News From Purbeck New Wave Gallery

​The air is growing chillier, the days are getting shorter and the town is getting quieter now that summer is over, but Christmas is most definitely on the way and our bright and colourful little gallery is getting fully stocked up for the festive season! From Christmas card packs to glass Christmas decorations we are displaying plenty of new and exciting items as well as lots of new fine art pieces, cushions and trinkets!

This month. . .We're currently in the middle of enjoying a fantastic joint guest exhibition of artists Belinda sales and Tom Marshall in the upstairs area of the gallery. But this month its all about the smaller things! Beautiful Purbeck themed Christmas tree decorations by Watercolour artist Gill Williams, these sparkly little baubles are a touch of our home countryside that will brighten up any tree. Glass artist Briony Maple has brought in a whole range of wonderful Christmas characters for your home. These delicate decorations are very affordable and so unique! We have snowmen, robins, holly wreaths, gingerbread men and many more to choose from. Also this month, we have new pieces of art on the walls from our resident artists as well as new cushions, scarves  notebooks and small bags.
Our Guest Artist for November is Belinda Sales . . . .

Nine years ago, I joined a pottery group in Weymouth. Since then I have been developing my own style and more recently, a range of hand-built Raku fired ceramics.

I now work from my own garden workshop in Weymouth, making primarily wall art for local art café’s and galleries.

My work is mostly influenced by the stunning local scenery such as Portland lighthouse and Weymouth Harbour and my lifelong love of wildlife.

My collection includes both costal and country inspired Raku fired pieces, such as Oystercatchers, Spotted Guineafowl and marine life.

My aim is to make unique bold pieces with an element of fun about them.

I love the unique rustic effect Raku firing creates, it’s always unpredictable and exciting as no two pieces ever come out the same.

I sometimes melt re-cycled glass into my work and often mount my ceramics on locally sourced driftwood, when I can get my hands on it!

. . . And Tom Marshall . . .

I make art because I love doing it. I like using my hands, and using my eyes. Doing art teaches you to do both. You can always get better, and there is always a challenge. Art has shapes and lines and tone and colour and three-dimensions and a whole lot more that can be explored. It's not boring unless you make it that way.

My art is inspired by simple things – I like the way that lady has to lean back at an angle to walk her dog, that man's beard would be fun to draw, I love the way the stripes on her coat change shape where they're wrinkled up, I'm interested in the bewildering mass of lines in the scaffolding round the church, I'm taken by how they're sitting together, I want to draw the motion in that cat, the wind in that flagpole, there is something about their long shadows that makes me reach for my painting stuff, and I think the colours of that whatever-it-is are really special, I want to draw the strut of that pigeon, the mood of that sky. I like capturing people or animals doing things together. I suppose my pictures are about life- I usually draw things I think are fun or curious or beautiful to me or have something to say. I also like doing pictures of ordinary life with a hint of the less ordinary mixed in- it's always there.




Belinda and Tom's exhibition will be running from the 29th October till the beginning of December.
Featured artist . . .
Our featured artist this month is Gina Marshall, lets see what shes been up to this month . .
 

This past month I have been working on putting some movement in my pictures. Up until now I've painted or drawn very flat pictures or tranquil scenes. As I'm always looking to try something new (I get bored easily!) I decided to arrange my fish and clouds into swirls and waves. I ike the effect and certainly enjoyed doing it – I just need to wait and see if my followers and customers do too.
Here is a work in progress:
First I sketch the picture from reference photographs that I've taken, usually several which I put together in my mind's eye. I also add things which I think should be there, rather than actually do exist, for example I always add Old Harry in views such as this. I also compose the picture carefully, positioning objects in places that please the eye and adding additional things like seagulls to add interest to the picture. Then I fill the pencilled areas with fish or clouds in different colours and patterns using various lightfast pens (so the picture doesn't fade).
Next I go over the pencil outlines with a thick black POSCA pen. These pens contain acrylic paint and are also lightfast and waterproof. The beauty of POSCA pens are that light colours draw on top of darker ones.
Finally I colour in blocks with thick coloured POSCA pens. I like the contrast between flat blocks of colour and the delicate fine patterns.

