Andrew Dibben Paintings

The Builder, King Street.  Watercolour 38 x 57cm   Confrontation.  Watercolour 38 x 57cm I have recently returned to thinking about urban scenes - in particular, the very fine architecture of King Street in Great Yarmouth, where I now live. This town has such a rich heritage; it was once the second wealthiest town in England, during the heyday of the herring fishing industry, but has fallen on hard times since the demise of the fishery and the advent of cheap foreign holidays. There was also severe bomb damage during World War II. Nevertheless, some stunning buildings remain, particularly in the quayside historic area, but also along King Street. There is neglect, but also heroic efforts to restore some of the fine buildings. I enjoy painting these buildings together with some of the local characters.

  Two paintings from earlier this year of Ormesby Broad and Filby Broad winter. Each 38 x 57cm watercolours

A few pages from the illustrated children's story "In the Year 878 - Settling Gernemutha" 'Gernemutha' was the name of the island that became Great Yarmouth, back in Anglo-Saxon times. ( Pronounce it "Yair-na-mooth-a" ). This is a fictional story based on the history of the time, and tells the tale of two brothers who decide to move onto the island with their families, in the hope that it will help their fishing activities. They build two simple houses in the lee of a hill, and life settles down. But one day, the children spot Viking ships approaching from the east, and rush to warn their parents. The families quickly board their boats, but a nerve-wracking chase ensues across the vast expanse of the Great Estuary - the much larger predecessor to the current Breydon Water. Will the much faster Viking ships catch up with them? Or will the brothers' local knowledge help them to escape their pursuers? An exciting tale, suitable for all ages! ( Maybe 7 y...

Man with Two Yellow Carrier Bags and a Backpack, King Street (Watercolour 38x57cm)   Pizza Delivery Man, King Street (Watercolour 38x57cm) I decided recently to honour my adopted town by painting a series of urban scenes featuring some of the spectacular architecture which abounds in this ancient town. Here are are two examples, which will be on show in The Forum, Norwich, between 29th June and 2nd July. I will be sharing the space with 3 talented friends, also IEA members: artists Pauline Sexton, Kimberley Walker, and Nicholas Sutton. We are calling ourselves "Connected Four"

Night Time on the Yare Watercolour 38x56cm Break in a Storm Cloud Watercolour 28x38cm

  Four paintings of boats and small ships. From top: Sheringham Crabber 38 x 56cm Aldeburgh Beach Boats 38 x 56cm Hut No.11, Aldeburgh 38 x 56cm Tug Boat and a Crescent Moon 28 x 38cm The first painting was shown at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours 2018 exhibition.

 Beach Ripples Watercolour 38 x 56cm A painting of the spectacular expanse of Burnham Overy Staithe beach at low tide.

  A new project: I have written a story about the first people to settle on what was an island, where Great Yarmouth stands now, in the year 888. Two Saxon brothers decide to build houses on the island of Gernemutha, and take their families across to live there. They will be better placed to take advantage of the herring fishing in the autumn. But there are many problems to be overcome, and danger lurks at all times: although East Anglia is ruled by a Dane, King Guthrum, still Viking raids persist until the time of William the Conqueror. An illustrated children's book will hopefully see the light of day before Christmas! Top: Herewulf Gathers Mussels in the Great Estuary. Watercolour 38x56cm                                                                                    ...

  Cromer Beach Dusk Watercolour 56 x 76cm

" Boats, Beaches & Barns of Norfolk and Suffolk " This lavish 180 page hardback coffee-table book is now listed on Amazon UK at the reduced price of £22.20 + postage (Total £25.00) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boats-Beaches-Barns-Norfolk-Suffolk/dp/0995625409 The book features much of the artist's output from the years 2005-2017, and begins with an engaging Foreword by Ed Balls, former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, and now a popular broadcaster.

