Tony Viney Open exhibition has selected ‘View from a Bird Hide’, oil on hardback. The work will be on exhibition at Sandy Hill Arts  25/4/26 to 7/5/26.

‘View from a Bird Hide’ is based on a sketch of my son in the hide at Stoborough Heath watching Canadian Geese before they migrate. He left the nest for University last year.

It is painted on ‘The Art of Bird Photography’ by Hosking and Newberry.  It is one of the many bird books that my Father-in-law had in his collection.

I was awarded the FLOW headline commission for Dorset Arts weeks. I proposed to create a new map for the River Stour embellished with my observations and stories about the river. My inspiration came from William Hole’s map of Dorsetshire (1612) and Alice Oswald’s poem ‘Dart’ (2002).  The exhibition will take place in the Threshing Barn at Bere Marsh Farm during Dorset Art Weeks 23 May-7 June (venue 38).

I began to gather people’s connections to the River Stour and to create my own response, creating new stories for the river from childhood memories to sheltering wildlife. The Stour has enriched people’s lives for generations. From the source at Stour head flowing through clay and chalk to the sea at Hengistbury head. My intention is to highlight the positive effect that walking and drawing along the river can have on wellbeing. To celebrate the River’s right to flow clear and free into the sea.

Thank you to Bere Marsh Farm, Hall and Woodhouse Brewery, the Countryside Regeneration Trust and Dorset Visual Arts for awarding the Flow headline commission. Thanks to those who have shared their stories – for your support in creating this new river story with me.

Touchpoint exhibition. For the past two years I have been the RWA (Royal West of England Academy) Steward for the AGBI (Artists General Benevolent Institution). The AGBI has been supporting professional visual artists who can’t work due to illness or injury since 1814, and it’s an honour to contribute as a Steward – helping to bridge networks and strengthen this vital charity. My work was shown alongside some fantastic other AGBI Stewards and artists in the inaugural AGBI Stewards exhibition in London, Touchpoint – a show exploring the many ways Stewards connect with artists in need. Touchpoint exhibition 6 November-5 February.

I am delighted that my short animation ‘Under The Table’ was longlisted for the Swedenborg Film Festival . The animation will be screened at Swedenborg House. It is scheduled to screen between 4-5pm on December 8^th.

Emmanuel Swedenborg was an 18^th century polymath who believed he was visited by angels and wrote down what they told him about the hereafter. I also read ‘On the Conjugial Angel’ by A.S Byatt from the Swedenborg archive which includes her thoughts about contacting the spirit world. ‘Under the Table’ combines magic and reality. Unseen forces which tilted the table are revealed to be the work of a childlike demon.  My daughter helped me make the soundtrack for this animated drawing.

I am delighted that The Journey of the Shape-shifting Soul was selected for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing prize exhibition. The Trinity Buoy Wharf drawing exhibition started in London In October. Then it toured to the Williamson art Gallery and Museum from 14 November-31 January.

The Journey of the Shape Shifting Soul is about the in-between state that I imagine when a spirit leaves the body. When the body is no longer functional as a vehicle to live in. It is mixed with my feelings about death and ideas from Emanuel Swedenborg’s descriptions of Heaven and Hell. It also contains ideas inspired by William Blake’s visions.

In the drawing are references to transformation, for example from grub to imago. There are people looking for answers and receptively listening. The soul is not static. In this interpretation the soul rises and is faced with an image of itself. Mount Purgatory emerges at the top of the page where Love has led someone by the ankle to make a leap of faith.

I am delighted to take part in the Dark Town Film club at the Atelier Beside the Sea Gallery in Brighton. Artists were invited by Jonny Hannah and Jon Tutton to create film posters for their favourite film. I selected Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders. A sketching trip to the circus resulted in a series of monoprints. Pictured here is one of my favourites. Showing the trapeze artist with wings and her partner looking up to her longingly.

The film posters will accompany more work from Jonny and events. Digital prints of the posters are also available from the gallery. The exhibition runs 20 Sepember-9 November.