As gallery owner I'm in the gallery 4 days a week. Aside from drawing or painting I also have to think about the business side of things. I've been involved in creating the “Purbeck Gallery Guide” which is a leaflet identifying a trail of 19 different galleries in Purbeck. The philosophy is that working together makes us all stronger as businesses. I've also been asked to get involved with a similar project to create a magazine guide to interesting and exciting independent shops in Dorset – we are known as “Indies”!
I'm excited to have been asked to design the front cover.
As Christmas is near (in retail terms) I've been dressing the shop in a twinkly way and have lots of gift ideas and unique decorations with hopefully more surprises to come!
Here's hoping to see you soon, Cheers!

Upcoming workshops . . .
Purbeck Painters is now signing up new members! The club runs from the end of September up to Christmas and is a great opportunity to learn the techniques to master lots of new mediums. Monday morning and afternoon classes are available, please contact Nicky at purbeckpainters@gmail.com for more information.
The Isle of Purbeck Arts club is also looking out for new members. Gina Marshall is the chairman for this charity that supports and promotes art within the Isle of Purbeck. There are two art groups, Tuesday morning group and Thursday evening, sessions have an occasional guest tutor or you can work on your own thing. Exhibition opportunities are also available, contact Gina on our mailing address for more information!

October 2018Well folks Autumn is finally upon us, our regular art groups have started up again in the gallery, new autumnal colours and products are making their way in to the gallery, as well as more and more of Chococo's hot chocolates to keep us warm!
Welcome to Octobers edition of the newsletter, here you can find out more information on classes, workshops, guest exhibitors and ofcourse, our resident artists and their new work!

This month. . .We're currently really enjoying our guest exhibition of fantastic landscape photography from Tony Cowburn at the end of this month however, we will be introducing our new guest exhibitor for the month of November, Belinda Sales. Belinda creates kiln fired raku ceramics inspired by the sea. Many of these ceramics are wall hanging pieces which will no doubt make for a very interesting exhibition.

Also this month we have started back for our winter term of Purbeck Painters, which is a beginner/improver art group with a class in the morning and a class in the afternoon every Monday. We've started back with some fantastic ink drawings but will be exploring lots of different mediums, newcomers are always welcome, scroll down for more information!
Our Guest Artist for November is Belinda Sales . . . .

Nine years ago, I joined a pottery group in Weymouth. Since then I have been developing my own style and more recently, a range of hand-built Raku fired ceramics.

I now work from my own garden workshop in Weymouth, making primarily wall art for local art café’s and galleries.

My work is mostly influenced by the stunning local scenery such as Portland lighthouse and Weymouth Harbour and my lifelong love of wildlife.

My collection includes both costal and country inspired Raku fired pieces, such as Oystercatchers, Spotted Guineafowl and marine life.

My aim is to make unique bold pieces with an element of fun about them.

I love the unique rustic effect Raku firing creates, it’s always unpredictable and exciting as no two pieces ever come out the same.

I sometimes melt re-cycled glass into my work and often mount my ceramics on locally sourced driftwood, when I can get my hands on it!

Belinda's exhibition will be running from the 29th October till the beginning of December.
Featured artist . . .
Our featured artist this month is Gill Williams, our resident watercolour artist, lets see what she has been up to lately . . .
 This month my art work has the echo of the tones and textures of the beginning of Autumn. After months of nurturing my crops it is harvest time where I have been picking my fresh produce. So I was interested in painting the shapes and patterns of them in a series of 9 watercolour images based on my allotment.



Inspired by the autumnal colours of earthy tones of red, burnt orange and deep golden yellow in the Dorset landscape, I have been painting one of my favourite scenes of Corfe Castle. I have used a limited palette of three colours vermilion, lemon yellow and ivory black. Also I have used the technique of negative painting. This gives a depth to the woodland by layering the background of the trees with several stages using a different coloured layer and then finally overlaying with a darker tone.
With the onset of winter I have observed the everchanging cloudscapes and seascapes. I have created some images with cold colours using translucent watercolours overlaid with pen and ink detail showing movement in the sky and sea.
Lastly I am taking part in the project for the Armistice Centenary at Emmanuel Church, in conjunction with the British Legion, a Poppy Exhibition. They are hoping to have a lovely display of art and any kind of craft work with a poppy theme, as well as some WW1 stories and poems. The Exhibition will be on from 8 - 11 November and the artwork is available to buy at the end of the Exhibition.

