June has brought about two new stockist for my work:
Firstly is Chirpy in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It is a lovely independent lifestyle design store, full of interesting objects and pictures. It is located in Chapel Allerton. If you are in West Yorkshire, I suggest you check it out!
Secondly, there is Number Four Gallery in St Abbs, in the Scottish Borders. It is a comtemporary art and craft gallery, selling ceramics, paintings, prints and stained glass. Again a lovely place, run by some very friendly people, in a spectacular location!
Primarily as my birthday is at the end of it, and, er, this year it is apparently a rather significant number...Some of my news is rather odd too...
Exhibition!
I have my first ever solo print exhibition opening this week. It is kindly being organised by the lovely people at Artfelt @ Sheffield Children's Hospital. The preview evening is on Thursday 13th June (6-8pm), and it then runs until September (viewings by appointment). The exhibition will feature 30 pieces by myself, including 15 one-offs that I've not sold/shown previously as hand-pressed prints, and all work is for sale. Also exhibited are a selection of prints done by patients at the hospital, who could choose to use my prints as a starting-point if they wanted. They've done some really great stuff!
Events
I'm taking part in The Art Market in Holmfirth on Sat 29th (8-10pm)/Sun 30th June (10-5pm). I have taken part in this event a few times, and I love it. The location is great, people super-friendly, and the selection of art and crafts really special. For the occasion I've done a 'Holmfirth View', which I'll be launching there. I hope they'll like it!
Television News(!)
Well, somewhat unexpectedly, I have been selected to appear in a TV programme, called 'Portrait Artist Of The Year', which is going to be shown on Sky Arts in the Autumn! It is presented by Frank Skinner and Joan Bakewell, and the competition is to whittle down a group of 80 artists to four, then one who, will win a commission to create a portrait of writer Hilary Mantel. I've got to go down to Cardiff for the filming of first round in early July. Life gets surreal sometimes...