< Previous30 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYARTISTIC LINCOLNSHIRE Many of the artists we’ve spoken to have hadsimilar experiences, where they’ve either beenturned away from a career in the arts or havecome to the decision on their own. The reasonis that “art isn’t a real career” and “there’s nomoney in art”. While there may be some truthto those notions, it does stymie so manypeople’s creativity, leaving careers in tattersbefore they’ve even begun.Kevin Bandee made a living in IT while hesupported his family. Once his family hadgrown up, he made the brave choice to pursuehis lifelong interest in art. As a self-taught artist, Kevin spent much ofhis formative years experimenting in differentmedia, searching for his own unique style. Itwas crucial this style be free of any influencesand stand apart from the art world, offering theworld something it had never seen before. Hebegan working with tools that he made himselfand experimented with ideas ranging fromdigital landscapes to metal wall art. There was,and is, always a collection of research materialsIn fractals Artist Kevin Bandee has strived for uniqueness in his long and meanderingexploration of subject and method. The results have paid off with an impressiveand fiercely independent mixed-media portfolio. To see more of Kevin’s work visit hiswebsite www.kevinbandee.co.uk or visit hisFacebook @KevinBandeeArt.30-31_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:10 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY31THE LITTLE REDGALLERYLove art? Then we’d love to meet you, please call in for a cup of tea and a chat.The Little Red Gallery are feeling ‘Love’ with a fantastic range of pieces and perfect gift ideas.8 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE01522 589134art@thelittleredgallery.co.ukwww.thelittleredgallery.co.ukand images stored away in his studio tobe used in the future for that next piece.Kevin has explored a wide range ofsubjects, but when he came across thesymbolism of butterflies he was inspiredto paint them. He forged an immediateand immensely strong connection withthis subject; through further research hediscovered that butterflies are importantsymbols in many different cultures, oftenconnected with joy, peace andtransformation. Although he says he isnot especially spiritual in his day to daylife, the two things are connected in hismind, and this gives his art an addedemotional dimension.Although he acknowledges hisadmiration for other artists, Kevin hasalways sought to depart from existingstyles and genres and to make somethingwhich is both new and original. Hisextensive experimentation and the manyhours spent painting in the studio haveled him to a multi-layered approach inwhich varying depths of colour andtexture create a mesmerizing whole.From his digital experiences, Kevindiscovered fractals – infinite complexpictures of repeating geometric shapesthat exist within nature, in the beauty oftrees, rivers, snowflakes, clouds andcrystals. He wanted to somehow recreatethese natural effects in paintings, albeitwith an abstract twist. It was a period ofsporadic creativity, of extremes ups anddowns. Kevin would spend vast amountsof money of paint and art supplies, mostof which, he admits, ended up on thefloor, on him or even in the bin. He wentfrom the highs of eureka moments to thecrippling lows of failure. Amid all that, theunique style he was searching for cametogether over the space of a month andhis style was there, fully formed andwaiting. Kevin uses these repeating geometricshapes in combination with dazzlingcolours and some of nature’s mostbeautiful creations. His ambition torecreate these amazing natural effects inhis paintings was where his artisticjourney began.Kevin uses acrylics and resin to createaqueous surface design. His technique isindebted to the Turkish art of ‘ebru’,involving marbling, pouring, chemicalreaction, fluid and flow. He revisits eachpiece many times to ensure that the threedimensional effect is working in perfectharmony with his portrayals of nature.He says: “My aim has always been tofind my own voice - a style free outsideinfluences that has never been seenbefore, and my fractal inspired homagesto nature are highly personal and, I hope,unique.”30-31_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:10 Page 232 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYNow home to around 700 residents,Binbrook is another of those off thebeaten track villages that many of us havedriven by over the years without trulystopping to fully appreciate. The “High Street” to the west ofKirmond for instance is said to have beena prehistoric trackway, later used by theRomans to link their forts at Caistor andHorncastle. There’s much to enjoy about our walkand if, like me, you enjoy a little history,you’ll love the Binbrook Grade II listedAnglican parish church dedicated to StMary and St Gabriel. Originally, therewere two Anglican ecclesiastical parisheshere: Saint Mary and Saint Gabriel. Theywere merged to create one church andcivil parish. St. Gabriel Church was inpoor shape and fell down in 1822. St.Mary’s Church, a small building, waspulled down in 1867.But there’s more besides – our walkcrosses the earthworks of the desertedmediaeval village and priory at Orford.The priory was founded by one RalphD’Albini in 1170 and was aPremonstratensian house. After offeringsupport to rebels during the LincolnshireRising it was dissolved in 1539.And, progressing towards Stainton wesee more earthworks, though the mainsite of the mediaeval village lay along thevalley west of the church. We arrive closeto the quaint, tin Primitive Methodistchapel where a 1977 Jubilee seat providesa chance for a breather. St Andrew’schurch lying close by, but off our mainroute, was restored in 1886 but retainsNorman and mediaeval stonework andhas a large C19th oil painting from achurch in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.Kirmond-le-Mire’s