Art Archives - Page 7 of 22

17 September 2018 In Art

Postcard from Stratford-upon-Avon: Castle Fine Art Gallery

During our trip to the historic Stratford-upon-Avon to see Macbeth, Anne and I had some free time the next morning to explore.

We took a boat trip and then wandered the streets … which is where we discovered the Castle Fine Art Gallery.

Where is the Castle Fine Art Gallery?

Located in the centre of town, this gallery is situated in state-of-the-art premises on Wood Street and was the first-ever Castle gallery to open in 1995.

We were on foot but if you are coming by car, the nearest car park is on Rother Street and has the same postcode as the gallery: CV37 6JP.

We were given a great welcome by Jason Lawson, offered coffee (which we declined as we were still in recovery having consumed an enormous full-English breakfast) and allowed to wander around and admire the displays.

At the Castle Fine Art Gallery: Like kids in a candy shop!

There was so much on display, a huge array of talent, it was difficult to choose what to mention in this blog post. However, space dictates and we selected two artists: Peter Smith and John Wilson.

Peter Smith’s work is fun

L2R: Our House (£495) and You’re My Cup of Tea (£495)

Peter’s talents as a surveyor, a computer programmer and a graphic artist in the fashion industry combine to produce work in 3D (above) and 2D (below), and both are clear and brightly coloured.

Clockwise from top left: Fizzy Rascals (£450), Size Matters (£495), Kinda Care, Kinda Don’t (£395) and Sip, Sip, Hooray! (£450)

His ‘trademark’ is the Impossimal, a strange character with a long nose and big eyes (which can be altered to mimic friends and colleagues) and their stripes.

Don’t miss John Wilson at the Castle Fine Art Gallery: 22 September

The 3D illusions created by John Wilson are so clever. Not until you are inches away is it clear that it’s on a 2D surface.

Loving Vincent (£850)

John Wilson is at The Stratford Castle Gallery on 22 September from 1pm until 3pm.

Contact the Castle Gallery at

st*******@ca***********.com

or on 01789 262031 or on their Facebook page.

This post is one of my POSTCARD series, sharing all things ART with you when I go travelling.

10 September 2018 In Art

This Week at Salcombe Art Club: Elen Claire Williams

As a full member of Salcombe Art Club, I have the option to exhibit in the This Week corner of the Loft Gallery that some of us still call the Little Studio. This year, I had two consecutive weeks: 28 July until 11 August.

The turn of Elen Claire Williams

It’s now the turn of Elen Claire Williams to exhibit her work in the Little Studio.

Fine Artist, Elen Claire Williams MA works in the genre of the British Walking Artists: recording and interpreting her local South Devon landscape, principally between the moor and the sea. She commonly selects popular places at those solitary times where distance from modern life encourages deeper thought, imagination, self-discovery and inner peace.

Through varying visual languages, Elen Claire creates atmospheric, evocative impressions and visual documentations arising from ‘The Art of Slow Walking’. Often the narrative behind the artwork becomes a series of works exploring the deeper aspects of art making. This reaches beyond the decorative aspect of making art, to the key issues of our times e.g. spiritual poverty and environmental issues, becoming essential deeper elements in the artist’s work. Elen Claire seeks to raise the audiences’ awareness of the fragility of all life. An interest in local history, rural traditions and personal faith are reflected in the narrative of specific series of artwork.

Here are just three of Elen Claire’s paintings. Visit the Little Studio in the Salcombe Art Club to see more. Elen Claire’s show ends on Saturday!

Salcombe – Home for Tea: Oil on canvas: 610mmx1220mm

House on the Avon: Mixed media: 455mmx610mm

Safe to Shore: 505mmx760mm

WHERE IS THE LOFT GALLERY?

Williams The Loft Gallery is situated behind the Fortescue Inn, and above a popular shoe shop, on a delightful footpath called Victoria Quay, which overlooks one of the best views in the UK including the mooring berth of the RNLI lifeboat Baltic Exchange III.

