dnieper River and surrounding landscapes.

He studied in the workshops of Ukrainian artists Nartsis Kocherezhko and Vasyl Korchynskyi.

His paintings often depict still life, sea horizons, city and natural landscapes.

Mr Nekrasov's work features in many private collections across Europe, as well as appearing in international exhibitions.

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Andriy Nekrasov in Fullers Mill gardenShaun Whitmore/BBC
The painter said he enjoyed watching the garden's colours change from spring to summer

The painter, who spoke to the BBC through a translator, said leaving home had been very difficult.

Once in the UK, he was inspired to paint "beautiful places in England, mixing grey colours with bright colours was very interesting", said Mr Nekrasov.

"I started working in the Fullers Mill in spring and have seen the colours change from spring to summer, which was incredible," he said.

"I like mixing colours and shadows, it's the basis of painting, colour is life."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Jule Law, volunteer at Fullers Mill and host of Andriy Nekrasov and his familyShaun Whitmore/BBC
Jude Law, who volunteers at Fullers Mill, showed Andriy Nekrasov and his wife the garden

Jude Law, the Ukrainian family's host, was surprised when she found out Mr Nekrasov was an established artist.

She showed one of his paintings to Peter Newman, chief executive of Perennial, the charity which owns and maintains Fullers Mill, and he was "enamoured" by it.

Annie Dellbridge, the garden manager, said: "It's amazing the way he captures the whole garden, not just in the image, but actually the feel of the garden too.

"We're really pleased that he's agreed to work with us."

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Garden manager Annie DellbridgeShaun Whitmore/BBC
Garden manager Annie Dellbridge believes Andriy Nekrasov's use of colour and texture perfectly captures the essence of Fullers Mill

A percentage of the proceeds from the painting sales will go to the hospitals for the National Guards of Ukraine and to Perennial.

The exhibition will run until 24 September, from 14:00 to 17:00 BST on Wednesday and from 11:00 to 17:00 Friday to Sunday.

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830

More on this story
Related internet links