A NEW exhibition at The Bingley Gallery showcases the creativity of 25 artists from across our region.
Its Christmas Show is always something a bit special - a selection box for people to pick their favourites or try something new. It is also a wonderful opportunity to see what has inspired the artists. The gallery’s regular exhibitors have prepared new work, but we couldn’t resist bringing back some of the highlights of this year’s exhibitions and making space for new artists whose work had caught my eye during the year. As a result the walls are tightly filled floor to ceiling, salon style.
Among the new artists are Tracey Waddington. She draws exquisitely in graphite, pastel and charcoal and often embellishes the final work with gold leaf. Her goddess series explores female beauty and power, while her studies of ravens magnificently capture these characterful birds, bringing to mind their role in ancient mythology.
Another artist with a particular talent for capturing the essence of animals is Fran Elliott of Silsden, who returned to art after working as a conservator of Egyptian papyrus at the British Museum. Wildlife is her main subject - look out for her zebra, with an eye that seemingly watches visitors moving around the gallery.
Quite different are the paintings of Judy Sale. An American by birth, she lived around the globe before putting down roots in Haworth. Her artwork is non-representational but is nevertheless often inspired by her travels and found objects collected from other cultures. Judy has a remarkable ability to create work that evokes a strong response from the viewer.
William Morrison is another artist who left his roots, in his case in Glasgow, to settle in Yorkshire, where the landscapes inspire him to create Turneresque visions full of light and atmosphere. Not one to promote his achievements, he only reluctantly mentioned his recent first prize at the Calderdale Open Competition.
Also celebrating local landscapes, Judith Levin - a regular exhibitor at the gallery - has submitted more of the heathery views for which she is best-known. These transport the onlooker to upland moorland.
Ian Burdall is a Saltaire-based photographer turned oil painter. It is an opportunity to re-visit an earlier theme of his - shipwrecks of the Yorkshire coast. Based on photographs and engraved images from historic journals, sightseers cluster next to the washed-up hulks, dwarfed by the scale of the vessels and the events that left them high and dry. These paintings spent some time languishing in the artist’s cellar but their impact and stark beauty demanded that they be re-shown.
Three further oil painting artists deserve special mention for works which, though small in scale, are masterfully painted: Louise Garrett, from Harden, has a couple of exquisite new views of the River Wharfe at Bolton Abbey, full of the sparkle of tumbling water, while Pam Bumby’s local plein air-painted subjects, including East Riddlesden Hall, Saltaire and Bingley, exude summer sunshine.
Thornton resident, Dan Metcalfe's work features big skies with clouds. Whether the soft, pillowy cumulus of a summer’s day, more patchy alto cumulus tinged with evening hues or more leaden, blanketing cover, he is clearly attuned to the sky in its many changing moods.
Three artists are particularly associated with the venue: Bingley’s own Jane Fielder, the gallery’s founder, returns with new original watercolours. Not unexpectedly, for those who know her work, these include a washing line or two, but also a series based on a ‘heavenly journey’ between Langcliffe and Litton made with her grandchildren. Resident artist Amy Charlesworth has been preparing for this show for much of the year, not least an array of robins, but also landscapes of favourite places including Whitby.
Former Bradford Grammar School art teacher Josie Barraclough often combines mixed media with oils, such as a study of shelducks. A reminder of the coast is provided by Tony Dexter’s bold and bright boat studies and Bonehead brings a more edgy feel with his laser cut and aerosol- sprayed angels and 'Born to Love' Mother Mary.
Embroidered works include Jade Marczynski’s hand-stitched views which focus on traditional, independent businesses in the Bradford district. In contrast Sarah Lyte, of Wilsden, uses free machine embroidery over a wet-felted base to create vibrant, expressive work.
Print makers include artists from the ‘Inkers’ group: Janine Denby, June Russell and Paul Hudson. Perhaps the quirkiest items are the Jitterbugs: Sally Marsden creates fantastic mini sculptures from the sort of items you may find in your grandfather’s shed. I first saw these at Art in the Pen in the summer of 2023 and knew I had to include some in our Christmas show.
As the current gallery owner who has his studio here, I have on display a selection of larger Yorkshire landscapes, many featuring trees, or the ancient monuments which I draw upon from my previous career as an archaeologist.
Combine this with a selection of contemporary ceramicists, glass workers and woodworkers, and a rich seam of artistic talent is here.
The show runs from November 16 to December 31.
The Bingley Gallery, 29B Park Rd, Bingley BD16 4BQ
For more information contact David Starley 01274 552143 / 07792 242143) davidstarley@yahoo.co.uk; davidstarleyartist.com/bingley/
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