Posted on 6th July 202030th August 2020 by Yasmin Strube

Summer Exhibition 2020 ‘Making Waves’

‘Making Waves’ Summer Exhibition at Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge, to run through the summer of 2020 will open on Sunday July 12. As we appear to be slowly coming out of lockdown, this exhibition will remain online even though our doors will be open again physically for short periods on selected days.

We will feature an exciting collection of the work from talented British artists and makers from far and near.

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

Returning by popular demand will be artist Karen Pearce who will be showing a new collection of her striking seascapes. Following a desire to study art history and to further develop her drawing and painting skills, Karen started her formal art training at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1998, and was awarded a BA in Fine Art (2001) and a postgraduate MA (2003). During her time as a student she was awarded several prizes for painting including a Royal Academy Landscape Scholarship for travel.

Ceramacist Mia Sarosi hand makes her porcelain pieces by throwing on the potter’s wheel and painting each one individually with freehand brushwork. There are no moulds or transfers used, simply skilful hand making. As a result each piece is unique, with its own tiny quirks and imperfections – the record of its time consuming journey through over a dozen processes.

Helen Martino describes her pots as ‘serious, posh and frivolous’ because for many years she was a functional potter, making batches of domestic pots on the wheel. Her current sculptures are hand built individually and each is considered separately. They are intimate in size and like the miniatures tell of a single moment or event and yet they infer a past and future story to be filled in by the viewer.

Rachael Blakeway enjoys both the freedom and the challenge of up-cycling and recycling everyday materials and found-objects into mixed media pictures and decorations. A certain shape, texture or colour will spark off an idea of how she can give something that has been discarded a new lease of life. Rachael uses paper pulp and layers up other materials to create a 3d effect collage, so the viewer feels they can step into a scene and become part of it.

Felt maker Kathie Barrs has been fortunate in having had many opportunities to learn and work alongside renowned felt making tutors from all over the globe, and she is grateful for their skill, patience and generosity. Every one brings something new to each individual’s experience of felt making, and the inspiration and motivation gained from each workshop was invaluable.

She is a member of the International Felt Makers Association, and completed her level 2 City and Guild qualification in Design and Textiles (Felt) at Felt in the Factory in 2015, where she now teaches workshops.

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 31st year, this continues as strongly as ever. The exhibition will continue until the end of August 2020

Current opening times are Wednesday to Saturday 12 – 4pm

Posted on 26th February 201511th May 2015 by Orphans

Spring Exhibition 2015 “Be still and listen, the Earth is singing’

As the days gradually lengthen, we welcome the prospect of Spring at Old Chapel Gallery, Pembridge.Our Spring Exhibition which opens on Sunday March 8th entitled

“Be still and listen, the Earth is singing’ encompasses a collection of hand picked desirable British made art and craft including paintings, sculpture, ceramics, etchings, jewellery, automata and collographs.

The line up of collectable and appealing art, all inspired by nature, strikes a heartening mood of optimism.

Heading the line up is well known watercolour artist Mary Ann Rogers who gained the coveted award ‘Best Selling Published Artist 2009’
“The quick and lively work of Mary Ann Rogers is a real treat… her animals are depicted with a spine-tingling and inspiring virtuosity… she achieves a sense of oriental delicacy of touch which defies description.”

New to the gallery is artist illustrator Sam Cannon who works in watercolour, gouache, coloured and graphite pencil on board or paper incorporating well known quotes in text. For example ‘Be still and listen, the Earth is singing’ the title of this exhibition.

Another new comer is potter Mel Chambers who creates Raku fired ceramic tiles that are carefully painted and include quotes. Each tile is made individually by hand using ancient techniques dating back to Roman times. The tiles are created by carving into the clay whilst it is still wet and then using coloured slip to bring images and words to life making each tile unique.

