A special exhibition combining h.Art and Autumn 2017 entitled  ‘Gathering Swallows’ opens on Saturday September 9 at Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge, promoting the work of talented British artists and makers from around the county and beyond.

Tamsin Abbott creates beautiful stained glass panels. The old world of Britain runs through her veins. Her adult life has been shaped by her determination to live in the countryside and to discover its ancient magic. Today most of her work is influenced by the Herefordshire countryside around her home, the orchards, the hills, the woods and all the plants, birds and animals that grow and live their.

Jenna Fry paper-cuts With hand-drawn and hand-cut designs, Jen is making a success of her mixed media artworks. Although Jen has no formal training in art & design, her flora and fauna inspired subjects are beautifully executed and have an aura of subtle cosmos.

Glass engraver, Nancy Sutcliffe, engraves and hand gilds using 24 ct Gold Leaf on optical crystal glass cubes and vessels. This work is part of a new collection focussing on the natural world, both actual and imaginary. The clarity of optical crystal is the perfect canvas for this detailed work and the precious oil gilded gold leaf serves to accentuate the fragile beauty of the subject.

Rachel Wright textiles Rachel takes her inspiration from many sources including landscapes and seascapes, wildlife, harbour towns, boats, lighthouses and windmills. These subject matter are then translated in machine embroidered fabric collages, using vibrant threads, worked onto carefully cut and pieced fabrics.

Artist and jeweller Hannah Willow creates hand painted icons with gold leaf and a range of silver jewellery some of which incorporate 24 ct gold with semi precious stones. Her inspiration comes from the land, wild and free places, stories and folklore, poetry, myth and legend. She strives to capture the hidden memory held within.

Kathie Barrs, felt maker, creates functional and decorative pieces with an array of texture, vibrant coloured wools are marbled together with plant fibres like silk. These unusual designs are a never-ending exploration of a dynamic process, in which there are so many variables. Her range includes bags, hats, rugs and scarves.  Jeweller Chrissie Nash creates pieces in silver and gold and semi precious stones. She will be showing a new collection of silver and gold earrings, cuffs, bangles and necklaces.

This exhibition will run till the end of October 2017.
For more information contact Yasmin on 01544 388842 or visit www.oldchapelgallery.co.uk.

The Summer Exhibition at Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge, entitled ’Rings on the Water’ opens on Sunday July 9  2017 and will feature an exciting collection of work by talented British contemporary artists and makers, some of which will be new to the gallery.

This exhibition promises, once again, to inspire and excite collectors and appreciators of fine art and quality craft.

Returning by popular demand will be artist Karen Pearce who draws inspiration  from her local surroundings in West Wales. Her love of the sea, the rocks, the coastal path are shown in this new collection of sparkling acrylic paintings.

Also returning to the gallery is artist Lizzy Waterhouse with a new collection of original drawings of birds, eagles, puffins to name but a few. Using biro, she fastidiously draws tangles of birds focusing on form and space. On approach these drawings can appear an abstract mass, it is only when you get closer that the highly detailed subject emerges.

Potter Robert Goldsmith will be showing his latest design of hand thrown and decorated stoneware pottery, which is functional and decorative and suitable for both oven and dish washer.

Jemima Jameson paints in acrylics on wood panels and has several new pieces including a box for your treasures and beautiful wall panels.

Lastly we will be showing a new collection of porcelain jewellery by Gill Laverick to compliment your summer wardrobe in hot shimmery colours.

Our aim from the beginning has been to promote the work of British contemporary artists and makers, some already well known in their field and many talented new comers. Now in our 28th year, this continues as strongly as ever.

The exhibition will continue until the end of August 2017

         

Garden Sculpture Exhibition 2017

After the rigours of winter we look forward to longer days, balmy evenings and  with Summer around the corner our thoughts are turning to our gardens. With this in mind Old Chapel Gallery,  Pembridge opens it’s annual garden sculpture exhibition showing the work of talented designer/makers in a variety of media. Opening on Saturday May 6^th   2017 the exhibition will run through the summer.

   

Sculptor Simon Griffiths,  from the North of England creates unique birds and animals in stoneware. He has made several Barn and Tawny owls, kestrels, kites, blackbirds and thrushes, all life size with some displayed on wooden posts ready to be displayed outside.

