Studio 61 Exhibitions 2015
We have a superb and varied line up of artists this year featuring both established and emerging artists including oils, acrylics, watercolour,
print , photography, paint and textiles so there is something very
different each month. Below are the artists statements in their own words.
February Howard Levitt
Howard Levitt studied art and design at Manchester in the
mid 1970's and was tutored by, amongst others, graphic designer Cameron
McClean, landscape artist 'Tub' Williams and children's book illustrator Tony
Ross. Sing it Lofty! He graduated at Manchester Polytechnic School of Art with
a BA(Hons) degree in Graphic Design specialising in illustration in the ' class
of '78 ' alongside fellow students
including designers Peter Saville and Malcolm Garrett, artists Peter Jones,
John Thompson Steinkrauss and Gwyneth Jones and furniture designer Jonathan
Field to name but a few.
He moved to London where, in collaboration with the artists
agency Young Artists fronted by Alison Eldred, he produced illustrations for
clients in book publishing and advertising agencies.
In the early 1980's he relocated to Cheshire and worked as
an illustrator mainly for Manchester and Cheshire advertising agencies and
spent time lecturing to graphic design students at the Salford College of Art.
Latterly he worked for major property developers, the National Trust and
English Heritage associates using his technical skills to produce highly
detailed architectural perspectives, aerial views and interpretation panels.
With the decline of the use of illustration and the advent
of computer generated imagery Howard turned his attention to painting and
drawing for his own enjoyment and for private commissions. He now sells his
originals and prints at Galleries and Exhibitions throughout Cheshire and
Derbyshire and he is a member of the Peak District Artisans. Illustration briefs for retrospective styled
paintings and conceptual visualisation
work still appear and are always welcome .
March Elileen Turner
Eileen Turner lives in the village of Lea in Derbyshire
close to the World Heritage site of the Derwent Mills. She has been painting
professionally since 2000 and works mainly in watercolour.
The sequence of the seasons, light and shade and the shapes
and patterns created by animal movement are very influential in her painting.
She is continually drawn to countryside activities, farm
animals and wildlife. Hares are particularly close to her heart. When walking
in the meadows around her home she often comes across these mystical creatures.
Creating an image of their energy and alertness is one of the challenges which
she enjoys most.
Eileen’s watercolours of brown hares have become very
collectable over the last ten years. Much of her inspiration has come from
trips to the Isle of Islay on the West Coast of Scotland in the summer.
Here Eileen paints and sketches the local brown hares in
their wild environment where they are much tamer than their English cousins.
She is able to stay close to them and observe their antics as they play in the
fields especially in the clear light of the evening when the suns rays are low
and golden.
She has loved , owned and ridden horses for most of her life
and really likes to portray the character of the horse in its many forms; in
sport, working on the land, country pursuits or in contemporary art work. Eileen
also paints farmyard characters, cockerels, horses and hounds and often has an
interesting selection of original watercolours together with Limited Edition
Prints and cards.
Eileen has exhibited in UK galleries widely over the last
ten years and sells her work internationally. She has an online shop and can
add you to her mailing list for invitations to her exhibitions. You may see her
during the summer at local agricultural shows where she sells her work from a
blue marquee.
April Louise
macintosh Watson
Louise MacIntosh-Watson is a Liverpool born artist now
living in Derby. She worked in art education for 17 years before becoming a
full time professional artist. Louise's work is easily identifiable by her
vibrant use of colour. Colours are kept clean and fresh whether using the
traditional medium of batik or in her acrylic on canvas paintings.
Louise is well known across the Midlands for her vibrant
collection of impasto textured abstract flower meadows using acrylics, emulsion
and a hint of sparkle.
May Villager Jim
Known as "the Banksy of the photography world"
Villager Jim is a passionate wildlife and country lane photographer from the
Peak District National Park, his work has appeared on television programmes
(Springwatch, Countryfile and Alan Carr Chatty Man) and in most of the National
Newspapers on a regular basis. Jim still remains totally anonymous and no one
really knows his true identity, creating a mystique and a style that is all his
own.
June Janice Allen
An artist and maker working in various mediums from 5’
painted canvasses, painted fused glass panels to small glass and silver
jewellery pendants and earrings. All
have a common theme, which is texture.
