Sarah Mayhew Craddock enjoys a wintery show, with a melancholy edge, at the soon-to-close O3 Gallery

As wintery landscapes surround us and the nights draw in, so too do the days of O3 Gallery. Some of O3 Gallery’s most memorable exhibitions have been comprised of works inspired by landscapes, and as such it feels fitting to close the doors to the gallery with an exhibition that celebrates the beauty of Britain.

Formerly part of the old Oxford Prison C-Wing, O3 Gallery opened to the public in May 2006. The inaugural exhibition was a photography exhibition by Jude Wall whose local landscapes charted the process of converting Oxford Prison and Castle into Oxford Castle Quarter.

Over the course of the past nine years the gallery has hosted some notable landscape exhibitions by artists such as Alison Lilley Berrett, Mark Thompson, Kieran Stiles, Caroline Maas, Susan Wheeler, Peter Care and Hetty Haxworth. Though, perhaps it is the physical journey that the visitor encounters in this unique, columnar exhibition space with its sweeping staircases that has burnt its history of landscapes on the retina.

In Winter Landscape snow-covered fields are outlined by dark copses and hedgerows punctuated by the warm glow of buildings. Wild moorlands depict nature at its most dramatic, and natural, organic lines evoke an alternative viewpoint of recognisable horizons.

Exhibiting artists include Jason Hicklin, whose evocative, monotone etchings are inspired by the far reaches of the Outer Hebrides where Hicklin makes sketches that are later transformed into powerful prints.

For Winter Landscape Gerry Dudgeon is showing a series of paintings created after the snowfalls of 2010, snowfalls that served to highlight Dorset’s ancient past.

Mark Stopforth’s dramatic, sensory scenes of the imagination are inspired by the untamed landscapes of the Yorkshire Moors, Lakeland Fells, various estuaries of Britain and the remembered, sweeping landscapes of his childhood in Norfolk. Local artist Julie Wigg presents unbridled paintings that emulate the delicate fabric of the natural world.

Similarly, the sixth exhibiting artist, Woodstock-based Rod Craig, strives to depict mood and atmosphere over realism. Craig achieves the fluidity and spontaneity of his expressive pieces through experimentations with Indian ink and watercolour.

The history of Oxford Castle Quarter spans 10 centuries, and just as the seasons change, so this city centre site must evolve with the times. Reflecting upon his personal interest in the encouragement of artists Trevor Osborne, of The Trevor Osborne Property Group which developed Oxford Castle Quarter, designed the space with the intention that it would be used as a community art gallery.

However, as time moved on the gallery has not proved to be profitable in its location. Mr Osborne expanded: “Discussions have taken place with both the county council and the city council, and unfortunately a solution for the relocation of gallery space has not been successful with the result the gallery will be closed.”

Winter Landscape is an excellent exhibition of high quality works that forms a calm and collected book-end to the tumultuous history of Oxford Castle Quarter’s cylindrical space.

Where and when
Winter Landscape continues until Saturday at the O3 Gallery, Oxford Castle Quarter. 
Entry is free. o3gallery.co.uk