thewhitegallery

exactly the right picture...

2012-01-27T04:22:00.001-08:00

'White Nancy from Rainow Road', by Christine Anne Sheehan.

Paintings by Bollington-based arist, Christine Anne Sheehan, have always been popular at thewhitegallery: she manages to capture the essence of the village and the hills that surround it with such skill and affection. And I love the way she paints light.

Recently, a customer came in to see if we had any paintings of Bollington: she was moving to start a new life in London but was struggling to leave the village behind. She wondered if there was something she could take with her to remind her of the time she'd spent here? I showed her a small print by Christine, which happened to be her favourite view of White Nancy as you come down Moss Brow from Long Lane, somewhere she often walked her dog.

She loved the view but the print wasn't big enough, so i suggested she might like to commission a painting. Within days, the customer had met Christine and talked things through. Christine then went away to paint exactly the right view, at exactly the right time of year (that crispy, crunchy time in winter, with frost on the trees and pinkish watered-down light) and with exactly the right dimensions and frame.

You might say it was exactly the right picture. And certainly a lovely way for my customer to remember the village and its breath-taking views - she and the hound even feature in the painting!

'White Nancy from Moss Brow, Winter' by Christine Anne Sheehan

new year, new work by ian jarman...

2012-01-20T04:57:00.000-08:00

'Snow in Manchester' by Ian Jarman

I've worked with Ian Jarman since the gallery opened in 2007. In fact, his large monoprint of Deansgate in Manchester was the first picture i ever sold. But that's not why I have a deep affection for his work: it's because of the skill he brings to every picture, recreating a scene with such sensitivity and making even the most grotty cityscape come to life with light and humanity.

Each line of parked cars, each skyscraper, each gable end is reproduced with such a clear interpretation. I love the way Ian brings such tenderness to the ugliest of scenes. I think this artist could make any gutter beautiful, any skip seem lovely. But he doesn't forget to make his pictures real. As someone who lived in Manchester for many years (my children were both born in St Mary's on Oxford Road, near the University) I have a real soft spot for the city and Ian Jarman shows me the Manchester I carry around in my head: the hidden corners and tucked-away places that reveal the city to us; the fire escapes that climb the backs of buildings behind Picadilly Station, the scrubland car parks round the back of the Arndale, the alleys around and about the Northern Quarter.

'Snow, Roman Fort, Castelfield' by Ian Jarman.

His affection for the city is there in every picture, and it's that quality that makes me smile whenever he shows me something new.

beautiful bird houses by amanda mares....

2011-11-30T06:00:00.001-08:00

the perfect gift for anyone who loves beautiful, handcrafted things, this bird house is made from vintage fabric and comes with a contrasting fabric bird. the house can be placed on a mantle or bookcase, or hung from the wall.

the artist, amanda mares, is based in manchester. we have five different bird houses for sale and, like anything bird-related at thewhitegallery, i'm expecting them to fly out quickly, so be sure to visit soon.

art angels special delivery...

2011-11-28T05:42:00.001-08:00

i love this time of the year, when i can order new christmas cards from my wonderful suppliers, art angels in norwich.

the images they use are just beautiful - by artists like allen william seaby & print makers such as robert skinner and alice melvin - and they're printed to the highest quality, so lots of customers return to have them framed.

these are just a small selection of the cards on offer this year.

christmas comes early to thewhitegallery...

2011-11-28T05:11:00.000-08:00

...in the shape of new work by the very talented ralph mcgaul.

demand for this artist's work is growing, so make a date to drop in soon and see his new paintings. i promise you won't be disappointed.

'coat of many colours,' by ralph mcgaul.

'baby's head, chips & gravy', by ralph mcgaul.

'lake or backwater' by ralph mcgaul.

we also have some new work by di metcalfe and jenny hirst - perfect for that surprise gift on christmas morning.

the gallery is open wednesday to friday 10am-3pm and saturday 10am-5pm.

something special from over the hill...

2011-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

'Tulips' by Ingrid Karlson-Kemp.

One of my favourite car journeys out of Bollington is up Blaze Hill, along the side of the ridge with White Nancy at the end, and out across the moors towards Buxton. The children especially love the twists and turns in the road, and the openness as you get to the highest point with the valleys below. I always remark that 'I think that's Shuttlingsloe?' without actually knowing, but something I'm very sure about is that every bit of the landscape makes me want to exhale and lower my shoulders. It was this journey (but in reverse) that the artist Ingrid Karlson-Kemp took to find me the other day.

