St Elizabeth Hospice Exhibition and sale of posthumous works by

BRIDGET LAPSLEY




also featuring works by 

MATTHEW LEEKS

14th - 20th September
Open daily 10am - 4pm 
(early closing Wed. 1pm)

Private View 
Thursday 14th September
6pm - 8pm



Bridget Lapsley


 A showcase of her life time of work depicting local scenes and nature 



Bridget grew up in Suffolk, spending most of her childhood and schooldays in Ipswich and in the surrounding countryside. Living close to the rivers and estuaries of Suffolk, she was aware of the daily changes in weather, light, skies, agriculture, and wildlife. She said that from then on, wherever she lived, the farmlands, valleys and shorelines of Suffolk held a special significance and influenced her art.

After attending Ipswich High School for Girls, she went to the Ipswich School of Art which was next door to Ipswich Museum. This was in the 1960s when Colin Moss and Bernard Reynolds, together with other well-known local artists and craftsmen, were the tutors. She referred to the museum as being a delightful source of reference material and inspiration, not knowing that 40 years later she would be back at the museum. Bridget went on to study at Loughborough College of Art & Design, developing design and practical skills of working in wood, metal, and clay. On graduating, she joined
Lincoln College of Art as a lecturer. While in Lincoln she designed and made studio pottery, influenced by Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada.

Bridget returned to painting and drawing, whilst undergoing treatment and under hospice care. She was an active member of the Ipswich Art Society, but she was very modest about her ability and her achievements. Inspired by the familiar landscapes from her childhood, the natural world, and a love of drawing, she worked in a variety of genres and media to capture a moment, a detailed study, a composition or a pattern in a visual and meaningful way.

During COVID lockdown, she worked on several small sculptures including a series of 4 pieces, ‘Boy with Young Horse’. After Bridget’s death, these 4 sculptures were cast in bronze by Craig Hudson. In her final year, she continued to sculpt and paint, despite losing the use of one hand. Shortly before she died, she worked on a large painting of fishing nets and crab pots at Southwold Harbour; the painting was not finished.
Bridget shied away from self-promotion, but she would be delighted if her art was appreciated and at the same time, contributed to St Elizabeth Hospice, a movement she always supported.


Matthew Leeks




Although art has always been a part of my life (Art College leading to a career in Graphic Design), It’s only recently I picked up the chance to learn to draw and paint again. Naturally, like for most, it started in lockdown.  A chance to stop, look and think again. I took inspiration from all that surrounded me, where I found myself at any given moment. At that moment, I rediscovered Suffolk. Taken for granted for so long, it’s regenerative and offering of a natural escape inspired me to want to capture that emotion. I have since taken inspiration from my travels. I found Pastel to be a medium that offered a quick response; I like to work quickly in an emotive state, and from memory as it interests me as to how we remember.