Light, Shade & Stories exhibition at According To McGee marks launch of The Artillery art boxes and FilmYork

The Artillery, an initiative that hires out artwork, and FilmYork, a one-stop shop for a range of filmmaking solutions, have collaborated on a three-week photographic exhibition by mother and daughter Ros Garland and Kristy Garland that opened last Friday and will run until May 23.

Light, Shade & Stories is the inaugural show for The Artillery, co-founded by Ails McGee, who says: "This is a separate project from my According To McGee day job, but I have to say I felt a pang of pride in seeing the gallery so packed for the opening night. It felt like a proper gig, a real happening.

"I think that the fact that Kristy Garland is exhibiting helped contextualise the event for both The Artillery and FilmYork. Kristy is the co-founder of FilmYork, and her work is available for hire through The Artillery, so there's the tidy overlap. It felt right to use that overlap as a peg to hang a big launch event, and it's generated a lot of excitement."

Eric & Raymond, archive photograph by Ros Garland

The Artillery is the brainchild of business partners and founders Ails McGee, Emilie-Rose Nedey and Sue Holding. "We realise that not everyone wants to invest in art on a permanent basis," says Ails, "Not everyone can afford it. Everyone, however, likes surprises, especially when things of beauty are concerned.

"What's radical about The Artillery is that it's not just a case of visiting an exhibition and selecting for hire a piece of art you could live with for a few months. There's this extra aspect, where you subscribe online as a member with a profile. For £20 a month, we send through the post a box of art, based on the profile you've just entered, and it's by and large a surprise what you're going to get. It's been done with vinyl, beer, handbags, but never before with art."

Exhibiting photographer Kristy Garland has been photographing York extensively for the FilmYork locations database. "Every time I was out with my camera, I fell a little bit more in love with this city," she says. "For the exhibition, I wanted to capture the beauty of what I consider to be the real York, iconic images that we who live here know and love."

Ails points to how Kristy's work complements that of her mother Ros. "Ros’ reportage is witty and honest; Kristy’s portraits of York hone in on and accentuate the city's contemporary vibe; both are really calmly composed and show real control," she says. "It's a skill that obviously runs in the family."

Woodsmill, by Kristy Garland

Ros has "always been really interested in people", first making extra pocket money by drawing portraits as a teenager. "After I learned how to use a professional camera and develop film at art school, I carried a camera everywhere," she says. "I photographed obsessively, making images of everyone I met. I photographed my own life too, not just formal occasions but everyday things I came across."

Kristy runs FilmYork alongside Vicky Parry and Miles Watts, who says: "FilmYork is working on attracting the film industry to York. We aim to support and facilitate visiting productions, as well as help the many York-based filmmakers with their shooting needs.

"Just about every local business can benefit from the film industry coming here, from hotels and hospitality to catering and creative businesses. York is a central, conveniently situated city where people can stay, create, film and produce a wide range of film and TV. Filmyork.org is the magnet for that."

FilmYork's role involves the logistics facing filmmakers: funding, equipment, internships and accommodation. Their project is being backed by Science City York, whose head, Heather Niven, says: "We're delighted to support the development of Film York. There’s a lot happening all across Yorkshire and this extra dimension specifically for York should complement all the other positive activity taking place.”

For more information on FilmYork, go to filmyork.org; for The Artillery, visit theartillery.co.uk