I hope this summer newsletter finds you well and safe.
We are happy to announce that we celebrated our third year at Queen Street this month June 16th, and what a roller coaster ride the last three years has been!
We have had our ups and downs over the past year, but we are still in business and have many plans in mind for the future including, exhibitions, workshops, competitions and events once government rules are lifted.
A big thank you to all who have visited the gallery since we reopened last April. Your support and enthusiasm mean a lot to us and gives us the determination and drive to carry on promoting the gallery, our artists and each new exhibition.
To let you know about the stunning exhibitions we have produced since opening and have planned for the summer, the April show included the work of the winners and finalists from our first virtual competition ‘A View from Your Window’, in the Cwtch gallery, with Phil Alder’s beautiful Springtime paintings on show in the Main gallery.
In May we displayed the exhibitions of Paul Joyner in the Main gallery and the paintings and ceramics of Thomasin Toohie in the Cwtch gallery.
To remind you that all of our exhibitions (past and present) can be viewed on our website.
Our two June exhibitions are now coming to an end, please call in to see them before they close on Saturday 26th June.
In the main gallery we have the outstanding abstract paintings of Lynnford Jones.
We believe that Lynnford is one of Wales’s finest Abstract Expressionist artists. At 81, his level of creativity has rarely been higher, challenging and inspiring young artists with the breadth of work that springs from his pioneering studio. And through the swirls of shape, colour and texture that inform his canvasses there emerge wonderfully human anecdotes.
We are also delighted to show in the Cwtch gallery a new exhibition of magical animal paintings by Llanelli based artist Tony Botto.
This exhibition presents fresh new imagery and perspective from Tony who has a wealth of experience in this form of painting genre.
In addition to painting animals, Tony also enjoys painting land and seascapes, his favourite subjects being the awe-inspiring landscapes and beaches of South Wales.
Our two new July exhibitions open on the 3rd and will be on show in the gallery and on our website until the 26th of July.
In the Main gallery we welcome the work of young graduate Jess Parry and her exhibition - Excess!
Jess is a Welsh Flesh Artist and a recent undergraduate and award winner of the ‘Haydn John James Layton Painting and Drawing Undergraduate Prize 2020.’
A painter at heart, she delights in producing work that demands a reaction. In this exhibition she invites you to explore the process of her amazing world.
On show in the Cwtch gallery, we have an exhibition of pastel paintings by North Wales based artist, Gareth Jones.
Gareth’s work now appears in many noted galleries across England and Wales and features in many private collections.
He is a member of the prestigious East Anglian Group of Marine Artists and has exhibited at the Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Show at The Mall Galleries London.
The coast and countryside provide his main inspiration, he enjoys a growing reputation for his work, with seascapes becoming a speciality. Soft Pastel is an underrated medium but one which is undergoing a renaissance and growing rapidly in popularity.
Summer draws to a close with our August Exhibitions, they are; a mixed exhibition of winners and finalists work from our 'OPEN21’ competition in the Main gallery.
With last year’s ‘OPEN20’ winner, Susan Barber’s solo exhibition in the Cwtch gallery.
We also have the pleasure in welcoming new artists to the gallery. Some of you may already be conversant with the beautiful landscapes of Brecon based artist Paul Millis.
Also, the stunning work of Anita Woods, who is a figurative artist inspired by the animals, landscape and sea of west Wales where she lives.
Lastly the stunning papier mâché sculptures of Cardiff based artist Debbie Court.
Both Sarah and I take pleasure in wishing you a happy and safe summer and look forward to seeing you at the gallery sometime soon!
All the absolute best,
Bethan