For my first exhibition across the border in North Yorkshire, it was a real pleasure to be invited as the featured artist for August in Saltbox Gallery, Helmsley.
Set in the most beautiful village, the gallery itself is exceptionally well curated and full of really interesting and beautiful work.
A little about the works in this show:
“This series of works has come following a year of change, growth and learning. Having moved to the Isle of Bute at the end of 2022 I’ve found great joy and solace in the close proximity of nature and community here, the constant connection to the change of seasons and the tiny variations in colour, textures, sounds and smells. At times I’ve felt almost euphoric in this sense of belonging, but I’ve also learned that you can’t necessarily leave anxieties and difficult times behind by simply moving home. In these paintings I explore how a new place and time has provided me the support and inspiration to emerge restored. How forging a respect for the natural world, deepening our relationships and learning to live symbiotically with its rhythms makes us all stronger.”
I made a whole new collection of paintings for this exhibition and took the opportunity to drive the work down to North Yorkshire myself.
I spent a few days camping in my van and exploring the area. It happened to be some of the warmest days of the year, certainly for me, and it was lovely to be able to spend so much time outside in the sun.
Thanks so much to the team at Saltbox for showing my work and I’m so pleased with the response so far!
The exhibition runs from 1 - 30 August 2024