See Elen Claire also on the SHAF Arts Trail: at venue 33

Elen Claire is one of over 60 artists opening their studios for the SHAF Arts Trail.

This year, the SHAF Arts Trail runs from October 13th to October 28th. Two whole weeks, including half-term week.

Elen Claire’s studio, ART SPACE: Fine Art Studio is venue 33 and all the details are on page 18 of the SHAF Arts Trail Brochure.

Small group workshops

Elen Claire also runs group workshops led by professional artist tutors at her ART SPACE studio.

For more details, contact Elen Claire at

ec*********@ho*****.uk

Also see her website and her Facebook page.

If you have an exhibition coming up, let me know. I’ll tell my readers about it.

3 September 2018 In Art

On show: At The Gallery Project, Noss Mayo

Maxine Cumberland’s The Gallery Project at Noss Mayo offers a great space for artists.

Way back, Maxine asked if I’d paint some scenes of Noss Mayo and Newton Ferrers.

To date, I’ve created six. Four of them are now on display at The Gallery Project.

Bridge End, Newton Creek £325
Bridge End Newton Creek
Low Tide at Newton Ferrers £325
Low Tide Newton Ferrers

The Quay at Newton Ferrers £375

The Quay at Newton Ferrers

Newton Ferrers from Noss Mayo £400

Newton Ferrers from Noss Mayo

Where is The Gallery Project?

You need directions?

See the red dot?

When is The Project Gallery open?

27 August 2018 In Art

Tidal Gallery: Ani Buckland

Ani Buckland

Ani Buckland is one of many artists featured at the Tidal Gallery, Kingsbridge.

Where is the Tidal Gallery?

The new Tidal Gallery is situated at 1 Victoria Place, The Promenade, Kingsbridge, Devon.
Its central location, the bottom floor of a Victorian building, near the Kingsbridge town square and in the Estuary Promenade, makes the visit most inviting, with great views over the water.

More about Ani Buckland

A member of the South West Sculptors Association and the Devon Artists Network, Ani, like myself and the owner of the Tidal Gallery, Anna Ventura, is a member of the South Hams Arts Forum (SHAF).

Ani’s professional life as an artist started as a full-time art psychotherapist, 1984-2005, in NHS children’s mental health services and then continued as a part-time freelancer. She began intensive study of clay figure sculpture with Lucianne Lassalle (2005-2010), followed by Rebecca Doe from Art Academy, London 2010-present.

Also, she has studied portrait master classes with International portrait artist Luke Shepherd and workshops with Clare Trenchard. She continues to develop through engaging in several streams of practice and study in solitude and with others: keeping a drawing journal, life classes, intensive master classes, visiting exhibitions and public art, exploring art history and cultures through reading, film, and travel.

Ani now lives and works in The South Hams in South Devon and specialises in figurative clay sculpture.

A guest for summer 2018, Ani’s work on show in the gallery are sculptures of hens, cockerels and guinea fowl (tall and short and in pairs).

Ani says: ‘It has been an enormous pleasure to pursue my passion for figure sculpture in the last decade. Working in the round, with clay or wax or plaster & scrim, I find that sculpture is infinitely complex & challenging. The beauty of human and natural forms are deeply inspiring, offering a limitless and gratifying means for self-expression, communication, and celebration.’

WHEN IS THE TIDAL GALLERY OPEN?

Closed Mondays

Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm

During August, as part of the Kingsbridge Traders’ Open Sunday initiative, open on Sunday: 11am – 3pm

More information – and an online catalogue – can be found online at the Tidal Gallery website: www.tidalgallery.co.uk.

20 August 2018 In Art

Exhibition time: Class of Michael Hill

Michael Hill is an experienced and highly accomplished painter in both acrylic and watercolour.

In his Tuesday classes at Salcombe Art Club, he demonstrates both mediums in all his classes, taking in a drawing, painting techniques, and composition. It’s a friendly and informal class which welcomes beginners and more experienced painters.

Michael’s classes are very popular, so much so that there is a waiting list for places for each term. Each year, there’s also an exhibition for two weeks in the Little Studio, showing the work of Michael’s students, myself included.

