EAST meets West at Brantwood, Coniston, this month when beautiful paintings created during a cultural exchange go on show.

Lancashire artist Ingrid Christie and Chinese painter Fu Zi lived 5,000 miles apart, and met in Beijing for the first time in 2015.

The only way they could communicate for an entire month was by painting, as neither artist spoke each other's language, and the works they created are to be exhibited from April 29 to June 11 at John Ruskin's home.

Brantwood director Howard Hull shared his excitement at the forthcoming show in the Blue Gallery and Severn Studio, saying: "The Chinese landscape art tradition is the oldest and most sophisticated landscape tradition in the history of art. Contemporary Chinese artists are reclaiming this heritage in exciting and highly innovative ways.

"We are privileged to be hosting Fu Zi's first exhibition outside China and especially excited the project involves a collaboration with local artist Ingrid Christie."

As Ingrid explained, she learned "a great deal" about the Eastern approach to painting during her weeks in China, especially about "capturing the spirit of place and fleeting moments in time".

She said: "Fu Zi taught me to slow down, to connect the head, hand and heart, which is exactly what John Ruskin articulated about the process of painting. Although Fu Zi and I were unable to communicate verbally, painting provided a bridge that transcended the need for language."

Fu, meanwhile, said his paintings expressed a desire for "harmony between man and nature", adding: "During the cultural exchange, Ingrid and I learned a great deal from one another. One helpful aspect for me was remembering the good habit of keeping a sketchbook. Sharing our working practices without using language really does show the power of painting to communicate beyond words."

Meanwhile, wildlife photographer John Ford makes a welcome return to Brantwood tomorrow (Friday, April 14) with images capturing Glen Fender Meadow, on the southern edge of the Cairngorms.

John first discovered the hay meadow by chance with his late wife Joy, on a visit to Blair Atholl, the Perthshire village where John Ruskin and his wife Effie spent the first night of their marriage, in 1848.

Biologist and lecturer John was so captivated by the meadow that he went on to spend years documenting it with his camera. His acclaimed exhibition of Scottish flora came to Brantwood's Blue Gallery in 2015, and his new show puts the spotlight on some of the animals of Glen Fender.

The display is the first to be held in the renovated Coach House Loft, above the newly opened Terrace Coffee House and Restaurant.

To find out more, visit www.brantwood.org.uk or call 015394-41396.