Talented automata maker Wanda Sowry uses reclaimed natural wood and colourful off-cuts to put together her mechanical designs. Each handmade Automaton has a system of cogs built inside it – turn the handle and the Automaton comes to life. She keeps the mechanisms quite simple, she doesn’t paint or varnish the wood but uses different natural colours of wood instead.

Leoma Drew creates a beautiful range of wearable wing inspired jewellery using saw piercing, shape forming and stone setting. She incorporates motifs with solid shapes for an abstract and contemporary feel. The black and white effect is contrasted with bright and unusually cut stones that complement each other perfectly. Her jewellery and objects are influenced by each other and these pieces represent sentimentality which is enhanced by the intimacy created between object and body.
Gill Tenant Eyles creates one off ceramic sculptural pieces made in Raku and reduction stoneware. Her work is hand built and reflects her lifelong fascination with texture, pattern and colour, drawing inspiration from the natural world, especially the wild seashore.
To compliment the exhibition there will be a new collection of etchings by Jenny Devereux, original paintings by Peter Horrocks and collographs by recently graduated Holly Brookes.

Posted on 22nd January 201516th April 2015 by Orphans

‘Love Art’ an exhibition to celebrate St Valentine’s Day 2015

A heart throbbing exhibition of unusual and romantic paintings, presents and cards.

Visit the gallery any time between now and the end of February for unique British Contemporary handmade art and craft – perfect for the love in your life….you won’t be disappointed….new work by Pascale Bigot, Amanda Clark, Valerie James, Tamsin Abbott, Janette MacKinnon, Hilary Mee, Jan Fryer, Chrissie Nash and more…

Posted on 6th January 201516th April 2015 by Orphans

Hay Festival Exhibition May 2014

Heading the line up will be Shropshire based artist Frans Wesselman, well known for his delightful paintings, etchings and stained glass.

New to the gallery, is artist Kumar Saraff from in Mid-Wales, whose work explores the application and effects of paint on surface, bringing light and life to painting with modern materials and techniques.

Artist Alan Percy Walker, from West Wales paints with watercolours in meticulous detail and will include landscapes, seascapes and local historic buildings.

Well known Herefordshire based artist Robert Palmer, who started his career as a graphic designer, now paints in oils and watercolours depicting landscapes, seascapes and some fantasy work. Popular artist Shan Eggerton from Hay on Wye will have a new collection of pastels, also Seren Bell – famous for her pen and ink drawings of farm animals in there natural landscape. Local artist Frances St Clair Miller will show limited edition etchings based on the local scenery near to Hay On Wye to include Cusop Hill and the River Wye and Mary Woodin watercolour artist has a delightful collection of garden birds paintings.

For collectors of glass we have new work by Ruth Shelley, Julie Langan and Tamsin Abbott and ceramics by Corinna Kenyon Wade, Alex Shimwell, Mary Rich, Jason Braham and more.

Also on display will be bronze sculpture by Philip Hearsey, forged iron metalwork, garden sculpture, wearables, jewellery and more, all British and hand made.

Posted on 2nd January 201511th May 2015 by Orphans

Christmas Exhibition 2014

Christmas Exhibition 2014

‘A Winter’s Tale’ opens Saturday November 8th

Featuring a wonderful cornucopia of Christmas present ideas from the best of British artists and makers, many from Herefordshire and surrounds…

Something special for everyone this festive season!

Not finished your Christmas shopping yet…?

Well, don’t worry….there’s still time to order for Christmas. We use a next day courier service so browse away and get in touch! We will pack and send without delay!

In our 25th year we showcase the best in handmade British contemporary art and craft by emerging and established artists and makers the exhibition encompasses work in a variety of media to include paintings, prints, ceramics, textiles, glass, batiks, wood sculpture, ironwork and bronze alongside a gorgeous range of jewellery.

We invite you to enjoy the feast!

Posted on 9th September 201316th April 2015 by Orphans

Spring Exhibition 2013

“Sing A Song of Sixpence”

The spring exhibition, which begins on Sunday March 3rd and continues till the end of April, strikes a mood of optimism with a line up of collectable and appealing art by talented British artist/makers.