When is the Class of Michael Hill exhibition?

On now until Saturday 25 August

Where is the Class of Michael Hill exhibition?

Little Studio in the Loft Gallery, Salcombe Art Club, Victoria Quay, Salcombe, Devon TQ8 8DA

Open daily, 11am-5pm

What’s on display at the Class of Michael Hill exhibition?

Jim Smart and Stephen Thomas in the Little Studio

There are works by several of Michal Hill’s class of 2018.

Debbie Horton
Valerie Lambert
Ann Merritt
Yvonne Paul
Deborah Rickard
James Smart
Robert Smith
Stephen Thomas

My three paintings are at the top (left to right)

Michael also has several of his paintings in the main exhibition, on show until the end of September.

To attend Michael’s classes, you need to be a member of Salcombe Art Club. Click here for details of how to join.

13 August 2018 In Art

SOLD! Harvest Reaper II – the South Sands Ferry

It’s a delight to support local good causes and charities.

Each year, as a member of the Salcombe Art Club, I’m on a rota to exhibit in the Redfern Health Centre, Salcombe.

I’m told by many who have cause to visit the health centre that, while they wait their turn to see the doctor or nurse, they enjoy admiring the work of local artists.

I’ve exhibited eight times to date and this year, once more, I had a sale.

SOLD! Harvest Reader II

Harvest Reaper Beyond Fort Charles

Harvest Reaper (featured image above) is the name of the South Sands Ferry.

To travel in a boat is a must for every visitor to Salcombe, especially the very young. What better way to travel but on the Harvest Reaper?

The Fisher Price colours of yellow and blue make the South Sands Ferry look as if it’s popped out of a child’s toy box.

The journey from Salcombe to South Sands on the Harvest Reaper takes only 15 minutes, and then it’s the turn of the tractor to ferry the passengers ashore.

On the return journey, the prospect of driving back into the sea to await the incoming ferry can worry some youngsters. However, any apprehension is easily forgotten with the promise of an ice cream at the end of the journey. Salcombe Dairy ice cream is the finest. (They also make chocolate too now.)

The views each way are spectacular, along the beaches of the ria and out to sea. On a Saturday afternoon, the passengers can also take a close look at the dinghy sailors racing past.

More paintings of Harvest Reaper

Ferry to South Sands

I have painted the Harvest Reaper many times. The original of Harvest Reaper Beyond Fort Charles was also sold when on exhibition at the Redfern Centre.

Then I created

the watercolour Harvest Reaper II which has just sold
an acrylic, Ferry to South Sands
an oil painting of the rear view in Harvest Reaper III.

All of these are now sold, and I really ought to paint this wonderful craft again. But, these images are still available, as fine art greetings cards and/or as prints.

Affordable art!

Harvest Reaper III

Over 60 of my images are available as fine art greetings cards.

Blank inside, you write your own message.

Only a short distance from the Loft Gallery, you have the choice of buying these ‘man cards’ at Bonningtons, the newsagents, or at Salcombe Information Centre.

Prints also available

If you would like a high quality giclée print of any of my originals (sold or not), contact me. Prices depend on size and quantity but are a fraction of the cost of an original. Supplied as a canvas, you can choose your own mounting and frame too.

6 August 2018 In Art

SOLD! Ebb Tide at Batson Creek

It’s a delight to support local good causes and charities.

As a member of Salcombe Yacht Club, this year, during Merlin Rocket week, Anne and I spent nine days in The Chart Room at the yacht club, welcoming the Merlin sailors and their families, and exhibiting my original works, limited edition prints, and fine art greetings cards.

The weather was too hot for me to paint, but I enjoyed watching the sailing, photographing the Merlins and talking with lots of art lovers, while Anne ‘manned the shop’.

SOLD! Ebb Tide at Batson Creek

Ebb Tide at Batson Creek As well as over 100 cards, I sold a painting, which swelled the donation to the Salcombe Yacht Club.

While I am happy when any painting sells, I’m especially so when I meet the purchaser and know it’s going to a good home.

