What’s on around the county this month
Ferrers Gallery
Ferrers Gallery at Staunton Harold has a solo exhibition by award-winning local photographer Lesley Hextall until 23rd February. Lesley has captured a visual record of all that is wonderful about the local area, from the enchanted woodlands of Calke Abbey to a frosty morning at Staunton Harold.
‘My interest is photographing landscape and wildlife, especially in the local National Forest area,’ explains Lesley. ‘I’m happiest when watching and photographing deer, wildflowers, birds and dragonflies and relish the use of dawn and dusk light to enhance the magic of an image.’
On the gallery’s middle floor until 2nd March is ‘In Flight’, an artistic celebration of all that flies, from birds and butterflies to a spaceman, featuring colourful jewellery alongside ceramic owls, bee prints and carved panels. Work by Midlands-based artists Russell Wilson, Rachel Ainley, Anne Menary, Tom Smith, Brian Dawson and Hazel Atkinson is featured. The gallery is open Tues-Sun 11am-5pm.
Derby Cathedral
Photographer Dave Butcher’s winter images are on display at the Cathedral Centre from 1st to 28th February (Mon to Sat 9am-5pm). A specialist with over 30 years experience in black and white film photography, in this collection of dramatic images Dave focuses on Derbyshire’s hills and on mountains in other parts of Britain. He says, ’I feel most at home when I am in the great outdoors on hill or mountain, especially in snowy winter conditions which is great for black and white.’
Royal Crown Derby
Mr Selfridge’s Bespoke Service
Pieces from a very special service produced for Harry Gordon Selfridge are currently on show at Royal Crown Derby’s ‘Finest of Dining’ exhibition. Although the pieces have been in the museum collection for many years, the story behind them has only recently come to light due to the book ‘Shopping, Seduction and Mr Selfridge’ written by Lindy Woodhead. In the book, which is based on research in the Selfridge archives, she talks about Harry Selfridge ordering a 36 setting service from Crown Derby for his daughter.
Harry Gordon Selfridge was the American-born retail magnate who founded the London based department store of this name in 1909. Selfridge’s daughter, Rosalie, married in 1918. Her husband was Serge de Bolotoff, a Russian pioneer aviation engineer, who claimed he was a descendant of Prince Rurik who had founded Russia in the 9th century. This lavish service is decorated with his coat of arms, which indicates that it is the service mentioned in the book as ordered for their use.
The exhibition also highlights the use of Royal Crown Derby in the ITV adaption of the story. See how many pieces you can spot in the latest series! For more exhibition details visit www.royalcrownderby.co.uk
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