THE Great North Art Show will open next Saturday at Ripon Cathedral, where more than 250 pieces by British contemporary painters, printmakers and photographers will go on show.
The annual exhibition will feature work in a broad range of styles and media by both established and emerging professional artists, ranging from still life paintings, portraits and landscape studies to abstract artwork and wildlife studies.
This year, 36 artists, six photographers and one sculptor have been selected to show a body of work from Saturday, August 31, until Sunday, September 22.
Among the exhibitors will be north-eastern landscape painter Jill Campbell, whose work is inspired by her love of the wild North Pennines landscape of Teesdale and Weardale, and Leeds printmaker Janis Goodman, who specialises in intricate etchings that reveal her fascination with the repetitive patterns formed by roofs, walls and chimney pots, as well as plants, birds and trees.
Scottish artist Malcolm Davies will show intriguing pieces focused on history, archaeology and wildlife, while Harrogate artist Emerson Mayes has a growing reputation for his fresh, honest and uncontrived approach to painting grounded in the British landscape tradition.
Also showing up to five works each will be Piers Browne; Mike Smith; Ann Taylor; Jo Jenkins; Wendy Jones; Tony Dexter; Katrine Furness; Maggie Melechi; Chris Sheldrake; Alexander Swarbrick; Richard Dobson; Lesley Birch; Stephen Lennon; Glynis Mills; Kate Siddle; Blanche Lee; Ailsa Reid; Angela Bell; Nel Whatmore; Catherine Slater; Hester Cox; Steve Elliot; Carol Tyler; David Brightmore; Sarah Garforth; Mike Harford-Cross; Jan Kirkham; Rachel McNaughton; Carolyn Stevenson and sculptress Kay Latto.
The photographers will include Bill Baillie, Jamie Crathorne, Zemrick and Michael Dunne, former apprentice to Cecil Beaton. Dunne is now based in Masham, his 55-year career having taken him from fashionable 1950s London studios to the glamorous fashion scene of New York, Paris and Rome.
The winner of the Carter Jonas-sponsored prize of £1,000 for the best body of work will be announced at next Friday evening’s preview. Last year’s prize went to Askrigg etcher and oil painter Piers Browne.
The exhibition will be accompanied by other activities, including an art trail through Ripon that will take in Alan’s Gallery and Kirkgate Yarns, Chimes Café, Muse Photography, David Stead Gallery and Hornseys’ Gallery, all in Kirkgate; HG4 Gallery in High Skellgate; Westgate Fine Art in Westgate; and Lockwoods restaurant in North Street.
Wendy Orme, one of the exhibition organisers, says: “We’re delighted at the quality of artists taking part in our 2013 show. The exhibition and art trail, with its photography, etchings and prints, aims to create an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate a superb selection of high-quality art in a fantastic setting.”
Entry to Ripon Cathedral is free, 10am to 4pm daily, and all paintings are for sale. For more information about the exhibition and events, visit greatnorthartshow.co.uk or email info@greatnorthartshow.co.uk
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