Dusk on Aldeburgh Beach Watercolour 38x56cm This painting, and the one of Wells Quay in the previous post, will be featuring in the IEA Open Exhibition , opening in Holt, North Norfolk, in a week's time. 'IEA' is the Institute of East Anglian Artists, and this year's show is once again being staged in Holt, at The Gallery , a beautiful and prestigious venue, which has been the subject of a complete refurbishment. The Private View will be next Friday, 4-7pm, after which the exhibition continues until Tuesday 12th November. Open daily 9-5pm, and 11-4pm on Sundays.

Two Skiffs in the Yard (top) watercolour 56x76cm Cromer Boats and Tractors  (sold)  watercolour 38x56cm Two watercolours shown in recent exhibitions, including those of the East Anglian Group of Marine Artists (EAGMA), and Eastern Contemporary Artists. The one of Cromer has sold, and is now living in Texas. The larger one, (top), shows two beach skiffs used on Great Yarmouth beach in the early 20th Century. They were built circa 1912, and were used for fishing from the beach in winter months, and for pleasure rides for holidaymakers in the summer. They are preserved at the wonderful Time and Tide Museum in Great Yarmouth.

The big one-man show opens this Saturday! Over 70 paintings on display, to celebrate 30 years as a full-time artist, and 50 years since I enrolled at Norwich School of Art. Above: December at Wells Quay, watercolour 38x56cm The Gallery, Picturecraft, Lees Yard, Holt, North Norfolk NR25 6HS Opens Saturday 1st June 2019 The exhibition continues to Wednesday 5th June. Open 9am-5:00pm daily (11am - 4pm on Sunday 2nd June)

North by East You are cordially invited to view an exhibition of watercolour paintings by Andrew Dibben, I.E.A., Dip.A.D. In mid-2017, Andrew and his wife relocated to Gorleston-on-Sea, to a house with a grandstand view of the river Yare, the port of Yarmouth, and to the sea beyond. While still painting North Norfolk subjects, the artist has also embraced subject-matter from his new east coast surroundings, and will be showing a fascinating mixture of motifs in this exhibition. This year marks fifty years from when Andrew enrolled at the then Norwich School of Art, and thirty years of working as a full-time landscape and marine artist. This personal landmark exhibition will feature a few paintings from earlier years, as well as a number of the small boat studies for which he is renowned. For several years, Andrew has experimented with a more contemporary style of cityscapes, few of which have had a public airing. By way of a complete contrast, a number of these intriguing studi...

Here are 4 from a series of small studies I have been working on, based on the view from my house in Gorleston-on-Sea. There are 8 in the series so far, all quite small - 14x19cm image area (plus framing). The view is endlessly fascinating, with the light constantly changing, ships passing or mooring up, and changing weather conditions. (These 4 sold)

"Windsor Rose" on Sheringham Beach Watercolour 38 x 56cm

Two Skiffs Watercolour 38 x 56cm 2018 A recreation of a Great Yarmouth beach scene from the 1950s and 60s, this painting features two boats preserved at the excellent Time and Tide Museum in Great Yarmouth

Razor Shells on Overy Beach Watercolour 56 x 76cm 2018

The January 2018 issue of EDP Norfolk Magazine has this double-page spread about the new book "Boats, Beaches & Barns" . Also, an opportunity to win a free copy!

The new book is out! " Boats, Beaches & Barns of Norfolk and Suffolk" with a delightful Foreword by Ed Balls is available in many bookshops in Norfolk, with distribution in Suffolk expected soon. Initially, the book is being stocked by the following bookshops: Jarrolds Department Store, Norwich Jarrolds at The Forum , Norwich City Bookshop , Davey Place, Norwich The Bookhive , London Street, Norwich The Holt Bookshop . Holt, North Norfolk The Gallery Picturecraft , Holt, North Norfolk Diss Publishing , Diss, Norfolk Snape Maltings Trading, Snape, Suffolk The Aldeburgh Bookshop , Aldeburgh, Suffolk Crabpot Bookshop , Cley Next-The-Sea, North Norfolk Crabpot Bookshop , Wells-Next-The-Sea, North Norfolk Showcase Gallery , North Walsham The book is a fat 180-page tome, in a large, hardback format, and is priced at £30.