Gallery will be picture perfect

Liza Dracup's exhibition, Sharpe's Wood, will be on display at the £1.2 million Impressions Gallery in Centenary Square.

The exhibition features a series of photographs of the woodlands around Bradford taken at varying times.

The work was commissioned by the Impressions Gallery and has taken four years to complete.

Sharpe's Wood is one of several exhibitions due to be shown at the gallery, which is moving to the city from York.

Liza, 38, of Bingley, has produced a number of Yorkshire-themed exhibitions in the past, including one on Cartwright Hall in 2003.

She said: "Ever since I can remember I've been fascinated by woods and forests. Photographing at night reveals a landscape captured only by the camera.

"I work with an old media format camera I got from a second hand shop and it gives the images a different feel.

"As a Bradfordian it is really important that my first major exhibition is in my home town and Centenary Square is a fantastic location.

"It's exciting to have my work in the public domain."

Anne McNeill, Impressions Gallery director, said: "Liza is an artist with a growing reputation. We are delighted to host her first major show."

She said the gallery had come a long way from its beginnings.

"The gallery has been on an amazing journey since it began in 1972 in a room above a shop in York," she said.

"It has been instrumental in changing peoples' perceptions of photography and has played a large part in getting photography into the big art institutions.

"We're really excited to gain bigger and better premises."

Councillor Anne Hawkes-worth, Bradford Council's executive member for environment and culture, said: "This is such an exciting project and will create a great space for the city. It will showcase some fantastic work and really bring art to residents and visitors."

The official opening of the Impressions Gallery will take place on July 21. The Sharpe's Wood exhibition will run until September 16.