Another year, and with it some interesting developments. Our book, The Three Hares, A Curiosity Worth Regarding’ has now sold out and we are at a crossroads as to what to do next. A second printing is on hold and we have approached Bloomsbury to see if they would be interested in publishing an abridged version of the above in their Shire Book series.

In early January Chris received a visit from the owners of White Moose Gallery in Barnstaple, Devon to see if he would be interested in curating an exhibition based on a modern response to the Three Hares motif. Chris thought this a lovely idea and was pleased to be able to bring together a number of disciplines under one roof: Andrew Seaby exhibited his charming and distinct woodcuts alongside Richard Westcott’s ‘The Three Hares’:

As a result of a recent conversation with the Revd Paul Seaton-Burn in Chagford and the Friends of St Andrews, South Tawton, Chris – along with his colleagues at Skerryvore Productions – have offered to produce the artwork as a greetings card and to donate part of the proceeds to St Andrews to help purchase a new lighting system so that parishioners and visitors can enjoy the roof bosses in situ.

Chris has also offered to put the original artwork up for sale, and the framed picture will be exhibited in the nave of St Andrews from Saturday 24th November. His photograph at this size is a one-off, has been printed on matt finish heavyweight archival paper and signed, then mounted with acid-free museum board and framed using specialist art glass in order to minimise reflections.

The Three Hares, South Tawton, Devon by Chris Chapman measures 108cm x 129cm and is for sale at £1,500 (no VAT). Skerryvore has kindly offered to donate 50 % of the proceeds towards the new lighting at St Andrews.

Chris was asked how he came up with the idea:

“I first became aware of these richly carved oak roof bosses in St Andrews Church, South Tawton in the early 1980s while attending the funeral of the Devon potter, Andy Holden. I found them intriguing, but little did I know that some twenty years later I would be there again, busy photographing a three hares boss, together with a foliate head, for our newly established Three Hares Project.”

(In 2001 local cameraman Chris Vile made a short film about Chris and his colleagues Sue Andrew and Tom Greeves working together in the St Andrews. (You can view the film via the website at: http://www.chrischapmanphotography.co.uk/hares/stvideo.htm)

“A subsequent visit in 2018 while attending a concert hosted by the Dartmoor Society inspired me to produce this unique artwork for the exhibition at the White Moose last September. Roof bosses are often very difficult to view, especially if the church has dispensed with its ceiling plaster, so the idea of photographing them individually and then blending the images into one seemed to be appropriate. They are a remarkable survival. Nearly all the bosses in St Andrews date to the 15th century, with just three, or possible four, dating to the 19th century when the chancel roof underwent repairs. I love all things Dartmoor, and I wanted folk to be able to view them in all their glory”.

A large (19cm x 15cm) greetings card of the above, complete with envelope, is also available in packs of five @ £12.50 and will be sent postage free.
Details HERE

The Revd Paul Seaton- Burn, Chagford Rectory, Devon. Tel: (01647) 432880
email: paulsburn@btinternet.com

Chris Chapman. Tel: (01647) 231508
email: chapchrisman@gmail.com

Download 2018 Newsletter as PDF file

Download 2017 Newsletter as PDF file