Bohemia Village Voice

Bill Third, Edward Munn and organiser John Humphries discuss the art of Ron Beauchamp while councillor Vivienne Bond looks on.

The exhibition of a local artist’s work took place in January at the premises now occupied by the Village Voice. Ron Beauchamp died six years ago, having moved to St Leonards only a few years earlier. The exhibition at 79 Bohemia Road showed all of the artist’s work in the possession of exhibition organiser John Humphries, who was also Ron’s cousin. A number of people saw the show over the three days it was open, from Saturday 13th to Monday 15th January, including local MP Michael Foster, whose constituency office is on Bohemia Road. The private view, held on the evening of Friday 12th January, was also well attended, with 25 people enjoying the generous buffet before bidding for some of the works on display. Among the gathering were Ron’s long-term friend Dave Larner and fellow art enthusiast Phil Sellens. Ron and Phil first met at the New Riviera Group, a local art society.
 John has been heartened by how well the exhibition was received. ‘We managed to sell 72 pictures and wood carvings – that’s most of them – during the four days. Another 14 have gone since. The prices at the auction ranged from £2 to £25. They reflected what people were prepared to pay. The work that was selling was mostly representational, though Ron also did abstract work. The two most expensive works were two pictures of cats which a local woman bought for £25 each.
  ‘All sorts of people bought the pictures. I was surprised. They weren’t  the art set, they seemed to be ordinary people. I think Ron would have been quite chuffed at the level of interest and appreciation that there genuinely seemed to be. Most people remarked on the wide variety of styles and subject matter he used.
  ‘I did a fully-indexed colour catalogue featuring some of the works on display, which also included a biography and photographs of my cousin from different periods in his life.’
  The exhibition took in excess of £550, all of which will be donated to  Ron’s favourite charities. ‘I’ve already sent off a cheque for £375 to the Cats’ Protection League.’ [JB]