'River Breaking' by Ingrid Karlson-Kemp

Originally from Sweden, Ingrid works in mixed media, using rich, colourful textures whether working with recycled paper materials or stitching in fabric and fibre. Storytelling inspires her work where subject matter ranges from memories, journeys and experiences, to the magic landscapes of her present home in Upper Dovedale or her roots in Northern Sweden. Favoured techniques include collage, mono-printing and crystalline watercolour lending the work a luminous quality.

Ingrid is one of the resident artists at the Gallery in the Gardens at Buxton's refurbished Pavilions. She is also a member of the Peak District Artisans, exhibiting at the prestigious annual Great Dome Art Fair in the Buxton Festival Fringe.

I'm just delighted Ingrid has decided to venture over the hills to come and exhibit at thewhitegallery. Don't miss this chance to see her work before Christmas.

'Honeysuckle' by Ingrid Karlson-Kemp

new papier mache sculptures by patty callaghan...

2011-11-05T09:37:00.001-07:00

who could resist patty callaghan's papiermache creations. a whole herd of cattle, sheep, crows and shire horses are crowding out thewhitegallery this christmas! fantastic value, starting at just £35 for a newspaper heffer, i dare you not to be charmed! they've brought a smile to the face of every customer who's seen them. be sure to take a look soon - and let us know if you've got any special requests as i'm sure patty could rustle up the odd terrier or gloucester old spot if we asked her nicely! email fionabailey@mac.com for more information.

New work by Adele White...

2011-11-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

'It's the Ephemera' by Adele White

Based in South Cheshire, Adele White's work is immediately striking for its rich use of colour, shape and texture. Adele often works beyond the canvas, placing found objects like metal and board around and over the edges of the base.

"The stimulus for my work," she says, "is a vast collection of memories and experiences...these include old boats, architectural surfaces and peeling billboards whose rich textures and time worn qualities provide intrigue. It is the ephemera which trace a person's existence by the surface marks that remain, which I find fascinating."

Adele describes her painting process as a kind of 'artistic archaeology'- the oil paint is layered up and selectively rubbed back to reveal previously worked areas. Her work is essentially abstract but there is something very realistic about elements of it too - a bus ticket here, a foreign stamp there, each tiny fragment a memory of some journey taken, some place visited. Like a very beautiful scrap book presented in a painterly way. Each picture tells a story and it's up to the viewer to interpret the tale.

'Stop, Look, Listen' by Adele White

bollington walking festival 21-30 october 2011

2011-10-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

delamere forest I by di metcalfe

to celebrate the second bollington walking festival, thewhitegallery is hosting an exhibition of work by local artists celebrating the landscape.

poynton-based painter, di metcalfe, has produced some beautiful oils of macclesfield forest and a series of paintings depicting delamere forest, cheshire's largest area of woodland near northwich. rich strokes of brown and black represent the trees which are reflected in the lake, with turqoise skies behind. there is a feeling of snow in the air which feels just right for this time of year, as the evenings draw in and we all begin to hunker down and set our fires.

closer to home, bollington artist christine anne sheehan reproduces scenes familiar with walkers and cyclists, such as the the view from baxendale towards kettleshulme or the hills around pott shrigley.

john smith paints the local pond at the bottom of ingersley road with blaze hill in the background, using loose and confident strokes to present his impression of the village.

textures by jack lloyd

jack lloyd's popular photomontages of the village will also be exhibited, with framed and mounted prints available to take away from as little as £40.

please do drop in to look around - if you're lucky there may be tea and cakes available for a donation to the bridgend centre, curtesy of my two children dan and carrie, who've been busy baking.

come rain or shine, hope to see you over the festival & happy walking!

oh, and don't forget to buy your tickets for the catwalk show on sunday 30th october at 7pm, available from the bridgend or here at thewhitegallery. lots of great recycled clothes on show, and the chance to bid for a bargain as tv auctioneer adam partridge takes to the pulpit to auction outfits at the end of the evening. tickets cost £6 (including a glass of wine and nibbles) and are selling fast so be sure to get yours NOW! all profits to the wonderful bridgend centre...

something fun for the autumn....

2011-10-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

dean murray has created some really fun images of white nancy: pop in to take a closer look at 'planet nancy', which uses some very clever photographic techniques indeed. brownie points to the person who can explain how he does it!

andy fullalove - paintings filled with colour & light

2011-10-08T04:59:00.000-07:00

andy fullalove's interest in painting began as a young boy, when he remembers wanting to recreate van gogh's 'sunflowers'. his grandfather was a painter and when he died, andy inherited his paints and brushes.

