Cathy Read Art

Cathy Read Art at work

Cathy Read Art: Medieval Echoes: Capturing the Last Remnant of Historic London Bridge Architecture, London Art, Meditations on Paintings / By Cathy One of the many things I love about ancient cities is discovering the scars of the past. Those seemingly innocuous details which, when reached, lead to discoveries of past histories, peoples long gone, and past structures now vanished. Echoes of London Bridge, This clock and the tower it’s part of is one of my recent finds, or rather, I found it in 2019 and took this photograph. Only recently did I fully appreciate its significance when a random video* appeared in my YouTube feed. The tower and clock marked the northern entrance to London Bridge, the one that was replaced by the current brutalist style bridge in the 1973 Something of a radical departure in style for a historic city, but all the rage for the post war era. In Love with Clocks In truth, it was the clock that captured my attention. I’m something of a horologist at heart, although my knowledge of technical terms is woefully inadequate. Ancient clocks like this always have a fascinating history. Part of the Church of St Magnus the Marytr’s on the Right, the archway of the pedestrian entry still exists. Many London Bridges Strictly speaking, this was one of a number of “London Bridges” There has been a crossing at this point since the Romans built one in AD 50. Completed in 1209, the mediaeval bridge is the one of the song. “For over 600 years this bridge was the key crossing point of the Thames in London, ferrying people, goods and livestock across the river. With its shops, houses, churches and gatehouse, it was an iconic feature of the City of London.” Ben Johnson* The bridge must have been something to behold, The hustle and bustle New London Bridge In 1799 a replacement London Bridge was begun and built alongside the Medieval Bridge. It still in use until the replacement was completed in 1831. A more stately construction I imagine, and much easier to cross, although perhaps a little less interesting. Stone remains of the older bridge can be found in the courtyard beside the tower in the picture. The Trouble with Titles The name for the painting was planned to be Echoes of London Bridge, but now I’m having second thoughts and leaning towards Echoes of London Past or Echoes of London’s Past. What do you think? What would you call it. Echoes of London Bridge - Cathy Read ©2025 - Watercolour and Acrylic - 56 x 76 cm

Cathy Read Art: Spirit of the Race – Towcester Race Course. Galloping Ghosts of the Landscape What do you see, first? The glorious gates or the hunched over horseback riders? Impressive, comes to mind, dramatic and elegant. I’m not a horse person, but I’ve been to a few race courses, and I can’t think of another with such impressive gates. A conversation with a friend had me revise my initial plan for this painting, and I’m so glad I did. The transient nature of the race is captured in the spirit nature of the horses and riders. So many metaphors in one painting. The transient nature of life and competition, the portal to a new dimension represented by the gates. What else does it evoke? Situated on the A5 or the Roman road of Watling Street near Towcester Town. The gates catch the eye. A combination of sturdy stonework and iron work, they appears flimsy but exude strength. The central gates remind me of my Nan’s lace doilies, a thing rarely seen in modern times. Fantastic, man made structures that seem to be fighting nature. Lines of construction against organic painting which describes a scene of weathering and decay. Blooms of paint mix haphazardly and spill outwards into the sky. Three horses are bursting out of the gates, but they also seem to be fighting to break free, along with their riders. Parts of the gateway are merged with the outlines of the horses. One long, confused mess of man, horse, stone and railings. The horses and riders depict the spirit of the venue, as ghosts of past race horses and riders that remain. They have come and gone in the long and noble history of horse racing in the UK. Gold and yellow dominates in parts. I’m reminded of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow or a race, in this case. The winners takings, but there’s nothing for the “Also rans”, except next time things might change. Origins and Horse Racing History Racing at the Towcester course dates to the 18th Century., but had ceased to occur after 1798. The first meeting over the modern course took place in 1928. The Towcester Racecourse Company was formed under the direction of Sir Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, later 1st Lord Hesketh, and it was there on his estate of Easton Neston, that the course was sited, and the first grandstand built. Towcester was popular among the racing fraternity, mostly because of the sharp bends in the course, and the final gallop to the finishing post was uphill, which tested the horses and results in some unexpected finishes. Sadly it closed to horse racing as of 2024 but is still in use as a Greyhound Course. Evolution of the Title I confess I’m not a sports fan and the spirit of the race eludes me. That said, I can see the appeal of horse racing. The magnificent beasts, the thrill off the race as they pass. At first, I’d planned on calling this First Out the Gate – Towcester Race Course. After a while I felt the Spirit of the Race was more fitting, the horse and riders are lost in the scene. Among the confusion of lines and paint, echoes of long past rider and animals remain, free to race wherever they may. The spirit of the race continues.

