No. 2 Adrienne French “Walls of York – mysterious boundaries” 2024 Painting
Artist’s note:
Initially I started thinking about how walls have been used to define boundaries both in rural landscapes to assert ownership but also in our city where the walls were built to defend and protect.
Knowing that much of the original Roman wall lies buried below the ramparts, I have tried to capture a sense of mystery to the work using texture mediums, loose brush strokes and soft edges.
Looked at from below, the walls act as a horizon line separating sky from land and it was a combination of these thoughts that led me to the final piece.
To contact Adrienne French or see more of her work go to –
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/adrienne_french/
Website http://www.adriennefrench.co.uk/contact.html
Email adifrench@gmail.com
FoYW’s note:
Looking up at the walls from outside the old city they are usually on top of older, grassy ramparts. Beside Lord Mayors Walk, north of Monk Bar, the ramparts run down to a ditch and we know that the walls of the Roman Fortress are just a little below the foundations of the present, mainly medieval city wall. Just south of Monk Bar we can see the Roman wall rising from excavations. South of the River Ouse there may well be Roman city walls buried in our city walls’ ramparts –we do not know.
Using this image: The artist has the copyright for this work but has told us that they, like FoYW, are willing for this image of it to be used as if it was copyright-free.
RETURN to ARTWORK gallery page
Posted / Updated 16th February 2026 AF