‘ Painting is very much about ME and I get a real sense of fulfillment
and achievement when I paint and it allows me to express myself , I like experimenting
with new products to see what it can bring to my work. For the last couple of years I have focused on glass fusing and
silver jewellery design but I have picked up my brushes and knives once again
and created ‘On the Top’ a series of work based on a picture of the same name I
painted back in 2007. I’ve loved
painting again and can’t see me stopping anytime soon I like the unpredictability
with the ink flow in my paintings and how the glass powders melt whilst being
fused in the kiln. I never really know what the end result will be which I find
exciting as well as a challenge at the same time. Nothing is a disappointment to me as acrylics
can be reworked, the underneath providing additional texture and any fired
glass can be broken down and reused.
Every day is a
research day to me as I can see a view whilst driving or a group of trees
whilst on a walk and these could form an idea for a painting. I love
textures and land formations and see potential in everything I see and
touch. I am lucky to live in Derbyshire
but I also travel a lot so I’m never short of inspiration. ‘
July Rebecca
Moorledge
‘I studied
illustration at Derby University and am inspired by children’s book
illustrators especially Quentin Blake and Shirley Hughes. My paintings capture
local towns, streets and people. I am particularly interested in buildings and
rooftops, they are often the most beautiful part of the building but we so very
rarely notice them in our busy lives especially in towns and cities. I use
watercolours and ink to create my paintings and they take many hours to
complete due to the detail involved in each painting.’
August Valerie
Dalling
In 2003 Derbyshire Artist Valerie Dalling took the leap and
embarked on three years of study at the University of Derby in order to pursue
her passion for fine art photography. Since starting out on her creative path,
Valerie has been inspired by many, but the landscape will always remain her biggest
influence and where she feels most at home.
Valerie has been involved in numerous commissions, from arts
in health and schools, as well as ongoing personal projects including the
effects of coastal erosion and her latest Drive Time Journeys, as she explores
the Peak District by car and camera.
She enjoys working with the community, and in 2008 founded
The Image Club, launching her first monthly photo forum. From beginners to
those with photographic experience, she has a particular interest in how others
visually respond to the world around them, encouraging discussions on image
making, through the sharing of ideas and knowledge, in relaxed and informal
environments.
September Barbara Helm
‘I am a late-comer to
the art world and I am still exploring
all types of artistic expression. I find
I am drawn to printmaking and enjoy the possibilities and often unexpected
outcomes this allows. The variety and
combination of techniques gives me the freedom to experiment and allows me to follow where inspiration
leads.’
October Jonathon Shepherd
‘I was born in
Derbyshire in 1961 and continue to live high up in Matlock Bath with glorious
views over the surrounding countryside. After leaving school at 16 I served an
apprenticeship as a plumber before joining my father in a picture framing
business. It was during this time that my interest in painting was kindled and
I taught myself to paint, initially in acrylics and watercolours but now mainly
in oils. In 1991 I took over the framing business from my father and continue
to run it to this day, although a lot more time is spent painting now. I have
won several painting competitions including the Derbyshire Pro Loco Painting
competition final which is a culmination of paintings done in various villages
throughout Derbyshire which all have to be finished on the day and are then
voted for by the public. After several exhibitions my work is in collections in
the USA , Australia and Europe as well as the UK. I mainly paint landscapes of
Derbyshire and other rural areas of the UK but of late has been experimenting
with other subjects and painting styles.’
November Jenny
Oldknow
"I have loved the
countryside all my life, and drawing and painting it remains my passion. My
studio is surrounded by stunning Derbyshire countryside which continually
provides a great source inspiration for my work.
Having a firm
foundation of good draughtmanship through daily sketching and drawing, and my
preference to study my subjects from life and on location, means that I have
developed a keen eye for detail and ensures I can confidently adopt a more
spontaneous and intuitive way of working in my favoured medium of watercolour,
resulting in fresh and lively paintings, full of glorious splatters, washes and
wet-in-wet blends. I aim to capture the essence of the subject with a unique
combination of realism and abstraction. I am constantly growing and developing
as an artist, as my work evolves through daily practice and experimentation in
my craft."
December Frances Daunt (Garden Gallery)
‘I live in Derbyshire
and gain much of my inspiration from my many walks through the countryside. I
love creating felted pictures of the birds and animals that I see.
To create a felted
picture I lay out the wool and bind it together using a process known as wet
felting, I then add details using tiny bits of wool which I push in with a
needle (needle felting). I like to have
my pictures professionally framed ready for display. I accept commissions,
including felted pet portraits.’
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