Its a brand new year for our little gallery, we're busy making all new things for the new year, but we still need to make room so for one week only we are having a big January sale on selected stock! If your looking for a Gina Marshall original artwork or some new house cushions, this is the time to get down to the gallery!
Our new year sale is from Monday January 7th till Monday 14th January.

As well as our sale this month we are also hosting a new guest exhibition of selected works from artists Cliff Towler and Kitty Wass, this exhibition promises to be an exciting display of wildlife and local landscape paintings from two experienced artists.
We'll also be having a look at what our resident watercolourist Gill Williams has been getting up to in recent months.

This month. . .This month we have a new and exciting Jewellery collection that has joined the gallery. Jade Cameron is a local artist who specialises in using sliver clay to create bespoke, unique small pieces of Jewellery inspired by natural objects. Most of the pieces are cast imprints foraged in local woodland or coastline areas. 

Owner of the gallery and artist Gina has been very busy this past month, creating some new pieces full of gorgeous colours with her token style of 'Purbeck pointilism' (I've just created this term) these pieces are made up of tiny hand drawn fish, flowers and intricate markmaking.

The gallery has also had a bit of a mini makeover this month and we thought we'd share some views of our new layout!A little about our Guest Exhibitiors!


Cliff Towler
"My work is my life. Everywhere I have been, everything I have seen and everything I have done is reflected my interpretations of the world in wildlife, animal, bird, pet paintings and portraits". 

Artist Cliff Towler was born in Poole, Dorset in 1957. Cliff Towler studied illustration , life drawing and art history between 1974 and 1977 under the guidance of Sam Rabin RCA and Stanley Paine RCA.

Cliff particularly enjoys painting vividly detailed wildlife studies and has traveled extensively to research subjects. His original paintings can be viewed on permanent display in The Creative Gallery in Wareham, Dorset, in Plymouth and other west country Galleries. He also has a once a year showing in Kings Road, Chelsea. 

Having spent his working lifetime in the world of graphic art as an illustrator, designer and photographer, Cliff is artist in residence at 'The Creative Gallery' in the ancient Saxon walled town of Wareham, Dorset UK.




Kitty Wass
 Kitty attained a BA Honours in Printed Textiles and Fashion at Loughborough College of Art and Design. She worked as a freelance designer for the British, Italian and American market. Subsequently she taught fine art textiles and photography.
Kitty initially made silver jewellery but having been featured in the BBC’ s 'What Not to Wear' where she was told she should be wearing bright sparkling jewellery, she began to include semi-precious stones in her work to make necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Her jewellery sold at the Gilbert Collection Shop, Somerset House, Strand.
 Kitty was a member for twenty years, and the chairman for eight years, of the professional group, Teddington Artists .
She  exhibited at The Fountain Gallery and during Purbeck Art Weeks (PAW) .
As well as her love of Purbeck and its coastline, Kitty paints series of small jewel-like canvases inspired by travels to Rajasthan, Italy and the Swiss Alps, and her own garden is a constant though changing resource.

Featured artist . . .
Our featured artist this month is Gill Williams, lets see what shes been up to:.
 Winter is the time when we move from outside to inside as the days shorten. However it is the best time for painting studies of evergreen plants from the stripped-back landscape.
Therefore I have been experimenting with making more interesting and natural greens for botanicals and landscapes. By blending watercolour paints of cobalt and ultramarine blues with lemon and cadmium yellows I have made shades of green and turquoise. Evergreen foliage appears to be a cooler green so I added a little paynes grey and deciduous a warmer green therefore I added a little red. Also I used the glazing and layering method of watercolours to achieve a spectrum of greens. (Attachment of green leaves)
 I have been building up my collection of botanical images by painting spiky holly with sprigs of mistletoe, clinging ivy and evergreen ferns. As I look forward to the first signs of fresh snowdrops in my garden and in the countryside I have been continuing to capture the images of the winter flowering plants. (Attachment of 4 botanicals)
Lastly I have been developing some ideas for Christmas card designs for next year by embellishing some local landscapes. 

Upcoming workshops . . .
Purbeck Painters is now signing up new members! The new classes start in March, we have a ten week term with some really exciting projects such as Lino printing, bringing a brand new medium to our classes for 2019
email Purbeckpainters@gmail.com for more info!
The Isle of Purbeck Arts club is also looking out for new members. Gina Marshall is the chairman for this charity that supports and promotes art within the Isle of Purbeck. There are two art groups, Tuesday morning group and Thursday evening, sessions have an occasional guest tutor or you can work on your own thing. Exhibition opportunities are also available, contact Gina on our mailing address for more information!
Next month . . .
Find out about more upcoming workshops and events!
Copyright © 2018 Purbeck new wave gallery, All rights reserved.

