Artwork
'A track on the edge of a wood' and 'Study of trees'
'A track on the edge of a wood' and 'Study of trees' is a watercolor work on paper by the Contemporary Abstract artist Audrey Penn. It dates from 1975 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Her two titles here—one called *A track on the edge of a wood*, the other *Study of trees*—show her focus on forest light and paths.
Audrey Penn painted quiet English woods in watercolor between 1970 and 1980. Her two titles here—one called *A track on the edge of a wood*, the other *Study of trees*—show her focus on forest light and paths.
She worked as a watercolorist for decades, selling her paintings but never calling herself professional. Most of her life’s output stayed private; she avoided exhibitions.
Look up the artist Audrey Penn next.
Overview
Audrey Penn created two small watercolours in the 1970s that depict tranquil English woodland scenes. One work, titled *A track on the edge of a wood*, presents a narrow path winding beside a stand of trees, while *Study of trees* isolates a cluster of trunks bathed in dappled light. Both pieces illustrate her sustained interest in the subtle illumination of forest interiors.
Subject & Meaning
The paintings focus on the interplay of light and shadow within unspoiled forest settings, emphasizing the quiet atmosphere of a secluded track and the structural forms of trees. By isolating natural elements, Penn invites viewers to contemplate the fleeting qualities of daylight that define the character of the English countryside.
Technique & Style
Executed in transparent watercolour, the works rely on delicate washes and layered glazing to render atmospheric effects. Penn’s handling of pigment creates soft edges and nuanced tonal shifts, allowing the foliage and ground to recede gently while preserving the crispness of the path and tree trunks.
History & Provenance
Penn painted these pieces between 1970 and 1980, a period when she was actively producing watercolours but rarely exhibiting them. Although her paintings were sold during her lifetime, most remained in private hands, and documentation of her career is limited because she did not present herself as a professional artist.
Context
The artist’s focus aligns with a broader 20th‑century British tradition of landscape painting that values the observation of light in natural settings. Penn’s work reflects a personal dedication to capturing the unaltered English woods, a subject often explored by contemporaries seeking to record the country’s rural heritage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Audrey Penn is an American children's writer. She is best known for writing The Kissing Hand, a picture book featuring anthropomorphic raccoons.