He has always worked in oils, creating layer upon layer of texture & colour. one of the main themes in andy's work is the regeneration of the land - the notion that civilisations have risen up through adversity alongside the constant force of nature.

Andy's work is filled with a richness of colour and light, giving you a palpable sense of the energy and vigour with which he paints.

kenneth lawson (1920 - 2008)

2011-09-24T02:53:00.000-07:00

There is something quite beautiful about the way Kenneth Lawson painted - the elegance of his brush stoke, the confidence of his colour palette. I'm delighted to showing five of his paintings at thewhitegallery this autumn.

During his early years as an artist in Dulwich, Kenneth's mentor was the Royal Academician, James Fitton. Kenneth exhibited with the 'London Group' at Burlington House and at major London galleries, including the Leger and the Redfern.

His working life revolved around the theatre, working as a scenic artist and designer for the Royal Opera House and Convent Garden and in 1951 he was approached by Graham Sutherland to assist with his large painting, 'The Origins of the Land' for the Festival of Britain. The painting was created at the Tate, and has remained there ever since.

During the 50's and 60's Kenneth worked at the BBC in Manchester, designing for television and then in the 1980's he returned to the theatre, collaborting on seven operas for the South Yorkshire Opera Company at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, including sets for 'Madame Butterfly' and 'Tosca'.

Retirement allowed Kenneth to concentrate once again on painting, inspired by visits to the Algave, Madeira and Italy's Amalfi coast.

During his lifetime, Kenneth's work was exhibited widely across the north west, at Gallery Oldham, Touchstones Rochdale, Salford Museum and Art Gallery and the Whitworth in Manchester. Many of his works also reside in private collections in the UK, France, Holland and the US.

summer holidays...

2011-07-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

thewhitegallery is now closed for the month of august. little people require attention. please do visit us again from wednesday 7 september.

in the meantime, if you get a yearning for original art, please do pop in to the newly named amuse cafe & brasserie on chestergate in macclesfield, and enjoy some of the wonderful art they have on their walls, curtesy of thewhitegallery.

and they're open in the evenings now too, so if you fancy a glass of wine and some great home cooked, locally-sourced food (including bangers from Heathcotes!) be sure to visit on a thursday, friday or saturday evening, from 6.30pm. always good to book, so call them on 01625 664404 and tell them i sent you! or you could down load a menu at www.amuse-cafe.com and see what tickles your tastebuds....

enjoy your summer.

fiona, richard, dan & carrie

john smith & anthony lewis-dowell

2011-07-08T05:36:00.000-07:00

asda, by john smith

two new artists to get very excited about - john smith and anthony lewis-dowell.

interestingly, these two studied art together and there is definitely a similarity in their styles - their use of colour and the looseness of their brush strokes for sure, and the nod to liam spenser too - but none of this takes away from their original talent.

john smith's oil paintings of stockport are quite beautiful, making the ordinary extraordinary with his use of light and colour, and his impressions of bollington and white nancy - a landmark entirely new to him - are inspired.

white nancy, by john smith

anthony lewis-dowell describes himself as a former 'bad-boy biker' but you see only good things in his oil paintings. trained in graphic design, you can see influences of this in his paintings of iconic objects like a marmite jar and a kodak camera. then he takes you by surprise, painting a beautiful city scape of manchester.

refuge building, manchester by anthony lewis-dowell

all these paintings are available to buy at thewhitegallery, prices on request.

art@amuse 17 june - 17 july 2011

2011-05-28T08:34:00.001-07:00

thewhitegallery is delighted to be hanging an exhibition of work at this year's macclesfield barnaby festival.

art@amuse will showcase the work of ten talented artists, including jenny hirst, amanda wigglesworth, susan laughton and jo jenkins. jo is new to the white gallery, and i'm really excited to be hanging her work for barnaby as it seems to embody a lot of what the festival stands for in that it's bright, and bold and makes you feel happy.

painting by jo jenkins

the venue is the same as last years, only julia and andrew have decided to rename the cafe 'amuse' (formerly al PANINO), with a whole new look and menu to boot. there are lots of great ideas in the pipeline, including a tasting menu and a supper club, so be sure to give them your support and visit soon. the cafe is at 43 chestergate in macclesfield town centre.

art@amuse begins over the barnaby weekend (17-19 june) and continues until 17th july. a rolling exhibition of work by a variety of new and established artists will hang throughout the year.

for more information about events and happenings over the barnaby weekend, please visit www.barnabyfestival.org.uk

Macclesfield Barnaby Festival 17 - 19 June

2011-05-23T13:42:00.001-07:00

'150 years of Macclesfield People.' Photograph by Brian Law.

