Artist’s granddaughters carry on colourful legacy

Thursday 11 April 2019

The youngest granddaughter of a respected local artist and teacher says she hopes to carry on his colourful legacy by showing a piece featuring techniques he taught her in an exhibition celebrating his memory.

Peter Knight, who died aged 73 last year, taught many students across the island. Among those were his granddaughters, Bella (pictured), Christianna and Anya, who he inspired to be creative.

They will each be exhibiting a piece of their work in the 'Peter Knight Legacy Exhibition', which opens this evening at the Harbour Gallery in St. Aubin. 

Speaking to Express, the youngest, GCSE student Bella, described 'Papa Pete' as “the kindest, coolest and most generous man alive".

"I remember him always being a positive and jolly energy to be around, and he was also a very wise man," she recalled. “He was a man that would protect and stick up for anyone, and he was a very giving person, who would help anyone. He had such a great laugh, and sense of humour too!” 

Pictured: The Peter Knight Legacy Exhibition opens tonight at the Harbour Gallery.

Christianna, who is currently finishing her second year of undergraduate degree in Fine art, says her grandfather always encouraged and inspired her towards perusing a career in art.

Peter transmitted many techniques to his grandchildren and Bella says she still uses them now. She put them to practice in the piece she created for the exhibition: a landscape of the waves and sea on a summer’s day, which shows the waves curling over and spitting, as well as the foam on the body of sea, where the previous waves have crashed. 

“There is also use of texture because the water that is shown washed up on the sand, has a translucent look to it,” Bella explained. “I used oils for this painting. The sky has wispy lines of cloud trails and there are many different shades of blue- because the main colour of this piece is blue tones.”

“My grandpa taught me how to make the waves look as if they are mid breaking, and he gave me many tips, and since then, I have always incorporated his advice into my paintings,” the Beaulieu student added. “I am so pleased and privileged to have had a chance to learn from him.”

Pictured: "Corbière from Petit Port," one of Peter's paintings.

Christianna says that Peter taught her the basics of watercolour and acrylic paint, his preferred medium. "I always looked forward to showing him my latest drawings and sketchbooks, " she remembers. "Peter has always favoured landscapes although encouraged me to develop my interest in portraiture by helping me pay for life drawing classes."

For the exhibition, Christiana, whose practice has now shifted from painting to printmaking, inspired by her family archive and Jersey culture, created a piece titled “nénante-huit."

Pictured: Christianna has created a Lino print for the exhibition.

"It is a digital print which has since been reworked into a Lino print," she explained. "It depicts my grandmother and Peter’s wife, Mel Knight. The reference photo is appropriated from the family archive where Mel is holding a new born baby me.

"The wall also featured in the print is inspired by jersey granite and the text is Jèrrias for “ninety-eight” which is the year I was born."

Pictured: The photo that inspired Christianna's piece shows Mel, her grandmother, holding her as a newborn baby.

Peter Knight was one of the earliest supporters of the Art in the Frame Foundation, the charity that manages the Harbour Gallery, not only as an artist but also as an adviser. 

For 20 years, he helped introduce the gallery to up-and-coming artists and lent a helping hand in hanging exhibitions. He also exhibited his own work in solo and group exhibitions and was “a good customer” who supported other artists. The team says that he and his wife Mel became good friends and they learned of his death “with great sadness and shock".

Pat Robson, Chairman of the charity and Gallery Director, first met Peter while doing a term of Supply Teaching at Grainville School about 30 years ago. “The Art Department was an oasis of creative activity with Peter, a very inspirational teacher ‘at the helm’. I so enjoyed going in to see the work that the students were producing,” Pat remembered. 

Pictured: Pat Robson, the charity Chairman and gallery Director, first met Peter about 30 years ago.

To celebrate and commemorate the work of the “fantastic artist” that Peter was, the gallery decided to host a month-long exhibition featuring a varied mix of his work over the years showing his development of style and subject matter.

Remembering previous exhibitions, Pat said: “It was always a pleasure to come into the gallery on a grey day, to stand by the desk and look up to the ‘sunny’ colourful prints and paintings on the wall with their geometric shapes and straight lines, instantly recognisable as a work of art by Peter Knight.

“Peter concentrated on local landscapes and seascapes, in sunrise colours many in sunset colours. These normally would also contain a Jersey icon. He loved St. Ouen’s bay, sunsets in hot oranges would silhouette La Rocco Tower or Corbière Light House and often the little White House.”

Pictured: The exhibition of Peter Knight's work continues until 12 May.

Bella also adored her grandpa’s work, describing it as “unique and fabulous”. Her favourite piece is the one titled ‘Plemont’.

“I love the way that the wave is mid breaking in the distance, and it makes me feel inspired and calm, when I look at it. The technique of how he made the water look like it is being dragged, and like it is flowing with the rocks, is so beautiful.”

The exhibition will open tonight with a presentation by lifelong friend of Peter, Len Norman, and recollections from his three sons, Tim, Martin and Jono.