Just had a trip up to London to check out this years Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy. Highlights for me were street scenes by Ken Howard,  Peter Brown and a painting of a street in Leamington Spa that I recognised by Michael Felmingham. Given the number or works on display there weren’t that many figure paintings, although I did enjoy a piece titled ‘Girl Ascending’ by Lisa Wright.

Installation view of Gallery III, Summer Exhibition 2001. Photo: John Bodkin/DawkinsColour

After a couple of hours wandering around the Academy I left and as it was still sunny and I was in the area I headed off to visit a few galleries in Mayfair. After a quick look in at a couple of the plethora of galleries along Cork Street and saw a mixed bag of cityscapes and figure studies. Just on the off chance I looked in the window of the Halcyon on Bruton St and saw a painting that actually caught my eye it was one of a series of ballet dancers by American illustrator turned painter Robert Heindel. After a nice chat with a gallery assistant there I walked on to Mount Street Galleries to have a look at Hector McDonnell’s exhibition (pdf), which consisted of a few good paintings but for me nothing really exceptional.

Hector McDonnell 'Rose in a cold spring cafe'

Robert Heindel 'The Watcher'

Then it was back to Green Park tube station to make my way back to the National Portrait Gallery to have a look at this years BP selection. I didn’t bother going last year after both 2008 and 2009 were dominated by photo realist works, although highly skilful these days I tend to seek out more painterly work. However this year I was pleasantly surprised, amongst the selection there were quite a few less photographic paintings…

My favourite piece (which also won the travel prize) was probably Jo Fraser‘s painting of Flora, a young girl standing smiling in her bedroom. Strong colours and an unfussy style provide plenty for the eyes to drink in…