As many of my customers will know, Barnaby is a Festival close to my heart. This year, as last, the gallery is sponsoring an event and I am proud to be associated with the Macclesfield Camera Club exhibition being hosted by Shackleford Pianos on Athey Street.

The exhibition, '150 years of Macclesfield People' is a combination of old and new images, which capture the timelessness of everyday life - children on street corners, people going to work, youngsters enjoying the fair. For more information about the exhibition, please visit www.barnabyfestival.org.uk and click on the visual arts events page, where you'll find lots more besides.

With over 70 events at 40 different and unusual venues, what's not to like. Make sure to pick up a brochure or visit the website to find out more about all the visual arts, live music, performance, opera and film about to explode onto the streets of Macclesfield this June. You'll kick yourself if you miss it!

'The Bate Hall Ghost.' Photograph by Fiona Bailey

I'm also delighted to be involved with the new Macclesfield Opera Company, Silk Opera, which is performing a new production by Nicholas Smith, 'The Bate Hall Ghost,' over the Barnaby weekend.

Tickets are available to buy online and are selling fast, so make sure to book now for Friday 17th or Sunday 19th June. It promises to be just as entertaining as last year's 'Monkey Run' (which also used Christ Church as its venue - such a superb imposing piece of Macclesfield architecture) and as impressive, musically, as this year's Dido & Aeneas which was performed at the United Reformed Church in Macc, to packed audiences.

RALPH MCGAUL: A SOLO SHOW 7-21 MAY 2011

2011-04-14T03:55:00.000-07:00

'the brew', a new painting by ralph mcgaul

Emily Mugridge's hugely successful show might seem like a hard act to follow, but we think we have something equally special lined up.

From Saturday 7 May to Saturday 21 May, thewhitegallery is hosting an exhibition of new work by another talented local artist (and someone I've been raving about for ages) Ralph McGaul.

His work caused quite a stir at last year’s highly prestigious East Cheshire Hospice Art Fair exhibition, which thewhitegallery helped to hang. Ralph's work really stood out: there is something so visceral about his style, and his figures have such personality. Each painting tells a story and you feel drawn into the picture, sure that each person is about to speak.

Ralph McGaul was born in Bollington and now lives in a disused mill on Sunderland Street in Macclesfield, which doubles as his studio.

“I grew up drawing,” he says. “My mum’s an artist and she encouraged me to experiment with different techniques. I love re-using old materials too, and often make woodcuts using old skateboards or bits of plywood. My paintings are very intuitive – I don’t really know where my ideas come from but I enjoy the process of creating something from my imagination. Although sometimes I’ll see something in a café or waiting for the bus and think, yeah that would make a good painting. Then I’ll take out my sketch book and draw a few ideas.”

It’s not often you come across someone so young, with such artistic maturity. He just knows how to create really striking images that are often quite unsettling, but in a good way.

Ralph exhibited at last year’s Macclesfield Barnaby Festival, as part of the ‘Save Us’ Contemporary Art Exhibition alongside internationally recognised artists like Ian Davenport, Andrea Booker and David Shrigley. His striking seven-foot tall mosaic of a skeleton sat very comfortably in the mix.

Ralph McGaul is at thewhitegallery on Wellington Road in Bollington from Saturday 7 May to Saturday 21 May. Don't miss it.

'girl drawing' a new work by ralph mcgaul.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ARTIST

When did you first start to draw/ paint?

I think that all young children like to draw and paint just as I did. The question is more whether or not you enjoy it enough to keep doing it. The desire has always been there for me, although I’ve not always been as productive as I am now. A family trip to Zurich when I was twelve really re-ignited my interest. Seeing a city completely covered in graffiti left a deep impression on me. I was surrounded by bold, striking patterns and vibrant colours on a massive scale and was immediately inspired to begin painting again. The style and approach of street art was the starting point of my development as a painter.

Your mum is an artist – was she an influence?

My Mum always encouraged me to paint and draw but I was not drawn to the landscapes and seascapes that are her inspiration. However, I can now appreciate that although our subjects are usually different there are links between our styles and techniques. I’ve even recently entered the Jobling Gowler art competition with a local landscape.

Explain how you start work on a painting?

I like to work intuitively and become absorbed in the process. Sometimes I will start with a sketch or subject in mind but often there is no preconceived idea. In this case I will begin by painting in an abstract fashion: making marks, lines and shapes and building up areas of colour until an image is glimpsed. At this point some of the shapes become form and a degree of representation is achieved.