Cathy Read Art: Covered Market Oxford. Walking into a Living Novel. This could be a scene from a Dickensian novel. With a lady wearing a long skirt walking beside a gentleman in silhouette. Everything about the painting screams history and old architecture. It’s easy to miss the covered market in Oxford, but once you find it, it’s like stepping back in time. How far back, you may wonder? I’ll tell you, but first let me show you how I see it. Oxford’s covered market is a hidden oasis of small shops and boutiques, alongside traditional butchers and greengrocers. In an age of supermarkets, these specialist shops with their traditional functions, are harder to find. Small towns and regions hold on to some them, but the competition from the big guys is fierce. Fortunately, human nature is such that small specialist providers will always spring up. This is a place that encourages niche shops. Created in a time before literacy was widespread. The boot, as a symbol for the cobblers, caught my eye. Words are good, but with a symbol as clear as a boot, you know it’s a cobbler, and although this may be a more recent addition, such devices were once all that was required and still used, even today. One other shop can be identified, The hat box, not common sight in the modern world. In the distance is Bonners, the last of many greengrocer’s. Sadly it closed in December 2025. Most of the shops retain the iron rails outside. Used for hanging goods on display which are taken down at the end of the day. Living with History My first encounter with the covered market was during my student days. It was a good place to get fruit and veg, and the first time I had ever seen game and feathered birds hung up outside the many butchers shops. Something of a shock to me as game birds weren’t common where I grew up. After shopping, there followed a heavily laden bike ride down St Aldates and the Abingdon road. It was often slow, wobbly, but, mercifully, mostly downhill. The Covered market building itself, features nothing especially different from spaces built all over Britain. That red roof gives it a festive feel in the depth of winter or height of summer. It’s a communal space, away from the whims of climate. An oasis in the summer and shelter from the rain and snow come winter, or just another shortcut from one place to another. When did it all begin? According to the Covered Market’s website, “The building dates back to the 1770s and has a long, varied and interesting heritage. In 1772, the original market committee accepted an estimate for nine hundred and sixteen pounds and ten shillings for the building of twenty butchers shops. John Gwynn, the architect for Magdalen Bridge, drew up the plans and designed the High Street frontage. Twenty more shops soon followed and grew into the delight it is now.” Find out more. More about the painting A visually busy scene, I regretted started it on many occasions. With so many windows, it seemed to take forever to reach the painting stage. Few people are about. The central couple walk on, taking in the scene. Oblivious to their reflections, ghosts of themselves follow invisible paths, all adding to the paintings, Dickensian feel. Of all things, it’s the roof that steals the your attention, the colour, the shape, the light and the glorious clock telling us it’s 3:30pm. The whole composition draws you along a path inwards. Towards the couple and beyond to the yellow glow around Bonners the greengrocers. We’re walking through the covered market without taking a single step. Which way would you like to go now?

Art Forms

Mixed media

Exhibition and News

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Biography

Contemporary artist Cathy Read creates Colourful paintings of urban landscapes that reflect city life in all its glory. Born in Middleton, Lancashire, as a child, Cathy’s mother took her to Manchester City Art Gallery where she was inspired by the Ford Maddox Brown painting “Work” inspired a passion to create art.

Persuaded to pursue a “Real career” she moved to Oxford to obtain a Diploma in Occupational Therapy. Later, she used art to develop fine motor skills in children when working as an occupational therapist in Bedford. Subsequently, she had a private OT practice from 1996-2006.

Realising the artist dream remained during a career break, she decided to do it now or regret it. Since then, Cathy has tenaciously built her career, learning on the job. Her distinctive style developed from early, predominantly circle based abstracts into urban landscapes, fuelled by a lifelong interest in buildings and rooted in a childhood dominated by the giant cotton mills of Middleton.

Cathy exhibits around the UK, Europe, and is collected as far afield as Canada, Africa, and New Zealand. In 2021 she was selected for the 20th international Art Exchange Exhibition in Chiba, Japan. Cathy regularly exhibits with the Society of Women Artists in London, being awarded the Barbara Tate Memorial Award in 2015. Her work is in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and various corporate collections, including Wetherspoons at Victoria Station and Bahlsen. She appeared on Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year in 2016 and 2017.

Cathy lives in a chapel near Buckingham, which she converted with her husband. It is close enough to London to get an Urban Architecture fix when needed. Cathy splatters paint and sings loudly in her Buckinghamshire Studio, when not steering a canal boat

along the British waterways and wielding a windlass.