​

SEPTEMBER SALE Welcome everybody to the September newsletter for Purbeck New Wave gallery, our first summer here has been great, thank you to all our patrons who have supported the gallery and signed up to our monthly newsletter. To truly go out with a bang this summer we are having a summer sale on selected stock. So make sure to come on down and grab yourself a bespoke bargain!

15th -22nd September -1 WEEK ONLY!
 So much is happening this month and as we have so much to share we've decided to make an extra special extended edition for this month only!

This month. . .September promises to be a busy month here at the gallery, with new artwork additions to the gallery, upcoming autumn classes, a new guest artist exhibiting in the upstairs gallery space as well as introducing our new resident artist, Marion Spencer and her work in this newsletter!

One new addition we're especially proud to represent is Brendan Gallagher and his fantastic hand turned pens. They are stunningly beautiful and some are even made from wood that come from Swanage pier! Brendan lives in Swanage and makes furniture and these pens in his garden workshop, they are each completely unique and surprisingly affordable, a great gift opportunity!

Our guest artist this month is Landscape photographer Tony Cowburn, Tony is an award winning photographer and has been a photographer for over 50 years! His iconic, classic Isle of Purbeck locations can be seen on display from the end of September for 1 month.

Guest Exhibition . . .Tony CowburnTony Cowburn has been a keen photographer for almost 50 years. He developed his skills doing wedding photography during the 1970’s, but now concentrates on landscapes. He lives for most of the year in Swanage, handily placed for classic Isle of Purbeck landscape locations such as Corfe Castle, Durdle Door, Lulworth, Kimmeridge and the rest of the ‘Jurassic Coast’.


Tony won the Wanderlust magazine ‘Travel Photo of the Year’ award in 2015 for his landscape photograph titled “A stormy day at Kimmeridge Bay”, featuring a lone windsurfer battling a 50mph storm set against the backdrop of the dramatic Jurassic Coast cliffs.
 
The Wanderlust prize was a commission to take landscape photographs in Western Australia, for Wanderlust Magazine and the Western Australia Tourist Board. Tony has also won Daily Telegraph and Sunday Times travel photography competitions and had images used on the cover of ‘Dorset Magazine’. 
 
Tony is Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society (LRPS) and an active member of the Winchester Photographic Society.
 

You can see Tony's exhibition from the 25th September till the end of October! This is definitely not one to miss.
Introducing . . resident artist, Marion Spencer . . .Marion Spencer (Mars), grew up in rural Somerset but now lives on a dairy farm in Purbeck where, after 15 years of barely touching a brush or lump of clay, she has returned to her first love of drawing and ceramics.  From a creative background of writers, woodworkers and artists, there were many influences and mentors throughout her life, in particular Royal Academician, Tom MacArthur, who would give her drawing tips during many after school visits and her own mother, Rocking horse maker Margaret Spencer, a pioneer in the 70s.
She studied at Yeovil College under studio ceramicist Dave Brown and then took a BA in 3D Design Ceramics at Bath Academy of Art in the late 80s. After college, she collaborated with many local artists in and around her hometown of Crewkerne and was involved in the first Somerset Arts Weeks as well as selling work at fairs and retail outlets across the south west.
 
“I waivered at college between graphics and ceramics because I loved to draw, especially in fine pens so I did both in my foundation year but decided I was too messy to be a full time graphic artist. I prefer the process of hand building in clay and had always loved modelling things, since the Plasticine table at infants school. I was fortunate to have supportive parents who allowed me to follow my passion, we were a little unconventional by the standards of the day. My father was an electrical engineer but guitarist in a dance band at night and weekends.
My maternal grandmother was a northerner & had her own antiques business after moving to Hampshire, her husband was the rocking horse maker Andrew Booth so visits to them as a child were always fascinating. The house was full of antiques as the shop was attached to it and granddad had two workshops where he made and then restored antique horses.  My paternal grandfather was a joiner and retired at 87. My mother had painted miniatures in her youth but took up the rocking making herself in 1967, a time when women in woodwork were not taken seriously and I watched her forge ahead, improving her craft despite constant put downs and being asked ‘where is your husband? the woodcarver’, even when demonstrating at fairs with chisel in hand! She was interviewed many times by national press and even television, because she was such a novelty.
 
