SHAF (South Hams Art Forum) Archives

21 October 2019 In Art

SHAF Arts Trail Update

Taking part in the SHAF Arts Trail is a huge undertaking, and hugely rewarding. We’ve met some interesting people – some artists, some visitors to the South Hams, and some locals. Wonderful!

SHAF Arts Trail Update: the preview evening

After several days of setting up the gallery with works by Michael Hill and Chris Pring alongside my own, we had our preview evening on Friday 11 October. A crowd of 30+ spent the evening in the company of Michael, Chris and myself. We had wine and nibbles and our guests had first choice on the material on display.

If you’d like to be invited to this event next year and, meanwhile, kept up to date with news of forthcoming events, contact me.

SHAF Arts Trail Update: Chris Pring

Several of Chris Pring’s pottery items were sold on the preview evening, including one of his three muses and a hare plate. There’s still much to see though. Most of his work is in the sunroom (AKA our dining room).

Chris Pring display in the sun room | SHAF Arts Trail Update

There’s another display of his work in the entrance hall providing an excellent welcome to our visitors. Chris Pring display in the entrance hall | SHAF Arts Trail Update

The grey vase on the top shelf (Grasses) was sold just after I took this photograph. Come soon, if you want to be sure of a piece of Chris’ pottery.

SHAF Arts Trail Update: Michael Hill

Michael Hill’s new style of painting – focusing on people rather than places – has drawn lots of interest. Michael Hill display | SHAF Arts Trail Update

Which do you prefer?

We also have several of Michael’s unframed original works in the browser, very reasonably priced. To date, we’ve sold five of these, but there are more. Come quick?

SHAF Arts Trail Update: Stephen Thomas

My affordable art is proving very popular. Costing from as little as £3.75 (for a keyring or fridge magnet) – many of these items are perfect for Christmas gifts.

Affordable art display

On the preview evening, I sold all my stock of glass chopping boards, including one showing Dappled Light, and more – in both A4 and A3 sizes – are on order, due in later this week.

During the past week, the Dappled Light design has been the most popular and lots of cards, wooden placemats and coasters, two wall plaques and two pills boxes have been sold. Again, more are on order!

SHAF Arts Trail Update: the weather?

The weather has been variable. Some sunshine. Some heavy rain. But visitors have arrived come rain or shine and have been made very welcome. Tea/coffee and biscuits, and a wonderful view are available for all comers.

There’s still time to visit. We are open 10am-5pm daily until Sunday 27 October.

Closed on Tuesday!

What’s SHAF?

Click here to learn more!

7 October 2019 In Art

SHAF Arts Trail 11-27 October 2019

The SHAF (South Hams Arts Forum) Arts Trail starts on Saturday 12 October – two weeks of public access to artists’ studios and gallery spaces to see their work, talk with the artists and enjoy their hospitality. This includes half-term week so we may have lots of visitors in town.

Before the SHAF Trail starts, we have our preview party on the Friday evening. 11 October, 6-9pm.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT BEACON HOUSE?

At Beacon House, the preparation for the SHAF Trail has started.

Invitations to the preview party have been sent. If you’ve not received one, contact me.
Food has been ordered – canapés for Friday evening
… and cakes from Samphire Foods for the daytime visitors during the rest of the fortnight.
We have restocked the the beer fridge and the wine racks …
My paintings are being hung …
Later today, Chris Pring will be bringing his collection of ceramics. These will be on display in the hallway, and in the sunroom.
Tomorrow, we will have received all of Michael Hill’s paintings to hang. These will be on the mezzanine floor.
Wednesday, work starts on creating the brochure … and I have the SHAF signs to put up at the top of Bonfire Hill.
Thursday, we will be setting out my affordable art: cushions, mugs, table mats and coasters, glass coasters and chopping boards, pill boxes, key rings and fridge magnets.
Friday, it’s time to set up the house for the preview party: plates, serviettes, glasses …

So much to do!

WHEN ARE WE OPEN?

We are open 10am until 5pm, daily from Saturday 12 October until Sunday 27 – apart from Tuesdays.

WHERE SHOULD YOU PARK?

There is parking on our private drive for about five cars.

You might also park in Bonfire Hill, alongside the allotments, or in the Park’n’Ride. Please don’t park on the shared driveway!

Any questions?

Ring us on 01548 844020.

3 April 2017 In Art

Jane Mahood: Fish out of water

Jane Mahood is one of 87 artists exhibiting their work in the ‘From Natural to Abstraction’ exhibition. It’s Jane’s fifth time at the Harbour House Open Art Exhibition and her mosaic pieces sell well.

At the current exhibition, Jane’s occasional table ‘Fish out of water’ caught our eye and, although it’s still on show in the exhibition, it’s sold – to us.

As a result of the refurbishment of Beacon House Gallery, we now have a large porch area and this table may well prove useful by the new front door.

Jane tells us: I like to produce pieces that are hopefully pleasing to the eye but are also functional in some way. Whilst I do make some mosaic ‘pictures’, I tend to focus on occasional tables, mirrors, fruit bowls, clocks and lazy susans. My strapline is “Love it, and use it!”

That’s the plan, Jane!

Where is the ‘From Natural to Abstraction’ exhibition?

The ‘From Natural to Abstraction’ exhibition is being held at Harbour House in Kingsbridge, Devon. It runs until 17 April. It’s open to the public, free of charge, from 10am until 5pm every day, Monday to Saturday. Closed on Sundays.

More about Jane Mahood

Jane is a member of SHAF (South Hams Art Forum) and she is featured on the SHAF website.

Largely self-taught, Jane has been producing pieces of mosaic work for three years now.

She sources much of her material from old recycled tiles and broken ceramics, some of which come from the mud of the Kingsbridge Estuary. This stock is supplemented with glass tesserae, mass-produced for mosaic work.

Because her designs are driven by the material that she has to hand, and she finds it impossible to guess what people are going to like, Jane has not undertaken any commissions.

However, Jane has ‘revitalised’ some much-loved pieces of China that have been accidentally broken, reconstructing them into a new and usable form.

Jane also produces a lot of birthday and Christmas presents for friends and family, and – she says – her house looks like a mosaics shop!

If you are involved in an exhibition, let me know.

I’ll try to come along.

I might buy a piece of your art.

You might find yourself featured in a future blog post.