name, unusually forLincolnshire, comes from the NormanFrench “Chevremont” meaning Goat’s Hilland originated when the Norman baronWilliam de Percy held the manor. The “le-Mire” suffix was apparently added around1570, in all probability referring to theunsurfaced road at the time - in whatmust have been a very muddy valley.St Martin’s church (on the hilltop andoff-route) was entirely rebuilt in 1847. Weget an intimate view however ofKirmond’s other outstanding building. Theimpressive Manor Farm, with its vast rangeof outbuildings was built for landownerLincolnshireExploringBinbrook,Stainton-le-Vale andKirmond-le-MireOur route for May follows our seriesof walks around the Wolds and inparticular the ancient market town ofBinbrook.Overlooking the Lincolnshire Wolds at Binbrook Top© DAVID BENNETT on foot32-33_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:12 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY33Christopher Turnor and dates from 1868.On the hillside to the east are prominentearthworks (lynchets), believed to bemediaeval terraced fields, although theymay have originated as a Roman vineyard.Across the road, unseen from theManor House, is the site of Stainfieldpriory grange and in the adjacent valleyfields was the lost village of Beckfield.THE ROUTE From the north end ofBinbrook Market Place we turn left on theKirmond road (B1203), and left again bythe RAF memorial on its small green. 50 yards on look for a footpath sign, andturn right up a house drive to a stile by thegarage and cross a paddock to a secondstile. Continue over an arable field passingclose to an electricity pole then veerslightly left to a waymark in a hedge gap.Now we aim for another electricity polewhere power lines meet. In the next fieldwe walk down to the right where a metalkissing gate is visible in the bottom hedge.We continue over rough meadow towardsa waymark post then cross a boardwalkover a marshy area before making abeeline for a second waymark post andnearby footbridge. Beyond another metalkissing gate and footbridge in trees ahead,we veer right over earthworks to afootpath sign by a wire fence. There we goleft to a gate in the field corner.Keeping forward on a grass track toreach a footbridge and at a waymark 60yards beyond we bear right along a roughgrass track between crops. From a metalkissing gate we aim towards farmbuildings seen ahead whilst crossing ameadow to another metal gate. Now,with a fence to our right, we cross a finalmeadow to a kissing gate and road. Tothe right is Stainton’s tin chapel. (For StAndrew’s we can go right again at thenearby lane junction; 250 yards each way.)Otherwise turn left along the road for aquarter of a mile until it bends right.Now we go through the hedge gapahead bearing first left, then right along atrack. After a steep climb through woodsa descent brings us to a kissing gate andfootbridge. Keeping ahead on an obviouspath over two fields (a kissing gateseparates them) and then joining a trackinto Manor Farm. We pass the derelicthouse and at the public road turn left.Just after the bridge we follow thefootpath sign and map by a red field gateon our left - this avoids walking uphill onthe road! Ascending between fences anda hedge and on rejoining the road wecross it to a footpath sign opposite.Walking forward to a waymark by ahedge end we then cross an arable field toan ash tree at a hedge gap. It’s a straightline back to Binbrook from here. We crossanother field, then a farm road and,keeping a house garden on our left, we gostraight over another field. Once throughanother hedge gap join a grass headlandand continue until the path enters aplantation. The path ends down a graveldrive between houses in Binbrook.Crossing the road to the walledfootpath opposite and at the next road(Back Lane) we turn left for the MarketPlace.FACTFILESTART: Market Place, BinbrookMAPS: OS Landranger 113 (Grimsby) •Explorer 282DISTANCE: 61⁄4miles • 10 kilometresREFRESHMENTS: The Plough in Binbrook32-33_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:12 Page 234 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFASHIONSunMid-spring brings with it the promise of longer days, hotterweather and a lighter wardrobe. There’s more to the latestcollection than baring the most skin, though, with floralpatterns, clever designs and even dungarees all very muchin. Take a look at our monthly round-up of the best outfitsout there and be inspired. kissed34-45_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:37 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY35FASHIONMasaiThe repeatingpink floral patternon this flowingwhite dress isMasai at itssimplest and best. 34-45_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:37 Page 236 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFASHIONAbove: Gant Claim back the pant suit from the board roomand into a summer time favourite, just look at thisslick and stylish Gant number. Right: Oilily Between the rose petal pink colour and theexquisite tailoring, Oilily’s delectable summerdress will be one you’ll bring out again andagain. Opposite: NumphLess is definitely more with this crafty littlenumber from Numph, with cute shorts and anetted short sleeve top pulled over a black bask.Just perfect. 34-45_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:37 Page 334-45_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:37 Page 438 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFASHIONRight: BaslerHark back to theswinging sixtieswith this chicdress from Basler.Below: Ted BakerTed Baker’s latest campaign mightchannel The Stepford Wives, butthis stunning outfit is anything butmindless with its beautifulasymmetrical pattern and Ascotinspired lines. Opposite: Noa NoaExquisite tailoring andevocative design will makethis Noa Noa dress one ofthe best new additions toyour wardrobe this year. 34-45_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:37 Page 534-45_Layout 1 19/04/2017 12:37 Page 6Next >