THE newly refurbished Young Gallery in Salisbury is hosting an exhibition focusing on the work of John Piper.

Titled A Man for all Seasons, the exhibition forms the last part of the BIGSTONE&RAIN project, providing a selective focus on Piper and his work. It runs until November 18.

Piper was an English painter and designer, particularly known for stained glass windows, and being an official war artist during the Second World War, when he was commissioned to catalogue the effects of the Blitz on Britain’s buildings.

Loans for the exhibition have been agreed from Southampton City Art Gallery; the River and Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames; Arundells Collection, Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation; Wiltshire Museum; and private collections.

The works are further complemented by two major paintings by Graham Sutherland, a companion leading artist of the period.

Anchoring the exhibition will be Piper’s Maen Bras (big stone and rain), purchased for the Young Collection with contributions from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Art Fund. This particular work provided the impetus for a community project run by the gallery working with soldiers and young carers, using the theme of landscape to explore and describe their lives.

The exhibition is the first to be shown in the newly refurbished Young Gallery, which has now climate control and secure display facilities, bringing it up to ‘museum standard’.

Richard Clewer, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for arts, said: “We’re delighted to be displaying this fantastic exhibition at the Young Gallery.

“John Piper is one of the most significant British artists of the 20th century, and his paintings of Britain’s architecture, both in war and peace time, are particularly interesting.

“The recent refurbishments to the Young Gallery have transformed this space into a wonderful venue that is capable of hosting exhibits from some of the world’s most famous artists. We look forward to welcoming more exciting exhibitions to the gallery – and more visitors, too.”

Wiltshire Council is the sole trustee of the Young Gallery.

For more information go to younggallerysalisbury.co.uk.