How did you become interested in printmaking?

I first began to experiment with woodcuts after seeing an exhibition that included works by Anselm Kiefer. Relief printing especially appeals to me as the technique limits the colour palette, creating strong opposing blocks of colour that form powerful simplified images.

What are your techniques and influences?

I mainly paint with acrylic on wooden boards. This enables me to scratch and scrape into the surface, building up textures and exposing the multiple layers of paint. Often I paint on salvaged boards and will allow the existing colours or textures to show through. I put a lot of energy into my paintings, working intensely and sometimes franticly. This is something I hope comes across in the finished piece.

A wide and varied range of art influences my works. Most recently I’ve been inspired by modern British artists such as Robert Colquhoun and Henry Moore. However, I am also drawn to the simplicity of medieval art, movements such as Art Brut and die Brücke and the expressive and decorative style of African art.

I have now been working from my studio on Sunderland Street for around four years. A series of successful exhibitions last year finally gave me the confidence to commit to my artwork full time and my work has really benefited since. Having the time to explore my style and develop my techniques more intensely has enabled me to achieve a greater satisfaction and belief in my work.

'untitled' by ralph mcgaul.

EMILY MUGRIDGE : 'SCENE & HERD' EXHIBITION 26 MARCH - 9 APRIL

2011-03-18T04:58:00.000-07:00

'Love Moo' by Emily Mugridge

From Saturday 26 March to Saturday 9 April, we're delighted to be hosting an exhibition of new work by up-and-coming Bollington artist Emily Mugridge.

A full-time lecturer in Art at Macclesfield College, Emily’s work is much in demand. Her cow paintings are especially popular and people just love the way Emily manages to convey each cow's personality. At the last East Cheshire Hospice Art Fair in Macclesfield, the wife of top celebrity and BBC Radio 2 DJ, Christ Evans, bought two of Emily’s cow paintings for their little boy’s nursery.

“That was a really nice surprise,” says Emily, “although I’m delighted when anyone buys my work. It’s just nice to know that people appreciate what I’m doing.”

Brought up in an artistic household (Emily’s mum is also a well-respected local artist), Emily spent her childhood making and creating things. “There was a time when the whole family had to watch TV through the rib cage of a life-sized horse made from paper,” she says. “My GCSE Art project. That hung in the lounge for about four months!”

Emily’s paintings are loose and textured, often incorporating a mix of paint, tile adhesive, plaster, enamel and collage which she constantly sands, scrapes and washes back to reveal hidden layers. Her work is very evocative and with some you can almost smell the flowers in the foreground. Emily has a wonderful way of communicating a sense of place in her paintings, making local landscapes of Bollington and the surrounding hills come to life.

‘Scene and Herd’ is at thewhitegallery from 26 March to 9 April 2011.

To accompany the exhibition, Emily has produced a 'cow sketchbook', available to order online at www.blurb.com - just search for her by name.

'Late Summer Colours' by Emily Mugridge

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ARTIST...

Emily, you've become rather well-known for your cows! Explain the fascination please, for yourself and others?

I think the real fascination began for me when I was stuck in a ‘cow jam’ in Adlington one morning. My car was surrounded by a herd of dairy cattle on the milk run. I had my camera with me and although the photographs were not great, they gave me a starting point for a painting.

From a young age I have always drawn and painted animals, particularly horses. Whilst horses undoubtedly make great subject matter they have been the subject of many paintings through the ages, whereas cows have traditionally been in the background – part of the scenery. I know there are many other contemporary artists who would agree with me that cows deserve to take the limelight once in a while. There is something about cows that I find more challenging as a painter – they are cumbersome, lumpy and angular. They are also very beautiful in a more down-to-earth way and they have a sort of gentle humour about them. I try to capture that in my work. I can’t speak for everyone of course, but I think that the element of humour or narrative appeals to people who buy my work. My cows have a tangible personality.

You paint other things too, landscapes and cityscapes. How do you go about choosing your subject matter?

We live in an area of stunning natural beauty and can also be in the city within 30 minutes, so choosing subject matter is never a problem. I tend to look for subjects that will provide me with a challenge. It might be a single factor, like the colour of a stormy sky, which triggers an idea for a painting. Sometimes the subject matter is chosen for me – someone will commission me to paint a specific place. And then some places just have a resonance for me and I know them well, so I paint them often and instinctively.

Your mum is a talented local artist as well, Joan Fisher. Was she a big influence?

