Tidal Gallery logo

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 GalleryIn 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 VenturaAnna 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?

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.

 

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.

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.

Merlin Rocket Week: Artist in residence at SYC

Merlin Rocket Week: 8-13 July

Of all the craft I paint, my favourite, second to the lifeboat, is the Merlin. To date, I have three finished paintings:

Merlins

Merlins - card on sale in Merlin Rocket Week

Merlins (original sold but available as a fine art greetings card)

Merlins Crossing the Bar

Merlins Crossing the Bar on sale in Merlin Rocket Week

Merlins Crossing the Bar

Watching the Merlins Race

Watching the Merlins Race on sale in Merlin Rocket Week

Watching the Merlins Race

The Merlins race in Salcombe every year. It’s a spectacular event. I’m usually there, with my camera, hoping to catch the action. Then, back home, I choose a few photos from which I’ll compose my next Merlin painting.

This year it’s different!

 

Artist in residence!

I have set up camp in the Chart Room, with my easels, my paints and brushes, and some half-finished paintings.

It has the most amazing view.View from the Chart Room

Do pop in and say hello.

I’ll have a range of (finished!) paintings on sale, limited edition prints at reduced prices, plus my fine art greetings cards: £2 each or 3 for a fiver.

 

Where is Salcombe Yacht Club?

Map

Cliff House
Cliff Rd
Salcombe
Devon
TQ8 8JQ
UK

01548 842593