AFTER 18 months in her glass cube gallery on Scarcroft Road, York artist Kay Dower is ready to re-open Corner Gallery from the comfort of her own home at 2 Telford Terrace.

"Corner Gallery has moved into its new Corners and I'll be officially opening the door on Friday 13th April – what could possibly go wrong?! – from 11am to 6pm," says Kay.

When she launched Corner Gallery in 2016, her choice of art was intuitive. "I would ask myself, ‘Would I like this in my home?’ and if the answer was yes, then it was in. Now, after this latest move, the art IS displayed in my home," she says.

"Showing the art at home is more relaxed; people can see it in the context of a contemporary family home and I have more space. If you time it right, there might be a glass of fizz, or I can always put the kettle on."

Art can be found in all corners of the ground floor of Kay’s Victorian home, where she displays art work by Kay herself and "the rest of her Corner Gallery Collaborative". "The vibe is relaxed and welcoming. Viewers move through the entrance hall, where a selection of black-and-white photography by Ohio-born Julie Whelan hangs alongside witty, retro, paper-cut photography by Claire Morris," says Kay.

"The lounge area is where my paintings of local landscapes and prints – including Knavesmire and the racecourse on to which my house overlooks – dominate. Moving through to the light and airy kitchen diner, this is where ‘anything goes’ and it's a natural spot for still-life paintings (from Prosecco to Pears to Popcorn) while showcasing the ‘kitchenware’ 3D-extruded plastic artwork of Charlotte Harvey."

York Press:

A corner of Kay Dower's new Corner Gallery in Telford Terrace, York

The new Corner Gallery is also housing a capsule collection of ceramics by Emily Stubbs, oil paintings and giclée prints by Kate Pettitt and cyanotype (camera-less photography) works by Alun Kirby. "These artists have been part of the Corner Gallery Collaborative since the beginning and I’m really chuffed to have an edit of their work on show whilst they are busy opening their studios for York Open Studios!” says Kay.

Corner Gallery will be open during both Open Studios weekends, from 11am to 5pm this Saturday and Sunday and next weekend, with various 'Meet the Artist' opportunities in place. "On top of that, during the opening weekend, new business York Gin are kindly supplying some of their amazing gin for guests to sample while perusing the art," says Kay.

The approachable, welcoming vibe extends to children too. "Children can come and get their hands on a stick of graphite or charcoal and try out my easel or, alternatively, if the weather is nice enough, have a ‘draw on the floor’ outside," says Kay.

Corner Gallery has a long established gallery neighbour, Kentmere House Gallery in Scarcroft Hill, where Ann Petherick shows original work by artists from Yorkshire and further afield. "Ann and I are trying to coordinate opening hours in order that people can view both galleries and support local, original art," says Kay. "Both will be open during the mighty Open Studios weekends, so it’s two galleries within 30 steps covering more than 20 different artists."

Kay continues to run her Art Squad sessions for eight to 14 year olds in the workshop space at Olives Nest, in Scarcroft Road, and looking ahead, Corner Gallery has been selected for a place at the Art & Show event at York Racecourse on October 26 to 28.

Corner Gallery will be open every Friday from this Friday (April 13), from 11am to 6pm, and on the first weekend of every month from then on or by appointment by contacting Kay on 07973 656717 or via hello@cornergallery.art.