Whilst successfully selling my own work, I had worked alongside Mum but didn’t get into the rocking horses as there were too many noisy machines and smelly paints and varnishes involved for me but I did help grow the accessory side of her business, doing admin, making leather tack and endlessly sewing tiny ribbon rosettes by hand. She wrote two ‘how to make a rocking horse’ books with her own plans based on the Victorian style horses. Over 10 years, we built a successful international mail order supply company for makers and restorers, all before the arrival of the Internet. 
 
Shortly before moving to America in 2001, I had become disillusioned with the craft fair scene which had become stale and full of the same old hobbyists and so many shops were accepting my work on sale or return but then going under, owing me money. Getting into galleries was tough back then, ceramics was still struggling to be accepted as ‘art’ not ‘just pottery’. People just weren’t appreciating the work involved with hand made things and it seemed everyone had gone mad for cheap plastic and resin imports with which I could not compete. I was supplementing my income by becoming a massage therapist which I did successfully for 20 years, mainly for the elderly.
My life took a different direction for a while and through various changes and bouts of ill health I gave up ceramics and only drew occasionally for pleasure.
After my return from the USA, I spent nine years working as a photographer /journalist on the local free paper covering Crewkerne, Chard and Ilminster which was hectic but very enjoyable as I got to write personal profiles on local people and cover the positive news and became inspired by the apparent resurgence of interested in the arts as I reported on arts weeks ,workshops and gallery events. It was a fascinating time for me, introducing me to so many good people and a whole generation of school children. Voluntary redundancy came at the right time for me after emergency surgery saved my life.  A second surgery led to hormonal crash, depression, muscle pain and exhaustion.
 Moving to Purbeck, to be with my new partner and recuperating on the farm, surrounded by the wonderful Dorset hills, I have re-connected with everything that had fed my soul as a child and the need to express myself artistically, re-emerged. I took the step of becoming involved in Purbeck Arts Weeks, firstly as a ‘behind the doors’ photographer in 2017 and then exhibiting in Rollington Barn in 2018.
 My mother has sadly just left this earth at 88 after several years of decline from vascular dementia which although it stole her skill and all memory of her achievements, never her will to draw, appreciation of art, or her sense of humour, she loved to draw cartoons. Her loss is a poignant reminder to me to get busy while I still can and I was grateful when Gina invited me to join the Purbeck New Wave Gallery as one of the resident artists. Putting my art back into the foreground, along with gradening, is helping my health and giving me fresh purpose.
 
My mantra is ‘Look with the eyes and see with the heart’; influences come from a deep love of nature and appreciation of the life force of all things, folk tales and parallel worlds have always intrigued me. I talk to everything around me, animals, birds, trees, plants and even stones. I love the eccentricities of the world and the people in it. My work is eclectic both in colour and form, techniques include hand coiling, slabs, sprigging and modelling. Even repeats I make from my own moulds are hand finished to make them unique. The clay leads me where it wants to go as I build with some things practical and some ornamental, I work in earthenware but also like the rougher stoneware bodies, particularly for the garden pieces. Drawing is with pencil, fine pens and pastels, paint is acrylic and watercolour inks. Lino cuts and screen prints are something I wish to return to.
Recently I have been experimenting with mixed media and am currently also illustrating a children’s storybook I have written and one penned by my sister Sharon. Watch this space!
I am happy to be back in the realm of creativity which made me who I am.
My tutor Dave Brown once told me I would always come back to ceramics as it was in my blood!  Earth to earth…..”.
 

Upcoming workshops . . .​Nicky is an illustrator/fine artist with two degrees in drawing. She has been teaching workshops and classes for about 2 years and runs Purbeck Painters which operates weekly classes both in the gallery and in Studland.

The Isle of Purbeck art club also runs weekly from the gallery as an informal weekly gathering on Thursdays 6.30pm-8.30pm

For more information on Purbeck Painters email Nicky at: purbeckpainters@gmail.com
or call 07940256377
Next month . . .
Find out about more upcoming workshops and events, there will be another guest artist and we'll have a look at some new work from our resident watercolourist Gill Williams.
Copyright © 2018 Purbeck new wave gallery, All rights reserved.


