A new collection of drawings by Maggi Hambling goes on display today at the Fitzwilliam Museum, home to the University of Cambridge's art collection.

The exhibition includes some of the Suffolk-born artist's most recent work, including a rare self-portrait and Wave Approaching - a large ink and acrylic drawing capturing the energy of the North Sea – on display for the first time.

Called “No Straight Lines”, the exhibition is made up of 20 drawings, as well as rarely-seen sketchbooks, and plays on Hambling's predilection for never drawing a straight line, whether she is drawing people, animals or the sea. Hambling is regarded as one of the very few contemporary draughtsmen of real distinction in the UK today.

The drawings, on loan from the Ashmolean Museum, the British Museum and the artist herself, range from the Rhinoceros in Ipswich Museum, drawn in 1963 when Hambling was just 17 to the drawing of Sir Georg Solti, 1985.

A single bronze sculpture, playfully entitled Line, created in 1996, forms the centrepiece of the exhibition.

David Scrase, Assistant Director (Collections) and Keeper of Paintings, Drawings and Prints at the Fitzwilliam Museum, said, “Maggi Hambling talks of drawing as being an obsession. The vitality and energy shown in her youthful Rhinoceros has been maintained over the years as her brilliant rendition of the North Sea demonstrates.”

He added that the display would, hopefully, work as an appetiser for the proposed exhibition at the Fitzwilliam in 2010 of her Sea Paintings.

NO STRAIGHT LINES: Maggi Hambling Drawings 1963-2007, from 6 February to 29 April.

Further information and images from:

Fiona Brown or Angela Metcalfe, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Tel: 01223 332941/332900; Fax: 01223 332923; email: fitzmuseum-press@lists.cam.ac.uk OR Frankie Rossi, Marlborough Fine Art, 6 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BY. Tel: 020 7629 5161

email: FROSSI@marlboroughfineart.com

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