Petworth House in East Sussex is a National Trust property dating from the late 17th century. The exhibition, ‘Turner’s Vision at Petworth’, offers a fascinating insight into J.M.W. Turner’s artistic approach, his experiments with colour, materials and techniques – as well as his relationship with Petworth and Petworth’s owner, George O’Brien Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont. The show forms part of Turner 250, a year-long festival of special exhibitions and events across the country to mark 250 years since the birth of the renowned artist.

‘Turner’s Vision at Petworth’ includes 10 views of the Petworth landscape, including oil paintings and works on paper on loan from Tate, giving a unique insight into the artist’s methods and artistic inspiration. Turner was a frequent guest at Petworth, returning year after year throughout the 1820s and 30s. He was able to observe, consider and record the great country estate without the usual constraints placed on a visitor to such a large house.

Nissen Richards Studio looked for new ways to display Turner’s works in such a beautiful context – and one where he made so many works about the surrounding landscape. A new curtain lines the exhibition room, so that the gallery space feels softer, and acts as a point of focus to draw people into the space. New furniture carefully places people in key positions to view the star works, whilst a new wall and showcase create a new dynamic that also serves to contain sketchbooks on display, as well as drawing the visitor through the newly subdivided space.

The team became fascinated by Turner’s sketches where he worked on a very particular blue paper and used this both to inform the wall colours throughout, using a midtone blue together with a subtle pink, chosen together with the curator, as well as blue and white textured card signage. The works are interspersed by details in large graphic form, so that the details and techniques surround the visitor in the gallery space.