Discover Eye Feast 2026: An Artistic Culinary Journey

iLPH went to visit the Eye Feast 2026 exhibition at the Regents Park Gallery – and what a feast for the eyes it was! Here’s a nice connection: these paintings relate to food and drink, and the gallery is housed in the space that used to be the Italian restaurant, La Collina. It was also great to meet the artists of Eye Feast 2026.

THREE STAGES OF RED BY RACHEL HERTZ

A still life painting featuring a white ruffled dish with a dark fruit, surrounded by additional fruits and a red rose on a white tablecloth.

This painting spreads out a darker coloured pepper, as well as what appears to be four large dark blue grapes and an artichoke. Three Stages of Red strongly stood out towards me because it explores the subtlety of colour with an emotional pull. This painting is harder to understand because there are no people featured in it. There is no light source included in the painting. It also creates uncertainty as to why the three large blue grapes and artichoke are not on a plate. The painting was inspired by the experience of heartbreak and the different stages of emotions that it comes with. The painting is covered by a dark like shade. This creates a grim perception for the viewer because brightness is used to bring out the emotion of happiness within people.

KITCHEN TABLE, SPRING BY CATHERINE BINNIE

A framed painting featuring a brown jug, two cups, a plate with red fruits, and floral arrangements in the background.

A key theme of this exhibition is highlighting different interpretations of how food and drink are presented. Kitchen Table, Spring strongly stood out towards me because it brought back to my mind of what La Collina used to be like before Regents Park Gallery took over this space. This is because La Collina used to have flower jugs on their tables, as well as having food that was served on dishes on tables. What strongly stands out in this painting is through how the cup and jug are drawn. Their interiors look very transparent. For example, they could have water in them because water can appear transparently without changing any colourful appearance of a jug or cup. A bright green colour strongly leaps out at the viewer’s eyes. This is how the green plant colour gives off a strong bright green radius around the table. In analysis, this brings the memory of La Collina back to my mind because of how the colour of bright green was strongly featured in their restaurant.

SARDINES BY NICK COCHRANE

A framed watercolor painting depicting three fish arranged on a white plate, with soft pastel colors and shadows.

Sardines strongly stood out towards me as a viewer because sardines have been presented to me in a similar way before eating them. I have also seen this sort of image many times. A strong black shadow is cast over the table because of the sardines positioning on the plate. What stands out the most towards me on this drawing is how lifelessly the sardines lie down on the plate. Nick Cochrane has created a drawing that I have seen in an everyday life scenario.

A man in a pink shirt and a woman in a blue patterned dress stand together in an art gallery, with various colorful paintings displayed on the walls behind them.

Overall, a brilliantly artistic time was had at the exhibition. It was amazing seeing Sophie again as well as all of the other artists that were there. This was a very original exhibition organised by Regents Park Gallery because of the different paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and ceramics used to create Eye Feast 2026. What is particularly special about Eye Feast 2026 taking place at the Regents Park Gallery is that it used to be La Collina. A lot of memories of when it used to be this restaurant are brought back to mind when you look at the artwork on display here.