The work of  five Artist blacksmiths will be showing a collection of their latest work in forged steel to include water features, dragonflies, planters, green men, poppies, ferns,  sheep, buzzards, herons, hares, owls as well as abstract pieces along with practical garden furniture, garden arch, hanging seat and plant supports. Some will be galvanised to protect them from the weather and some will feature hand blown glass.

Local sculptress, Miranda, creates her pieces from stainless steel and bronze resin and will include, wrens, kingfishers and long tailed tits.

Sculptor David England  who lives and works in Herefordshire has carved some new smaller pieces using Portland and Forest Of  Dean stone, each one unique and will include the ever favourite Green man.

Finally, sculptor Helen Sinclair, a long established artist with the gallery, produces limited edition and unique contemporary sculpture in stone resin.

Each unique piece of garden sculpture is designed to give hours of pleasure to time spent in the garden.

To compliment the garden exhibition we have new work by two very talented ceramicists.

Ruth Gibson produces a range of unique ceramic dishes and jewellery in porcelain which she screen prints with her own images. She has a love of trees and birds so these are reflected in her pieces. Prices start from £20 for her brooches and earrings.

      

During recent years potter Valerie James has developed her interest in Archetypes, Mythology, Symbolism and Nature through the visual arts, and specifically through sculptural form.

She experiments with Stoneware and porcelain clays together with Raku firings.  Oxides are rubbed into the surface and covered with opaque glazes giving a bone-like, soft parchment finish. The black, smoke-absorbing process of the clay during raku firing, provides a perfect background to the random colours and copper highlights of the glaze.

With the promise of Spring comes St Valentines Day and at Old Chapel Gallery we are celebrating with an exhibition entitled ‘Made with Love’.

A heart throbbing display of unusual and romantic presents and cards are on display… So, to enhance your chances in the love stakes, visit the gallery anytime between now and the end of February.

Beautiful handmade cards, jewellery and exquisitely crafted wooden jewellery boxes, sumptuously decorated scarves and cushions, cosy British-made throws, romantically-themed metalwork, small limited edition ceramic sculpture ……handmade ceramics, fused glass hearts, coasters, soft lambswool scarves, hats, snoods, jackets and much more. All on the theme of love and perfect for the love in your life…..

Featuring work by regular gallery artists and makers.

‘Burning Bright’ Christmas Exhibition 2016

Opens on Saturday November 12 featuring a festive collection of British Contemporary fine arts and crafts, from jewellery & textiles, lighting, paintings, original prints, ceramics & glass to Christmas decorations, candles and cards….something for everyone!

 

 

The Christmas Exhibition 2016 at Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge
entitled ‘Burning Bright’ opens on Saturday November 12 with a dazzling collection of hand picked, hand made delights! Give the High Street a miss this Christmas and shop for unique British made presents in the calm and tranquil atmosphere of the gallery. Enjoy a truly delightful shopping experience.

We will be featuring a cornucopia of wonderful Christmas present ideas from the best of British artists and makers, many from Herefordshire and surrounds – something for everyone! Including handmade cards, candles and soaps, Christmas tree decorations in copper, brass, glass and porcelain, jewellery in silver, acrylic, pearls and semi-precious stones, studio glass and stained glass, ceramics – functional and decorative, ironwork – including pokers, tongs, snuffers and candle holders, bronzes, sculpture – both for inside and the garden, original paintings, prints, including limited edition etchings and photographs, a wide range of textiles to include jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, cushions and throws.

New to the gallery will be a collection of original acrylic paintings by Shropshire based artist Matt Jenneson. Hannah Willow will be showing her hand embellished small edition prints with 24ct gold leaf alongside stained glass panels by Tamsin Abbott.
There will be a gorgeous collection of porcelain lighting by Amy Cooper, whose quirky lamps add a certain ambiance and festiveness to any room.
We will have new collections of jewellery by Alison Varley, Zoe Wright, Hannah Willow, Leoma Drew and Rozie Keogh, who will also be showing a magnificent angel in wire with sequins.
Sculptural ceramics by John Maltby and vapour glaze ceramics with lovely lustre by Margaret Gardiner.

To keep out the winter chill there will be a ‘must have’ collection of scarves, wraps and bags in lambs wool and Nuno felted merino wool with silk fibres by Kathie Barrs, all desirable accessories for any ladies wardrobe!
There will also be chunky sweaters for men in lambs wool and silk, felted lambs wool jackets in a fabulous collection of colours for women and new winter collections from our regular British designer/makers.

