Retrospective prints are a rare delight

Bryan Ingham - Prints is at North House Gallery, The Walls, Manningtree, Essex until Nov 8. Open on Saturdays 12-5 or by appointment , 01206 392717.It's rare that one sees prints of Bryan Ingham's standard.

Bryan Ingham - Prints is at North House Gallery, The Walls, Manningtree, Essex until Nov 8. Open on Saturdays 12-5 or by appointment , 01206 392717.

It's rare that one sees prints of Bryan Ingham's standard. It's also quite strange he is not better known. Ingham was a contemporary of David Hockney's at the Royal College of Art, and as far as draughting skills and drawing ability are concerned, he can certainly give Hockney a run for his money.

By all accounts Ingram was a bit alternative, choosing to live in the remote Lizard peninsular in Cornwall, going to artist's retreats in Germany, and despite having exhibitions at Francis Graham-Dixon's gallery, not making his mark sufficiently. He also died prematurely.

So what do we have here? Well Penny Hughes-Stanton has come up with over 50 gems. Big breasted Germanic Fraulein's, higgledy-piggledy views of Cornwall, and still lifes with Picasso influences.

Damen III, as did all the series, stopped me in my tracks. Berlin, Cabaret, sexy atmospheres, it's all here. What is so special about Ingham's etchings is the work he has put into them; and in the Damen series also the blatant, lascivious humour. Talk about multi-layered. The precision and markings in all the works in this show are astonishing. Moonrise is fabulous. What also is so wonderful about Ingham is that he plays with perspective all the time. Looking at his work is like reading a novel and picking up the clues. You have to engage.

Falmouth Dock Harbour and Hayle Estuary are more quirky. They make a response to architecture and play with it; pointy roofs, askew houses slanting, the sea in the distance.

What we have here is one of the finest shows of print works I have ever seen. Pure delight.

Sonia Carvill