Gallery News

Two really exciting bits of Gallery News .......................

Firstly Jill and Michel Rousseau who used to own Wessex Fine Art and Ceramics in Wareham until they went to run a gallery in France eight years ago are now back in the UK and today opened their new gallery in Castle Cary, Somerset.  Called the Grey Door Gallery in Woodcock Road they will be hosting some of the finest potters in the UK - and most flatteringly are going to stock my work on a regular basis.  Check out their website www.thegreydoorgallery.co.uk

Secondly, and more importantly for me, I've take over the Creative Gallery in Wareham.  Initially the gallery will remain much as it has been exhibiting the paintings of the Towler brothers - Graham and Cliff - Dorset land/sea scapes and birds, and the pottery of Rosemarie James and myself.  But over the next few months I will be extending the range of work on display - Caroline Walker, photographer has already joined us, Gill Smeulders (jeweller), Linda Rowe (glass) and others will be joining shortly after Easter, followed by a few other regulars.  Then I will set up a rolling exhibition programme featuring an artist/maker of the month.

Our first major event will be Purbeck Art Weeks which runs from 25th May-9th June.  During that time the Gallery will be open daily from 10am-5pm.  Wareham has a host of good eateries and interesting independent shops, as well as walks along the river or round the walls, and is surrounded by beautiful countryside - so why not come and visit us then.  The Creative Gallery, St John's Hill, Wareham BH20 4NB.

New Gallery

A new gallery for February - Every Cloud Boutique Gallery at 3 Nappers Court, Charles Street, Dorchester DT1 1EE
A really attractive little gallery in the centre of our County Town, Dorchester.  Charlotte stocks a really excellent range of jewellery and smaller items as the gallery is quite small - an ideal place for gift buying.
www.everycloudboutique.co.uk

Noah's Art

Most exciting, and a good start to 2013.  I have been invited to put some work into an exhibition "Noah's Art" at the Orleans House Gallery, Riverside, Twickenham, TW1 3DJ.  I took the pieces up there yesterday - and it's in a lovely setting beside the Thames, and near St. Margaret's Station, South West Trains.  The exhibition runs from 13th February to 28th April, with a Private View on Wednesday 13th February from 5.30-7.30pm.

Christmas is coming

With Christmas fast approaching I've been making soap dishes for the occasion - these are already available at the Lazyhill Gallery in Abbotsbury, and the Creative Gallery in Wareham - and will be on sale at Stourhead this weekend 20th/21st November, where I will be having a stand next to Jane Maddern the maker of the wonderful soaps so customers can choose their own soap to go with the dish.  These make a great Christmas gift.

Other events coming up to Christmas include:  Salisbury Christmas Market,  where a group of exhibitors at the Ginger Piggery are getting together to man a chalet for the first couple of weeks in December;  Christchurch Christmas Festival in the Priory Church where a really festive atmosphere will combine craft displays/sales with the Church's advent celebrations; and Dorset Pottery Group's annual exhibition in the Allsop Gallery at Bridport Arts Centre.  Other fairs, etc are shown in the calender page of this blog.

A busy time!  A very Happy Christmas to you all.

Swanage Folk Festival

After two fantastic outside events during August - Buckham Fair and the Melplash Show, my favourite event of the year is coming up next weekend.  Two days of fun and fantastic music and dance at Swanage Folk Festival falls this year on the 8th and 9th of September.  Come and find me with lots of other great craft folk in the marquee in Sandpit field.

Mudeford Arts Festival

This year Mudeford Arts Festival - 28th/29th July - has a beach hut theme.  To celebrate this I've designed yet more new soap dishes, with beach huts, buckets and spaces, sand castles, ice creams and sailing boats.  Come and see them there - 10am-6pm Saturday 28th July and 10am-4pm on Sunday 29th July.  Lots of other arts and crafts, music and entertainment.  We are told there could even be some sunshine!!!

Weather - 7th July 2012

Unfortunately the weather is against us this July.  Today I should be at Shaftesbury for the fabulous Gold Hill Fair, but torrential rain forced me to return home at 7 this morning.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit better and I can face the tussle with the gazebo, and support the Shaftesbury Rotary Club who organise the event.
Next weekend the event at the Countryside Education Trust in Beaulieu has already been cancelled (14th and 15th July) as their ground is waterlogged.  But I will still be exhibiting at "Sculpture in the Garden" with Barbara Woods at 5 Dean Swift Crescent, Lilliput, Poole BH14 8LE from Friday 13th July to Monday 16th July from 9am to 6pm each day, and at the Hayloft Gallery in Wick Lane, Christchurch with other CADArts members from Friday 13th July to Thursday 9th August from 10am to 4pm each day except Sundays when the gallery is closed.
I'm just hoping that things will have brightened up by 28th/29th July when I am exhibiting at Mudeford Arts Festival - in the open air at Mudeford Quay Green, near Christchurch - usually the most vibrant, enjoyable weekend.