THREE Herefordshire artists have been chosen to exhibit at The Courtyard in honour of Hereford’s hosting of the Three Choirs Festival 2009.

The free exhibition will feature work inspired by this prestigious annual musical event by Stella Hidden, Johan Boshoff and Alex Chappell. The work has been selected to encompass musical or ecclesiastical themes to complement and rejoice in the traditions of the festival.

A musician herself, Stella Hidden conveys tone and mood through her paintings. Using rich colour layered in a rhythmical way over a period of time, she creates a mix of quiet, contemplative and exuberant work. “The intense focus on colour, incorporating musical pitch, instrumental and rhythmic subtlety leads to paintings of a rich ‘sound’ that resonates and continues to vibrate.”

Johan Boshoff uses photography to explore the architecture of Hereford Cathedral, the central venue for this year’s festival. Boshoff is concerned with emotional nuances found in a world of light and dark, which he enhances with the use of his computer. “My camera and my computer are at the service of a personal way of seeing the world around me.”

Alex Chappell‘s contemplation of musical performances from the Three Choir’s Festival delves deep into the meanings, religious and existential, that the composers were trying to convey to create thought-provoking paintings.

The exhibition is free and will be held throughout The Courtyard open spaces.