A round-up of exhibitions in Derbyshire during August
St John Street, Ashbourne
Mary Herbert’s ‘Animals’ exhibition continues to 16th August (Mon–Thurs, 9.30am-5pm). Pastel paintings that capture ‘the characters of individuals’. On 19th August, Derbyshire artist Wendy Darker – known for her unique animal portraits – is giving a workshop on painting hares, she will be getting to grips with their ‘gangly nature’ and ‘capturing action’. For details and to book 01335 347425.
Derwent Gallery
This month the gallery on Main Road in Grindleford has an exhibition of ‘Summer Landscapes of the Peak District’, featuring paintings by Hazel Lale, Kristan Baggaley, Pauline Rignall and Wilfrid Eaton.
Painting in watercolour and acrylic, Hazel Lale portrays her reaction to both natural and man-made shapes within the landscape. The simplicity of line and minimal brush strokes of Japanese Art, and the work of American artist Mary Cassatt are influences that can be traced in her work. Hazel focuses on intensifying local colour and experiments with form through negative space and line. Paintings can be previewed at www.derwentgallery.com.
Banks Mill, Derby
Derby artist Kim Fowler has a solo exhibition in the Banks Mill studios at 71 Bridge Street from 4th to 29th August (Mon-Fri 10am-3pm). Entitled ‘Majestic Avia’, it is inspired by her love of nature and wildlife and marks a break from her previous black and white tonal style. Kim comments: ‘I am meticulous in portraying nature and strive to imitate what I see in reference photographs and real life, inviting the viewer to look even closer and to experience the fascination I feel when I observe the untamed beauty of wildlife.’
Derby Cathedral Centre
‘Let the Winds Blow’ is the title of Colin Halliday’s exhibition throughout August (Mon to Sat, 9am-5pm), in the Sir Richard Morris Lounge. Born in Carlisle, Colin settled in Duffield in 2005 and now finds inspiration in the Peak District, saying, ’Having been brought up on a farm in Cumbria, landscape and nature is what excites me and will always by my subject of choice.’ His recent work continues to explore working with oils. ‘The thick paint makes it more like an object in its own right and less about an illusion of being real,’ he says. ‘In addition it makes the painting more alive in that as you move around the work it subtly changes as different lighting affects it.’
Dates for your Diary...
• Until 21st September Embrace Arts, Leicester LE1 7HA – Sheep Sketchbook: Revising the Pastoral Tradition by Georgina Barney explores the icon of the sheep www.embracearts.co.uk
• Dark and White - The Peak Prints Collection: 25th July–7th August at Beechenhill Farm, Ilam; 15th–28th August at Longshaw NT Estate
• August, Duncan Pass exhibition at Whynot Gallery, 2 Lichfield St, Burton on Trent Gallery summer event from 22nd to 24th August
• To 31st August, Joseph Wright of Derby: Bath and Beyond at Derby Museum & Art Gallery
• To 31st August, Sea Fever art and craft by High Peak Artists, Art Café, Buxton Pavilion Gardens
• Pride and the Passion, images of ‘the beautiful game’ at Derby QUAD until 7th September
• Award-winning pastel paintings of Land, Sea and Sky by Sandra Orme at Cromford Gallery, Market Place, Wed to Sun 10am-5pm
• 32nd Derbyshire Open Exhibition 2014 at Buxton Museum & Art Gallery, Terrace Road, until 5th September.
