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17 September 2018

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

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

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

Gallery Project: Newton Ferrers from Noss Mayo