THE title of a forthcoming exhibition at the Silk Top Hat Gallery, Facing the Sun, reflects the artist's unconventional attitude to painting a landscape. Instead of keeping the sun behind him as he paints, he faces it in contravention of perceived wisdom.

Edward Bell's entire approach, in fact, differs radically from many of his contemporaries painting in their studios surrounded with cameras and digital paraphernalia. Instead, he takes an immersive approach: "Whatever the weather, the true beauty of the day does not reveal itself until one steps outside," he says. He is exposed to the light and the elements, exhilarated by wind and rain, and experiences the vastness of a sky never uniform, even a ‘grey day’ provides a kaleidoscope of subtle hues and tone. "Maybe I don’t feel like painting every day – but it is a compulsion: I take the dogs, go walking in the countryside – supremely alert to the weather, cloud formations, light and colour… stop and paint… forget everything…once sitting, al fresco, alla prima."

Painting outdoors whatever the weather requires a hardy constitution and practical preparation. "Balaclava topped by fur hat, long johns, fingerless gloves" and paint spattered overcoat. His painting equipment has been honed for these excursions to include "army surplus satchels (leaving arms free to negotiate fences) containing a slim box for canvas boards that slot in with enough space to ensure painted surfaces untouched, brushes bunched into one old sock with paints in the other, turps in a plastic bottle and a tear-off pad as palette. Optional recommended extras are a Thermos and a canine companion (dog). A watch, mobile phone, or human companion are not recommended.

The Silk Top Hat Gallery first introduced Edward Bell’s work in last year’s Winter Exhibition, and this will be his first solo show at the venue. He studied art at Brighton College of Art, graphic design at Chelsea School of Art and photography at the Royal College of Art. He worked as a freelance photographer and illustrator for Vogue, Tatler and Elle magazines, and was commissioned for portraits for album covers for David Bowie (Scary Monsters and Tin Machine) and Hazel O'Connor (Sons and Lovers). He has exhibited widely on the London art scene and his work covers many genres from life paintings to bronzes, from pop art to landscapes.

Facing the Sun runs concurrently with new watercolours by Deborah Walker, a Council Member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She exhibits widely across the country and regularly with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour at the Mall Galleries and with the Royal Watercolour Society, where she won First Prize in the 21st Century Watercolour Exhibition in 2005 and again in 2008.This will be her first solo show at the Silk Top Hat Gallery.

After site visits, numerous sketches, colour notes and photographs for reference, Deborah works in her studio on heavy weight rag paper in pure watercolour – ‘the bigger the better!’

The two exhibitions run from Monday until Saturday, April 18. For further details, call 01584 875363.