Reviewed by Beth Stewart
Uncommon Ground at Westland Gallery, January 6 to 31, 2026, brings together work by two disparate artists: Sheila Davis and Kevin Bice. While the works of both are firmly rooted in the environment, they diverge drastically from there. Together, they are a feast for the eyes and mind.
The main level is filled with Davis’s vibrant landscapes; it is an environment of colour, light, and form. The upper-level embraces Bice’s muted still life and landscapes; it is an environment of studied memory. Both celebrate the richness of life.
Davis’s work is awash in brush strokes and saturated colour. Being surrounded by her work is akin to forest bathing, the Japanese practice of immersing oneself in the canopy of a forest to promote well-being. Viewing her work is restorative – especially in the midst of a London winter.
(Pictured: Sheila Davis, “Wallflower II”, oil on panel, 40 by 40 inches. Courtesy of Westland Gallery.)
In “Wallflower II, a 40-by-40-inch oil on panel, turquoise and lime-green foliage compete with dashes of pink and orange against a band of cream. It is a lively dance of colour and form that beckons a viewer.
(Pictured: Sheila Davis, “Poetic License”, oil on panel, 48 by 48 inches. Courtesy of Westland Gallery.)
“Poetic License”, a 48 by 48-inch oil on panel, presents a dizzying array of colour and line that echoes an act of spinning around to observe one’s surroundings. In contrast, the vertical thrust of “Weaving Light”, a 42-by-36-inch oil on panel, elevates the viewer skyward.
(Pictured: Sheila Davis, “Weaving Light”, oil on panel, 42 by 36 inches. Courtesy of Westland Gallery.)
Bice’s work draws from places, people, and objects.
(Pictured: Kevin Bice, “Below the Bridge”, oil on canvas board, 18 by 21 inches – plein air work to celebrate the 150th year of the Blackfriars Bridge. Image courtesy of the artist.)
Some, like “Below the Bridge”, an 18-by-21-inch oil on canvas board, are plein air pieces, with recognizable locations; some, like “Remembering the Lake”, a 40-by-64-inch oil on canvas, seem to be inspired by old family photographs.
(Pictured: Kevin Bice, “Remembering the Lake”, oil on canvas, 40 by 64 inches.Courtesy of Westland Gallery.)
Others, such as “McClary Enamelware”, a 25 by 23-inch charcoal on rag paper, spring from time spent in the vaults of Museum London.
(Pictured: Kevin Bice, “McClary Enamelware”, charcoal on rag paper, 25 by 23 inches. Courtesy of Westland Gallery.)
Several of Bice’s paintings are accompanied by story cards. “I find that people are interested in the narrative which leads to the creation of a piece,” he explains.
For some of his works, like the plein air pieces, the narrative is simple: he was attracted by light hitting something or by a juxtaposition of textures that he wanted to spend more time with.
His motivation for studio works is often more complex. He says, “I might start a work because some image or composition or story is stuck in my head.” In these cases, he is never sure what direction the work will take.
In both instances, he views art as a means of exploration.
Of late, he has rediscovered plein air painting, and this is evident in Uncommon Ground. Bice explains, “It’s easy to get complacent and head for the comfort of the studio. Being around other outdoor artists is a great stimulant.”
Uncommon Ground: New works by Sheila Davis and Kevin Bice continues to January 31, 2026. There is an Artist Talk with Kevin Bice on January 10 from 1 to 3 pm and an Artist Demo with Sheila Davis on January 17, also from 1 to 3 pm.
For more information about this exhibition and Westland Gallery, visit https://westlandgallery.ca/
Follow Westland Gallery on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WestlandGallery and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/westlandgallery/
Reviewed by Beth Stewart
The Beat Magazine 2025 