A purchaser is a local person, someone I will see often, and I’m sure he’ll enjoy his purchase.

My paintings grace many a wall in Salcombe, and elsewhere.

See if you can spot one of my originals next time you go visiting?

Which cards were the most popoular?

I had painted two more Merlin compositions especially for Merlin Rocket week, and used them for new card designs, bringing the number of cards featuring Merlins to three: Merlins, Merlins Crossing the Bar, and Watching the Merlins Race.

Merlin cards for sale of Ebb Tide at Batson Creek

All three sold well, but they were pipped by two other designs: Salcombe Estuary Trots and Dappled Light I, a watercolour which is now sold but very much like the still-available oil painting Dappled Light III.

Salcombe Estuary Trots

Local artist, supporting local causes

This year so far, I’ve made donations to The Friends of the Redfern and Salcombe Yacht Club. If you would like me to support your good cause, contact me.

Anne and I are happy to attend events and we have specific cards being sold through charities, such as Salcombe Regatta and Hope Cove Lifeboat.

30 July 2018 In Art

One-man exhibition: Little Studio at the Loft Gallery

As a full member of Salcombe Art Club, I have the option to exhibit in the corner of the Loft Gallery that some of us still call the Little Studio.

This year, I have two consecutive weeks: 28 July until 11 August.

Fifteen original paintings … on three ‘walls’.

On the ‘left’ wall

Seagulls in the Spray

Acrylic

16 x 20

£325

Burgh Island from Hope Cove

Acrylic

15 x 15

£400

Also available as a fine art greetings card

Low Tide at Fishermans Cove

Acrylic

15 x 15

£400

Also available as a fine art greetings card

Affordable Art

I am not permitted to sell my cards at the Loft Studio, but they are available within walking distance.

Bonningtons, the newsagents
Salcombe Information centre

On the ‘middle’ wall (top to bottom and then left to right)

Salcombe Yacht Club Christmas Camellias

Acrylic 15 x 15 £500

Scoble Point Moorings

Oil 19 x 19 £450

Oil 15 x 15 £450

Acrylic 16 x 12 £250

Oil 12 x 16 £350

Acrylic 12 x 16 £275

Oil 15 x 15.5 £450

Oil 50cm x 49cm £450

Newton Ferrers from Noss Mayo

Acrylic 15 x 15 £400

Then, on the ‘right’ wall

Salcombe Dawn II

Oil

16 x 20

£475

Merlins Crossing the Bar

Oil

20 x 16

£750

Torcross Wave

Acrylic

14 x 18

£300

STEWARDING

I will be stewarding on three occasions:

Saturday 4 August 2-5pm
Sunday 5 August 11am-5pm
Saturday 11 August 2-5pm

Pop in and say hello!

23 July 2018 In Art

Anna Ventura at the Tidal Gallery, one month on

The Tidal Gallery preview evening on Friday 22 June 2018 was so well attended it was hard to take in all the wonderful material gallery owner, Anna Ventura, had assembled.

Anna Ventura Tidal Gallery In the days that followed, though, it was great to pop back and study the impressive range of artists’ work on display.

It is a beautiful space, full of beautiful art!

And a long list of featured artists:

Leanne Ball
Susan Brown
Ani Buckland
Simon Dobbs
Graham Fish
Penny Hardy
Steve Kenna
Shirley Kirkcaldy
Louella Moore
Steve Robinson
Susan Steele
Vera Stride
Mark Weston Lewis

More about gallery owner, Anna Ventura

Anna Ventura originates from Barcelona but her love for Devon brought her to Kingsbridge over a decade ago. She studied Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona where she also specialised in graphic design.

Anna then carried out her final project in Illustration at The University of Plymouth.

She has exhibited in the Devon scene since 2013, with works in several galleries and now works from her studio at the Tidal Gallery where she produces exclusive work in a variety of media.

More about Anna’s artwork

Inspired by the Devon landscape, fauna and flora, Anna has applied her artistic flare to ink work, charcoal, acrylic and oil.

Her subjects are often of the flying variety – the birds and the bees – demonstrating her fine pen work and attention to detail.