My mum spent a lot of time with me drawing, painting and sewing. As well as teaching me practical skills I realise now that she showed me how to be resourceful and creative. Both my mum and dad were a great influence as I grew up because they allowed me to have an imagination and never complained about the mess I made in the process! I remember making a picture out of pasta shapes glued onto the kitchen wall when I was about three. There was a time when the whole family had to watch TV
through the rib cage of a life-sized horse skeleton made from paper – my GCSE Art project. That hung in the lounge for about four months.

You work full time as a Lecturer in Art at Macclesfield College, as well as having three small children - how do find the energy (or time) to paint?

I always find the time somehow! It often means late nights. I have a very supportive husband and kids who are proud of what I do and don’t mind living with the boxes of canvases and splashes of paint.

Also, there is (or should be) a symbiotic relationship between teaching art and practicing art. I am a big believer in ‘practice what you preach’. When I was at Art College the lecturers were quite guarded about their own work and I found that frustrating. The one lecturer who had the biggest influence on me was the one who brought his own work in to discuss and offer technical advice. So I try to do that myself and I take work in to College to discuss with students. When I’m not teaching I normally have a painting on the go in the corner of the studio. The students that I teach are mainly studying on Higher Education level (Foundation Degree) courses already or preparing for Higher Education, so it is important that they have a clear sense of professional Fine Art practice.

Any advice for budding local artists?

I always say to my students that the world of Art, Design and Craft is highly competitive and although raw talent is important, success is also about perseverance:

Enter competitions and take part in exhibitions. Get involved in local arts festivals. Contact galleries. Don’t be put off by rejection. Be organised and never let people down. Keep your name in peoples’ consciousness. Have a good ‘web presence’. Have good quality photos and jpegs of all your work.

Most of all…make work that you enjoy making! It will probably be necessary to strike a balance between what you enjoy doing and what people want to buy, but never let it become a chore.

Are there things you'd like to see happening in Macclesfield to improve the arts scene & to help promote local artists' work?

The Barnaby Arts Festival has really helped to highlight the wealth of creative talent that thrives in Macclesfield and the surrounding area. However, I would love to see a permanent public gallery space/ Arts Centre in the town to showcase this talent, ideally a space where various sectors of the community (schools, colleges, community groups, artists and makers etc.) could collaborate on creative projects.

'Lavender Fields' by Emily Mugridge

pictures to be quite with...

2011-01-27T05:01:00.000-08:00

It's not often that I insist people see something up close to appreciate it's beauty, but in the case of Susan Laughton's work, I do. The iridescence of each piece, and the sense of stillness they exude, requires more than just a jpeg.

Susan uses a trowel to apply layers of plaster to the canvas, then works in paint and ink, scrapping back and putting on, until she's happy with the result. Each trace line has meaning, each tiny mark a message like some kind of artist hieroglyphics. The overall effect is incredibly calm & beautiful. The perfect picture to be quiet with.

ken mosley returns...

2011-01-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

Customers may remember when the gallery was owned by Ken and Val Mosley, who ran it as the Greenhouse Gallery for 24 years. Ken's watercolours and pen and ink drawings of the village were extremely popular and many's the time i've visited someone's house and seen one of Ken's pictures on the wall.

Since they moved to Sheffield three years ago, Ken has continued to paint, although his work has taken a very different path as you'll see from these pictures.Ken Mosley has exhibited widely at galleries throughout the UK and participated in open exhibitions such as the Royal Institute, the Royal Watercolour Society, The Royal Society of Marine Artists & The Manchester Academy of Fine Art.

lots to look forward to this new year...

2011-01-12T06:47:00.000-08:00

thewhitegallery is busy planning exhibitions and events for the coming year, including two solo exhibitions this spring and a summer garden party which will extend throughout the month of July. Treats will include lots of outdoor sculpture and several artists in residence, who will paint and demonstrate their skills in the summer house - prepare to be dazzled.

EMILY MUGRIDGE: SAT 26 MARCH - SAT 9 APRIL
Nosey Old Cow, by Emily Mugridge

A solo show by Bollington 'artist to the stars', Emily Mugridge, who is known affectionately as the cow lady! Several of her bovine beauties now grace the nursery walls belonging to BBC Radio 2 DJ, Chris Evans no less. Don't miss this opportunity to view a brand new collection of work by one of the North West's most up and coming artists. Oh, and Emily paints beautiful landscapes & cityscapes too, so they'll be plenty to choose from.

