Brian Oxley on the opening day in Gallerie 66 Words and Pictures by Ray Duff
A widely revered local artist and former art educator has unveiled a sweeping retrospective exhibition spanning over six decades of work across two Folkestone galleries.
Brian Oxley launched the double-venue showcase on Thursday, bringing together a vast collection of paintings and drawings spanning from his early student days in the late 1950s through to his recent creations.
Celebrated as a master colourist, Mr Oxley’s works range from vivid, high-energy palettes to subtle autumnal tones, capturing subjects from striking local and international landscapes to intimate portraits and still life compositions.
The exhibition reflects a lifetime dedicated to the arts, including his long career teaching at local secondary schools—formerly Morehall and later Pent Valley—and his ongoing work mentoring young artists from his West Hythe studio.
Some of the works at Kollectiv
Visitors can explore the collection at Galerie 66 (66 Old High Street) and upstairs at Kollectiv (69 Old High Street) through to 29 September. As part of the retrospective, Mr Oxley is also holding live 20-minute portrait sittings for £40 at Galerie 66, with half of all proceeds donated directly to the Nepal Disaster Relief Fund.