Anna Ventura

Anna also produces landscapes of local scenes: Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Totnes, Torcross, …

Here is Inner Hope and Outer Hope, Hope Cove. Anna puts an interesting slant on these well-known vistas!

Anna Ventura

WHERE IS THE TIDAL GALLERY?

WHEN IS THE TIDAL GALLERY OPEN?

Closed Mondays

Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm

During August, as part of the Kingsbridge Traders’ Open Sunday initiative, open on Sunday: 11am – 3pm

More information – and an online catalogue – can be found online at the Tidal Gallery website: www.tidalgallery.co.uk.

16 July 2018 In Art

Postcard from Grange-over-Sands: The Fishing Hut

Photo: Roger Emmott

Anne and I had occasion recently to drive north to Grange-over-Sands to attend the annual dinner of my Old Boys’ Association.

The event should have happened in March – when we were snowed in and couldn’t have attended – but, luckily, it was postponed and the weather, and therefore driving conditions, couldn’t have been better.

Positively palatial …

We stayed at the Netherwood Hotel, a magnificent building set in beautiful grounds, only minutes walk from the Promenade.

Our room was the one just above the main entrance, to the right. It was positively palatial …

This annual event is held in various parts of the UK, according to the wishes of the incoming President. When it was my turn, we chose Leamington Spa, hoping its position would attract OMs from all parts of the UK.

Photo: Roger Emmott

It’s quite a trek from Devon to Grange-over-Sands; over 7 hours driving, but worth it to meet up with old friends and to welcome the new President of the Association.

This is us, surrounded by friends at the dinner on Saturday evening.

And as the photo shows, the hotel was the perfect setting for a dinner for so many of us. The men would normally have been wearing their suit jackets but, in the heat, the President suggested we removed them. The ladies just glowed …

In search of art

Because we arrived mid-afternoon on Friday and ventured out with little time to spare, we only managed to discover an amazing tea shop – Hazelmere – where we indulged ourselves with a posh afternoon tea.

If you are ever passing, make a point of dropping in. They serve wonderful sausage rolls and their millionaire’s shortbread is delicious.

But what about the art?

Art on the Promenade

On Saturday morning, we set off, determined to see the sights and find out what happens art-wise in Grange-over-Sands.

We walked the length of the Promenade, enjoyed the views and took lots of photos. And, we found the Fishing Hut …

What is the Fishing Hut?

The Fishing Hut is a handcrafted travelling gallery shed, created by artists Hannah Fox and John Fox, and inspired by Morecambe Bay Partnership’s oral history project collecting memories of the Bay’s fishing industry for future generations.

By luck, it was at the Grange Promenade on that day and when we walked past, Hannah was in attendance.

Hannah invited us to step inside to enjoy a kaleidoscope of short animated films, small illustrated stories, and artifacts that explore and celebrate the culture and heritage of the Fishing communities around the Bay. On that very hot summer’s day, it was also a delight to retreat into the cool shaded interior!

Hannah explained the history of the Fishing Hut, and its purpose and we came away – cooler and wiser – with some treasures:

Three beautifully designed newspapers created by Morecambe artist Kate Drummond. They bring together stories and quotes from the archive with illustrations and fishing imagery.
Sets One and Two of John Fox’s illustrated stories.

The inspiration and source of material for these emanate from interviews conducted as part of Morecambe Bay Partnership’s oral history project 2015-18 collecting memories of the Bay’s fishing communities for future generations.

My favourite John Fox story is Salmon in the Pram.

Having just recently scattered the ashes of Anne’s Dad out to sea, the tale of Mrs Butterworth and the salmon as big as a submarine made us smile.

The Fishing Hut will appear at various coastal locations around Morecambe Bay.

Sunday 5 August at Make My Day Festival, Morecambe
Monday 6 August at Heysham Head

For more information about the Morecambe Bay Partnership, and the Fishing Hut, visit Hannah’s website www.hannahonthehill.co.uk.

This post is one of my POSTCARD series, sharing all things ART with you when I go travelling.