Our mailing address is:
purbecknewwave@gmail.com
purbecknewwave.co.uk

Welcome everybody to the August edition of the Purbeck New Wave Gallery newsletter! We're busy busy here in the heart of Swanage with lots of lovely sunshine and lots of lovely guests visiting our little gallery, here's what we've been getting up to recently and all that is coming soon!

This month. . .This Month we are representing two new artists' work at the gallery. Our first is Elaine Jones who is a porcelain ceramist, we love our ceramics at Purbeck New Wave and our little collection of works is growing all the time but these beautifully delicate sculptural pieces are something so unique! Elaine's work is inspired by beach objects and driftwood found on the shoreline, they are exquisite and ethereal, these beautiful organic forms are something to come and see for yourself!

Our other addition is local young artist Ed Marriott who produces striking local scenes from a limited palette on canvases. They are so bold and sophisticated from a local lad who is only 16! Ed has been exhibiting in PAW for 3 years now and we thought his work would fit right in!
Our Guest Artist for August is Jenny Hawke. . .
London-based artist and published author Jenny Hawke works in watercolour, ink, and acrylic, creating vibrant and colourful depictions of nature, spirituality, and everyday life. 


Largely self-taught, she has also learnt from her father, Eddie Askew, artist, author and speaker whose art and books have inspired many people and continue to do so.


Working mostly with watercolour, Jenny loves the unpredictability of the medium as well as the vibrancy and fluidity of the colours it produces on the page. Passionate about communication, she uses her paintings to convey a sense of faith, peace and beauty, asking the viewer to pause and take time to reflect.

Jenny's exhibition is running from the 20th August to the 24th September
Featured artist . . .
Our featured artist this month is Nicky Stockley who creates cushions and scarves with quirky, colourful designs alongside drawings with gold leaf of organic and fantastical trees and plants:
 "I'm quite an explorer and I've always been inspired by nature and the surreal, they go hand in hand for me because wildlife and the natural world is so full of wonder. After I finished my masters in Illustration last year I wanted to create a completely new dimension to my practice and keep the wheel of learning going, I love teaching and I love Fine Art but I am also a designer and I wanted this to be stronger in my work. Making illustrated homewear and accessories has also been a project where I get to work with my nan, she's now my partner in crime with this expanding business and has been teaching me with her expertise in needlework, out of all my years in higher education this has been my favourite project by far because I get to work with her".

Aside from my art practice I am also the leader of Purbeck Painters which is a beginner and improver art class in Purbeck and I am really pleased to say that we are now Purbeck and Poole Painters and will be expanding to new classes in September.

Upcoming workshops . . .Some new and exciting workshops at the gallery for our young creatives out there! Gina is running workshops every Monday for the summer holidays for children, there is cartoon drawing, painting and pastels, lots of fun and very affordable!
Here are her dates, be sure to get in touch with Gina or the gallery for any enquiries . . .

Children's workshops
1st August wednesday 6-8pm cartoon workshop £10 per child
Wednesday 8th August 6-8pm watercolours
Monday 13th August 6 - 8pm acrylics
Monday 20th August 6-8pm pastels
Monday 27th August 6-8pm cartoons and comic strips
All £10 per child. Please book at the gallery.


Purbeck Painters is now signing up new members! The club runs from the end of September up to Christmas and is a great opportunity to learn the techniques to master lots of new mediums. Monday morning and afternoon classes are available, please contact Nicky at purbeckpainters@gmail.com for more information.
​
Next month . . .
Find out about more upcoming workshops and events, next month we'll be having a chat with our new resident artist, Ceramic artist Marion Spencer on her intriguing and colourful works.
Copyright © 2018 Purbeck new wave gallery, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
purbecknewwave@gmail.com
purbecknewwave.co.uk

 

