From a pistol shooting out butterflies instead of bullets to prints made with mud - a colourful and eclectic mix of art can be seen in a new exhibition kicking off a landmark year for a Norwich art group.
The Norwich 20 Group first began in 1944, and to mark its seven decades of championing creativity some current members are exhibiting work at Norwich Theatre Royal.
The show, which opens this weekend in the Adnams Bar and runs until April 23, is the first of many anniversary events.
Julia Sorrell, chairman of the Norwich 20 Group, said: 'It's the 70th anniversary and so we are planning a series of exhibitions to celebrate that. This is the first exhibition of the year, the start of the whole event.
'All the members of the Norwich 20 Group were invited to submit work and this exhibition features a selection of members' work.'
Sarah Cannell is the curator of the exhibition - sponsored by Targetfollow - which features an array of abstract paintings, pencil sketches, prints and other 2D work.
She said: 'The exhibition is a really fantastic opportunity to get an overview of the Norwich 20 Group of artists and see the range of work that they produce. These are basically some of the most serious painters and artists in this area and you can see that through their work.
'There is some amazing work to see in the exhibition - from a pistol adapted to shoot butterflies to tiny, careful oil paintings, to landscape collages, to prints made with mud. It is a real mix.'
The Norwich 20 Group originally had 20 members but now has more than 80 members across Norfolk representing all aspects of contemporary fine art.
It was formed in 1944 after a touring modern art exhibition came to Norwich Castle Museum. Twenty local artists, mainly from Norwich School of Art and Design (now Norwich University of the Arts) created the group to promote understanding of modern art in Norwich.
Following on from the new exhibition at Norwich Theatre Royal, the group plans to hold an anniversary exhibition featuring work by all of its members at The Forum and The Undercroft, behind Norwich Market, in March.
The Bridewell Museum will also host an exhibition about the group's history and its contribution to the arts in Norwich and beyond.
Exhibitions are also planned for later in the year at Anteros, The Gallery at Norwich University of the Arts, and Mandell's Gallery.
• The Norwich 20 Group exhibition in Norwich Theatre Royal's Adnams Bar runs from January 24 until April 23 from 10am until 5pm Monday to Saturday.
For more on the Norwich 20 Group visit www.norwich20group.co.uk
• Do you have a story about the arts in Norwich? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk
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