Marie-Thérèse Byram-Métivier is a French-born artist now based in England. She “grew up” in the tiny Mayenne village of Cossé-en-Champagne before moving to Paris as a child. After more than 40 years living in Britain, she still returns regularly to her old home. This gives her a double perspective – both the daughter and granddaughter of the village community and, as her publisher notes, “at the same time a ‘stranger’ who sees her birthplace from the outside”. Byram channels that dual viewpoint into her work, turning familiar landscapes and village scenes into lyrical art.
Cosse-en-Champagne: A Living History
Under a clear blue sky, the yellow-painted mairie (town hall) of Cossé-en-Champagne stands at the center of the village, hinting at the timeless rural charm Byram captures in her work in her 2013 book Cossé-en-Champagne – Vie quotidienne et moments historiques…, she weaves family interviews and archive records into a vivid portrait of the village’s past. In plain, evocative prose the first part of the book lays out the social framework, seasonal rhythms and family/religious celebrations of village life. The second part then shows how major historical events (wars, economic shifts, etc.) upended individual destinies and community life. For example, Byram highlights that:
- The book’s opening section presents the village’s social structure and daily routines, “rythmés par les saisons”, including family and church celebrations.
- The next section documents how world events reshaped even this remote village – tracing how each major 20th-century upheaval affected ordinary people.
- Altogether, these personal stories reflect the everyday life of Mayenne’s rural villages in the early 1900s and preserve their “un patrimoine humain unique”.
Through these intimate vignettes, Byram makes the past come alive. Her gentle chronicle invites the reader to wander down sun-drenched lanes and farmhouse courtyards, seeing in common places the unique heritage of a life lived close to the land.
Brighton: A Burst of Urban Inspiration
Upon moving to Brighton, Byram’s artistic palette expanded to encompass the dynamic energy of city life. Her paintings of Brighton’s bustling streets, vibrant markets, and iconic landmarks reveal a new dimension of her artistry. With bold colours and expressive strokes, she portrays the eclectic architecture and the diverse personalities that populate this seaside city.
Portraits: The Soul of the Subject
In addition to landscapes and cityscapes, Byram excels in portraiture, where she delves into the intricate nuances of human expression. Her portraits are more than mere likenesses; they are windows into the souls of her subjects, capturing their emotions, histories, and inner lives with sensitivity and depth.
Marie-Thérèse Byram 