Most people will have heard of Mary Rose Young as she is famous for her brightly coloured and highly decorated ceramics but she has a new strand of work – a series of pastel paintings – influenced by her travels to Italy and others depicting more local landmarks near the Forest of Dean, but every bit as colourful as her pots.

Artist printmaker Julia Manning is passionate about making prints; be it etchings, lino cuts, woodcuts or collographs. She loves the technical processes as much as the fine art. She interprets her observations of the environment around her and translates these findings into print. We have named this exhibition after one of her limited editions !

Collectors of pottery will welcome the chance to see a new collection of thrown porcelain and stoneware by ceramic artist Margaret Gardiner. Her pots are for domestic use and visual enjoyment. She uses vapour-glaze with a cocktail of salt, soda and stannous chloride creating a lustrous, rainbow finish.
She has a love of textures: lace, peacock feathers, shells and shiny things and adores the process of evolving these into her ceramics.
We are delighted to welcome Philip Hearsey who makes elegant table sculptures and vessel forms in real bronze influenced by landscape and sea. Inspired by events of the natural world and motivated by the materiality of bronze he engages the sand casting process to create the basic forms that he cuts and carves to create unique vessel forms and table sculptures invariably polishing defining edges in contrast to exquisitely oxidized surfaces.

Kay Leverton from Gwent will be showing her new collection of scraperboards which will include hares, owls and all things mystical. She uses her tools to explore her love of line and detail and the intricacy of the natural world. To scratch away the ink and reveal the creamy chalk underneath, to make up a work out of thousands of tiny lines, really excites her. Back by popular demand is mixed media artist Shirley Vauvelle who creates small pieces of sculpture, this time with a Spring theme, from clay, driftwood and found objects.

Debbie Mason from Herefordshire hand paints glass panels which catch glimpses of our local landscape with an expert touch in vibrant colours to catch the light.

Posted on 12th April 201316th April 2015 by Orphans

Late Spring Exhibition

“To See Takes Time”

To head the line up is Mary Woodin, illustrator and artist. Mary works from a studio in the garden of her rural farmhouse, interrupted only by a flash of azure from the resident kingfisher or the cluck of a passing chicken. With her eye for detail and pattern, Mary excels when painting natural subjects, she works mainly in watercolour, but also enjoys the added flexibility that photoshop can give to her design work.

For this exhibition Mary has produced a series of delightful garden bird paintings including blue tits, wren and bullfinch.

New to the gallery is ceramicist Iris Milward who designs poetry tiles. She uses clay as a medium to carry poetry so that it can be a constant visual presence in our lives. Tiles can be used for walls, floors, parts of furniture, ‘read-as-you-go’ footpaths and fountains – “a thing of beauty” either indoors or out in the garden

Each tiles is unique, made individually by hand and decorated with words. Most of the tiles are inlaid, a process in which she carves the pattern in the clay while it is still wet.

Automata designer/maker Jane Ryan has always been more interested in decoration and form than clever mechanics and her toys have very simple mechanisms designed to charm rather than amaze.

Jane studied Fine Art at Chelsea School of Art and moved to West Cornwall in 1988. She started her own business – ‘OPI’ making simple mechanical toys (for grown-ups) in an attempt to combine motherhood and work. All the pieces are one off, no two are the same. There have been recurrent themes over the years which reflect her seaside home, gardening, food… she hopes that her work is infused with a genuine humour.

Also new to the gallery is contemporary glass designer/maker Ruth Shelley. Her works’ signature is the use of vivid, dramatic colour in fused and kiln-formed glass which includes panels, tiles, mirrors, bowls, coasters and jewellery.

She also designs and produces more traditional leaded lights and has worked alongside architects on numerous restoration projects. Much of her work is inspired by the dramatic shapes and forms of the mid Wales landscape where she grew up.