RALPH McGAUL: SAT 7 MAY - SAT 21 MAY

'The Walk Home' by Ralph McGaul

Local artist Ralph McGaul presents a series of new paintings, created in his studio in Macclesfield. Another rising star, Ralph's mainly figurative work is primitive in style and visceral in nature - you can't help but be effected by the energy of his work, punching out from the canvas. Ralph also produces striking woodcuts which will be on show and available for sale.

'The Old Couple' woodcut by Ralph McGaul

Work by both artists is extremely popular, so to avoid disappointment please make sure you put these dates in your new 2011 diary.

It's also worth noting that thewhitegallery will be sponsoring and taking part in this year's Macclesfield Barnaby Festival, which runs from the 17-19 June 2011. For more information, please visit www.barnabyfestival.org.uk over the coming months...

a winter welcome to artist debbie goldsmith...

2010-12-18T04:05:00.000-08:00

thewhitegallery is delighted to be hanging some beautiful work by artist Debbie Goldsmith

Debbie's use of sumptuous colours (especially blues and oranges) make her canvases fizz with energy and life: looking at one of her pictures makes my tummy go funny. There is something quite visceral about the marks she makes, and the confidence with which she places the image on the canvas. Abstract landscapes have depth and movement, cityscapes reveal buildings and figures comfortably inhabiting the impressionistic space.

Debbie Goldsmith is an established artist who has exhibited nationally and internationally, most notably with the British Council in Sao Paulo, Brazil. hHr work recently featured in the book, 'A Colourful Canvas - Twelve Women Artists in the North West', which accompanied a group exhibition at St Peter's House in Manchester.

Debbie has also worked on numerous commissions for both private and public collections including Manchester Art Gallery, Rocco Forte for the Lowry Hotel and St David's Bay Hotel, Manchester Airport and Castlefield Gallery.

new limited edition prints by dean entwistle

2010-11-29T04:37:00.000-08:00

'bollington autumn', by dean entwistle

just in time for christmas, a beautiful new print of bollington incorporating many of the village's iconic landmarks such as adelphi mill, waterhouse surgery, blaze hill and the canal. you might even spot your own house if you look closely...

artist dean entwistle painted the original watercolour several years ago and it has now been made into a limited edition print for others to enjoy.

printed and framed in bollington, the picture costs £350. demand is expected to be high, so please order soon to avoid disappointment.

other new prints include a moonscape of shuttlingsloe and a nightscape of kerridge ridge, with white nancy illuminated against the sky.

'nightscape of shuttlingsloe' by dean enwistle

'kerridge ridge II' by dean entwistle

all things white and beautiful...

2010-11-10T06:14:00.001-08:00

I love this time of year, with the dark nights and the air cold enough to bite. Here at thewhitegallery we're preparing for christmas, bringing together lots of new and original gift ideas so that customers have as much choice as possible.

Works on paper by Chloe Holt

You might like to treat yourself or some one you love to a piece of affordable, original art. We have several new artists showing at the gallery, including Scottish painter, Mary Tully and Chester-based artist Chloe Holt, whose work was exhibited at the Florence Biennale in 2009 alongside headlining artist Marina Abramovic. Chloe has been awarded the International 'Lorenzo il Magnifico' prize for her works on paper.

Or perhaps you have a teenage daughter or neice who loves to doodle, in which case you might like to see our new journals, with re-usable covers made out of vintage silk scarfs by local artist and maker, Heather Penn.

Quality journals, with covers made out of silk scarves. Replace the journal, reuse the scarf!

Women of any age will love new work by Manchester-based artist Lily Greenwood, who hand-paints beetles, bugs and butterflies which she then incorporates into delicate collage on canvas.

Or perhaps you know someone who might appreciate work by Derbyshire printmaker, Sue Vanderplank, who delivered some wonderful new screen prints (both framed and unframed) to suit everyone's pocket.

We also have some handmade textile pictures designed by Jilly Duffy Unwin that would appeal to anyone, which depict the iconic White Nancy as a christmas pudding!

Ho, ho, ho...

new work for the winter...

2010-11-05T05:20:00.002-07:00

'Memories' by Karen Wise

This beautiful painting by Karen Wise is just one of the treats in store for visitors to thewhitegallery this winter.

Prestbury artist Karen recently received an award of merit for another painting on show at Stockport Art Gallery, and has successfully exhibited her work in galleries and exhibitions through out the region. Not so long ago, she was also in line for a Daily Mail 'Not the Turner Prize' award.

Karen has honed her skills over the years working as a designer and training with a top sculpture artist in Manchester. You can see more of her work here at thewhitegallery and at Stockport Art Gallery until November 28th.

