Over the past couple of years, West Sussex-based photographer Graham Murrell has been casting a discerning eye over West Dean Gardens and later within West Dean House, the setting of West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, to create a series of atmospheric works that are to be sold on behalf of West Dean Gardens Glasshouse Appeal.

The exhibition, which is called Rhythms and Riffs takes place in The Edward James Studios and opens with a special Preview with drinks on Friday, August 23 2019, between 5 - 8pm and continues until Wednesday, September 4 2019, between 10am - 5pm in The Edward James Studios, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation (use Gardens entrance) PO18 0RX.

Graham, former Head of Photography at Central St Martins College of Art, commented: "In the Gardens, I have been drawn to photograph (using medium format film and traditional processes) the visual notes and chords that together comprise the wonderful composition created over the past three decades by Jim Buckland and Sarah Wain."

He continues: "Here in the house at West Dean I have referred to its Surrealist past in homage to the movement supported and encouraged by Edward James."

Graham is no stranger to house interiors, having previously been commissioned to make work in houses such as Kettles Yard, Cambridge; Blackwell, The Arts and Craft House in Cumbria and The Artists House in the New Art Centre, Salisbury. A similar appeal prompted an exhibition at Snape Maltings, the renowned concert hall, where print sales generated just over £5,000 towards a new smaller auditorium. Graham's work is included in collections in the UK, Europe and America.

West Dean's magnificent Grade II Listed Glasshouses built during the 1890s by Foster and Pearson, were at the forefront of Victorian technology. After the Great Storm of 1987, one of the first jobs was to restore all 13 glasshouses to full working order. However, 30 years on and the warm and damp conditions created in a glasshouse contribute to its own decay. Nine out of the thirteen glasshouses have now been fully restored, and work to the final four is planned for this year, however £29,000 is left to raise to finish the project in its entirety.