Now stocking Textile Taxidermy Trophy Heads inspired by Victorian Taxidermy and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Hand made in Wales in Welsh woollen fabrics. We have a collection to include Roe Deer, Badger, Fox, Hare and Rabbit. They have to be seen to be believed! Here is an image of the Roe Deer.

Summer Exhibition at Old Chapel Gallery

The Summer Exhibition at Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge, entitled ’Snapdragon Solstice’ opens on Sunday July 10 2016 and will feature an exciting collection of work by talented British contemporary artists and makers, some of which will be new to the gallery.

This exhibition promises, once again, to inspire and excite collectors and appreciators of fine art and quality craft.

We will be showing the work of several artists new to the gallery, one of whom
moved to painting after a twenty year career in large scale garden ceramics and was originally led by a love of colours and evocative names on paint tubes; alizarin crimson, cerulean blue, viridian and carmine, stretching her own canvases in a traditional way using raw linen, fixed with tacks and sized with rabbit skin glue.

Several of our artists have recently been featured on BBC Countryfile and one of these will be showing a delightful range of colourful watercolours, mainly of birds and hares.

Returning to the gallery by popular demand is one of our best selling gallery artists from Shropshire who will be showing a new collection of painted wooden boxes and oak panels. She includes intricate detail in her artwork, combining birds, hares, fishes and foxes with wildflowers and hedgerow berries.

We will also be showing a new collection of beautiful nature inspired papercuts all with a dash of magic, hand drawn and hand cut illustrations.
Nature lover Jen lives in the Welsh mountains, where the stunning scenery and miles of wilderness provides her with constant inspiration for her work.

Last but not least we will be showing a gorgeous range of summery ceramics in a vivid turquoise glaze, highlighted with copper carbonate and over glazed with a satin white glaze. These are hand built from a variety of stoneware clays and include slab built bottles, reminiscent of human forms having defined shoulders and narrow necks. The finished pieces are light and elegant. The coiled bottles are spherical in form, but each one is completely different due to the nature of the construction method.
The glazes and decorations are then added to evoke landscapes, seascapes and marks found in the landscape.

Our aim from the beginning has been to promote the work of British contemporary artists and makers, some already well known in their field and many talented new comers. Now in our 27th year, this continues as strongly as ever.

 

 

 

 

 

Hay Festival Exhibition 2016 at Old Chapel Gallery

A special Festival Exhibition at Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge to run during the Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts opens on Saturday May 28th and continues to the end of June and features the work of talented British artists and makers from far and near.

Heading the line up is artist Karen from West Wales.
Karen’s work reflects the landscape around her home town of Aberystwyth. Using tone and colour, each painting explores the meeting of different elements such as town and sea or land and sky through changing times of day, weather or seasons.

Artist Michelle,  a painter inspired by colour and nature and who was featured artist on BBC Countryfile recently will be showing a collection of limited edition giclee prints alongside some original paintings of her very colourful birds and hares.

New to the gallery is ceramicist Shaun,  who has been working in Raku since 1998. He has developed a personal style of decorative/ sculptural ceramics based on the vessel form and exhibited his work world wide. He is well known for using the Copper Matte fuming technique as well as lustrous copper glazes. Each work is hand made and unique.

Also new to the gallery is artist and jeweller Hannah Willow whose inspiration comes from the land, wild and free places, stories and folklore, poetry, myth and legend. She strives to capture the hidden memory held within.

    
Another new comer is potter Fleen Doran with a collection of wood-fired salt glazed pottery both useable and collectable. She make pots that both enhance and are enhanced by food. Doran enjoys the earthy warmth of the colours that emerge from wood firing and the way in which the salt glaze enhances the simple patterns. Fired to stoneware her pots are durable and intended for daily use.

A regular favourite at the gallery is CPA potter David Frith. His reputation is well established and with his mastery of the potter’s wheel he makes majestic pieces decorated with his personal style of waxed motifs under heavy reduction over-glazes and glaze trailing. He shares the pottery with his wife Margaret and they have just celebrated 50 years of potting. Hard work and commitment underlie this unique partnership.

There is always an ever-changing collection of unique garden sculptures to enhance your outdoor space in a variety of media to include stoneware, forged iron, stainless steel, glass and more.