CHRIS Rigby is recognised as one of the region's most imaginative painters. With a wide range of subject matter contained within his princely portfolio, his work has strong sense of realism on one hand with the power and impact of an expressionist on the other.

His landscapes are breathtaking, his seascapes shimmer and glow and some of his works have a hint of Cezanne, one of his biggest influences.

Music festivals and performances, dancers and audiences, provide the narrative for Chris's latest body of work Performance, running at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre until September 28.

Some paintings are based on performances at the Brewery, others capturing memorable moments of Solfest.

The Brewery's Sugar Store Gallery is a solid platform for a lively gathering of almost 40 of Chris's works, and as the title suggests, there's nothing sedentary about the various mixed media and charcoal, pastels and ink creations, which virtually dance from one end of the space to the other.

Lancaster-born Chris - who studied illustration at Cornwall’s Falmouth School of Art - wants to make art that has a massive emotional impact and leaves you in no doubt that you have seen something worth seeing.

True enough, and the goings on in a field near Aspatria were certainly instrumental in putting Performance together. “It was at 11am on a Saturday in 2010," recalls Chris. "There was a big stage and big clouds looming. A psychedelic punk duo with a big sound and then the heavens open. The crowd runs for cover leaving just one fool sitting in the wide open space with a set of watercolours and an optimistic disposition.

“That was my first year (at Solfest); 2011 and 2013 saw me in a semi-official role as artist-in-residence and with it came a chance to hone various skills; juggling my paints and brushes amid a late night Indian Postal Service crowd; speed-painting when on side stage during short daytime sets; drunk painting when on stage with Three Daft Monkeys during a longer night time set, and frankly giving up the battle in favour of a good time.

“It also gave me the opportunity to experience life as festival grass when I positioned myself ill-advisedly in front of the main stage (in the mud and the blood and the beer) as the crowd gathered for Alabama 3, then, having lived to paint another day, working at a more sedate pace, finding ideas for spots, splashes and scratches of colour from the mulling idlers on a leisurely sunny Sunday afternoon.”

For further information telephone the Brewery on 01539-725133.