Right now we are in the throes of Purbeck art weeks at the gallery. The first week brought in around 1000 visitors, putting the gallery firmly on the map. Many asked if we are here permanently (yes!) and had noticed that Gina has moved from Sansom gallery/framers to Purbeck New Wave Gallery.
Week two has brought less visitors but better sales so far. We think that visitors have had time to make their minds up and have returned to us!
The upstairs workshop space was decorated and brought sharply into shape in order to expand gallery space for Purbeck Art Weeks. Some members of the Isle of Purbeck Arts Club were then able to exhibit as well as extending both Gina's and Helene's ranges of art and ceramics. Gina likes the new space so much that she has decided to keep it! Guest artists will be invited to exhibit for 4 - 6 weeks at a time, adding variety and freshness to the gallery plus causes for a few drinks and nibbles by way of the private views!
Our first guest is Margaret Hasted from Wimborne. Margaret is inspired by the Dorset landscape and flowers. She uses acrylic with relief transparent paint and collage. Gina spotted her work at the Blandford Open and Upton Open art exhibitions and bought one of her beautiful paintings. Margaret also works hard raising money for a leukaemia charity, often using exhibitions to generate this. Her work is very popular and we are extremely delighted that she is bringing some of her pieces down to Purbeck. The image below is "Poppies and Cornflowers" by Margaret.

April 2018Welcome everybody to the Purbeck New Wave Gallery newsletter! The five artists here at the gallery are working really hard to create an exciting and inviting new art space in Swanage as well as offering lots of workshops and creative activities throughout the year. The idea of this newsletter is to update all our followers about new projects the artists are working on here at the gallery and new classes and opportunities that are being advertised.
This month. . .
Hopefully in April we will see an end to the cold winter weather we've had this month and start looking forward to Spring! This month in the gallery Gina and Nicky been working upstairs preparing the workshop space and we now have big art tables and a fully functioning little kitchen. It promises for lots of successful workshops this summer! Also news this month is that we have a new artist in the gallery! Rachel Hall creates stunning glass art jewellery and we're delighted to have her work on display in the shop.

With Purbeck Art Weeks drawing nearer, all the artists at the gallery are currently very busy getting enough work together to expand upstairs and have two exhibition spaces for the festival. The brochures for Purbeck art week are being sold at the gallery and you might just recognise the work on the front cover. . . This month we're focusing on Gill Williams, our resident watercolourist and Winner of the PAW brochure competition this year.

A chat with . . .Gill Williams
Congratulations Gill on the front cover, the piece is beautiful and very eye catching in the gallery, can you tell us a little bit about it and what you've been working on at the moment?

One of my recent projects has been painting a series of images influenced by the starlings murmuration observed at Shell Bay, Studland last year. My work is with watercolours for the background and pen and ink for the detail in the foreground. I have now completed five different images, one of which has been chosen for the cover of the Purbeck Arts Weeks Events Programme this year, the theme being “Movement”.
Since then I have been invited to take part in The Flourish Flock project. This is a fundraising initiative run by and for Livability Holton Lee. 50 artists and 50 individuals living with a disability will paint a wooden Dartford warbler bird. These will be exhibited at Holton Lee as part of Purbeck Arts Weeks and then a charity auction at Russell Coates Museum in September.
That looks fantastic! One area of your work that always grabs the customers eye are your storybooks on display, can you tell us a little bit about your children's books?

Since retiring from teaching, I have written and illustrated two children’s books about conservation. My first book Tree Girl is about a young person’s story for taking care of our earth. The character Tree Girl is a heroine. She is always ready to rescue woodland animals from dangerous situations. It encourages families to think green, by discussing practical ways of how they can protect creatures’ habitats, food and water in our ever-changing land.


My second book Seashore Girl takes on the same format. The character “Wavy” is a seashore heroine. She goes through the wild waves when there is peril in the sea and rescues the watery wildlife. “Wavy” suggests how families can help protect the sea creatures and their habitats.
The alliterations with illustrations and glossary are an integral part of the book.
These books are non-profit making as the proceeds go to Dorset’s local wildlife and countryside charities.
 
Upcoming workshops . . .
We are delighted to share Nicky’s summer programme with you all now as well as some upcoming workshops in March with Laura Evans.
Nicky is an illustrator/fine artist with two degrees in drawing. She has been teaching workshops and classes for about 2 years and runs Purbeck Painters which operates weekly classes both in the gallery and in Studland.

There is a slight change to beginner watercolour workshops as a lot of people were unable to make all three sessions. I have now changed this to a beginners watercolour workshop day, this is on Thursday 24th May from 10-3 with an hour for lunch at the price of £35. The day is a compacted version of the three week course and will covera full introduction into all the basic techniques of this medium
Laura Evans is a well known versatile artist in the Purbecks and is now advertising her spring/summer programme in all things printmaking!

Next month . . .
Find out about more upcoming workshops and events, we find out a little bit more about Helene Champrond and her Purbeck inspired Raku fired ceramics.
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