‘First Song’ the Spring Exhibition Old Chapel Gallery opens on Sunday March 11th 2023 and continues to the end of April.
Each piece inspired by nature, encompassing a unique collection of hand picked, desirable contemporary British fine art and craft including paintings, textiles, sculpture, ceramics, stained glass, jewellery and automata, we hope this latest exhibition strikes a heartening mood of optimism.
Artist Jane Winton paints mainly in acrylics. Inspired by her love for all things vintage, she is constantly influenced by her own eclectic collection that surrounds her at home. Having a great love of American Folk Art, she is fascinated by the symbolism and simplicity of the work and the overall naive charm it conveys. She feels her work is a homage to those far off amateur artists, maybe with the inclusion of a little contemporary twist and a bit of humour of her own!
Tamsin Abbott lives in rural east Herefordshire, making colourful stained glass pieces. Specialising in medieval literature at Stirling University, she later re-focussed her interests with an art foundation course and an evening class in stained glass at Hereford College of Art and Design. Influenced by the surrounding countryside, she is also drawn to the wider world of myths and fairytales connecting humankind to the environment, trying to imbue her work with a sense of this magic and to do justice to the mysterious, inspiring nature of the glass itself.
New to the gallery, Worcestershire artist Karen Stone works in water-colours, oils and pastels, winning awards across the UK. She studied Fine Art in Birmingham and Life Drawing at The Slade School of Art, University College London. Her evocative still lives elevate everyday domestic objects, analysing the ordinary to reveal the extraordinary. Her enjoyment of the medium is evident in her expressive watercolour landscapes, the underpinning of observational drawing lending clarity and precision.
Another newcomer to the gallery is sculptor Nik Burns, who creates one of a kind Steampunk-style sculptures of animals, fish and insects. The combination of nature with machine is central to his creative practice and offers a common theme throughout the work as he continuously experiments with materials and processes. His sculptures are made predominantly from wood and metal and are designed for interior display.
Also showing for the first time is Maria Santos with her beautiful range of pewter jewellery. Using a combination of enamels, veneers, semi-precious stones or glass, she also creates mirrors, boxes, photo frames and decorative panels.
Back by popular demand is ceramicist Kirsti Brown who uses a variety of stoneware clays glazed with turquoise and watery blue. Elegant slab built bottles, their defined shoulders and slender necks reminiscent of human forms complement her coiled vessels, rounded as worn beach pebbles.
Another firm favourite at the gallery is felt maker Kathie Barrs who creates functional and decorative pieces from wool in an array of textures and vibrant colours, marbled together with plant fibres – vintage silk a favourite. These unusual designs are a never-ending exploration of a dynamic process, in which there are so many variables.
Marian Watson’s silver jewellery has a natural feel, inspired by the landscapes of Shropshire. She gained her B.A. in Fine Art painting at St Martin’s School of Art, then studied jewellery in Oxford. Working in silver and gold, she draws with metal in an organic way, adding texture suggestive of moss or bark, accenting with semi-precious and precious stones.
