Christmas Exhibition

About

Christmas 2014: 36 artists and 140 works exhibiting in Tenby

From London and the West Country, from North Wales and the Swansea valleys, from Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, artists of all ilk have used brush and knife with paint, and assorted cutters to incise lino and wood, to make new work for the Christmas Exhibition in Tenby.

The exhibition by these artists and printmakers starts at the White Lion Street Gallery on 1st December and continues over the New Year.  Seascape and coastal subjects predominate, closely followed by land- and townscapes, with good helpings of still life, figures, animals, boats and flowers.

Some artists have produced work on a theme: Ann Lewis presents her alternative take on the 12 days of Christmas; Mark Morris shows peopled streets of Tenby: Phil Parry concentrates on patterns in water; Susan Sands exhibits still lifes and Andrew Douglas Forbes continues making mundane objects like mugs and eggs enigmatic.

Local landscape is variously depicted: in the richly glowing paintings of Anne Farrell Doyle, the delicate realistic watercolours of Graham Hadlow, Ruth Lewis and Tina Lewis, and the stripped back abstracts of Damian Dowling.  Sue Pomery Wilks’ acrylics are large invigorated impasto works, Dorian Spencer Davies’ curvy towns are snow-covered and Elaine Graham’s views are decidedly wintry.

The exhibition includes some artists new to the gallery.  Helen Stoddard (prize winner in the Tenby Art competition some years ago) has reappeared with four new pieces, Vivienne Albiston – better known for her raku ceramics – shows two works and Jenny John returns with rock pool studies.  Brenda Evans debuts with a surprising painting of action above and below the waterline.

Printmakers are also well represented by Peter Lawrence’s abstract wood engravings and a Christmas piece, Judith Stroud’s lino work and Kath Littler’s engravings.

Works defying winter are Dai David’s beach scenes in warmer times, Beatrice Williams’ floral riots and Penny Timmis’s Brazilian theme including parrots.  Sunlit rural scenes in oils are shown by Thomas Haskett.  There are also fine sailing ships by Rob Grimson, silly socks by Margaret Welsh, cats by Sheila Stafford and a cheeky cockerel from Tim Jenkins to complete the exhibition of 130 pieces.

All media, all sizes, all prices – the Christmas exhibition is richly varied and full of artistic imagination and expertise.  It will be shown at the White Lion Street Gallery from Monday 1st December until Tuesday 6th January.

The gallery, next to the former cinema site (nearly the Premier Inn now) is open from 10am till 5pm every day except for Sundays and Wednesdays.  For further information telephone 01834-843375 and view the website www.artmatters.org.uk to see the whole exhibition and what is in the rest of the gallery.