The Coolest Colour

A creative response to the colour blue
An exhibition at Powderham Castle until 31 October 2025

Why is the sky blue? Are blueberries really blue? Why is the Virgin Mary depicted wearing blue?

In an exhibition at Powderham Castle, two artists show how they have been inspired by one special colour.

Jane Perkins and Gillian Taylor are artists and friends, both living near Powderham Castle. This collaboration is inspired by Gillian’s daily pictures of the sky and Jane’s desire to create a large-scale installation of a bowerbird’s bower, decorated with blue objects to attract a mate. They have taken inspiration from the Castle, its objects and its own special shade of Powderham Blue.

Jane is an internationally known artist. She describes herself as a ‘re-maker’, using found objects such as small toys, buttons and beads to create something new. 

Gillian is a paper artist who works with unusual and found papers such as old letters. She is also a photographer and has taken a photo of the sky every day since the first day of lockdown five years ago.

Jane’s bower has been scaled up, so that visitors experience the bower as the bird does. It is made from local willow and decorated with blue objects from the Castle’s collection. 

Also on display are some of Jane’s pictures created from found objects, including a portrait of Van Gogh and other art in which blue plays a key role.

Gillian’s sky pictures feature alongside paper art and a range of other works inspired by the coolest colour.