'Pomegranate' by Andrew Parker

More new work from another talented artist, Andrew Parker, who has his studio in Vernon Mill in Stockport and is best known for his portrait work.

'Mother' by Andrew Parker, which was shortlisted for the BP Portrait Exhibition 2009, at The National Portrait Gallery, London.

Recently Andrew started an MA in Fine Art at Manchester University and was keen to broaden his portfolio, so began painting still lives of fruit which can be seen at the gallery, each painting a study in strength and beauty. i've never known so many people beguilded by a banana.

Andrew is also available for portrait commissions. Please contact the gallery by phone or email if you'd like more information.

SPECIAL SUNDAY OPENINGS...

2010-10-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

Untitled by Jane Morley

To celebrate the first Bollington Walking Festival, thewhitegallery is hosting an exhibition of landscape paintings (see information below).

We will be opening over both weekends of the festival, including
10-3pm on Sunday 17th and Sunday 24 October. Please join us for a glass of wine and an opportunity to meet some of the artists whose work will be on display.

Jane Morley & Tim Ball...

2010-10-07T05:04:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted to introduce two new artists to thewhitegallery: Stockport-based Jane Morley and Derbyshire artist, Tim Ball.

Both artists exhibited at this year's Wirksworth Arts Festival - a real gem of an event worth looking out for next year if you've never been before - and I was immediately struck by the beauty of their work.

"My previous paintings were inspired by modernist architecture and classical landscape painting," says Jane, "but my most recent work deals with actual locations, giving a cropped picture-postcard view of some favourite buildings and places around Manchester and beyond."

Janes almost photographic paintings have a beauty and light reminiscent of the American artist Edward Hopper. People are absent from her pictures, allowing the buildings to stand alone, as personalities in their own right.

Tim Ball focuses on the natural landscape for his work, in particular trees.

"Landscape has been my inspiration for many years and my main focus has been the Peak District. I attempt to capture images that are a snapshot of a certain place at a certain time, often revisiting throughout the various seasons. The colours and compositions are very important, often obscure but which represent a chance glimpse into the ever-changing spaces of our environment."

Both Jane and Tim refer to photography in their analysis of their work which is very interesting: as a photographer myself I enjoy framing a picture in-camera and finding interesting and unusual ways to present quite ordinary things - a chair perhaps, or a building against the blue sky - and I can see this approach in both Jane and Tim's illuminating paintings.

'ART OF LANDSCAPE' 15-30 OCTOBER

2010-10-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

'Soft Light over Shuttlingsloe' by Dean Entwistle

As part of the first Bollington Walking Festival 2010, thewhitegallery is hosting a new exhibition of work inspired by the joys of walking, examining the way in which the landscape influences and defines a painters work.

Local artists taking part include Dean Entwistle, Colin Halliday, Jenny Hirst, Zelda Pickup, Emily Mugridge, Emma King, Jane Osmond, Carlo Eves and Di Metcalfe.

thewhitegallery will be opening on both Sundays through the festival fortnight, from 10-3pm, with a glass of wine and nibbles available to help you enjoy your afternoon. We look forward the seeing you then.

colin halliday

2010-09-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

It was a pleasure to visit the home of artist Colin Halliday last week, whose Derbyshire attic is stuffed full of beautiful landscapes. There is a barn too, which you walk to from his front door past the chickens and up some precarious wooden steps, to find more of the same: exquisite oils on canvas, the colours melting into one another, big bold skies and windswept hills.

Each painting was as glorious as the next and made choosing just five or six to bring back to the gallery really difficult. There is an energy to Colin's work which really takes your breath away.

"You should paint how you feel" he says. "That's where the soul and spirit is."

We talk about the way he uses his own energy, working quickly and instinctively with the paint.

"The purer the marks the more soulful the painting. If you try and control it it becomes contrived and looses its integrity. You need to just let it be"

Colin Halliday's work will feature in a new exhibition of landscape paintings to be held next month at thewhitegallery. Other artists include Dean Entwistle, Jenny Hirst, Emma King and Zelda Pickup.

The Art of Landscape (15-30 October) is part of the Bollington Walking Festival. For more information, please visit www.cheshirepeakdistrict.com

a shining success...

2010-07-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

at a time of global financial gloom, it's nice to be able to report that the art world is still shining, and that people can still see the worth of original art.

the feedback from everyone who visited our open house in wilmslow was fantastic: over 300 people came through the doors, treating the house with great respect and letting us know how much they appreciated the work that had gone in to the show.

the paintings looked so beautiful, hanging in such a great space and it was interesting to see how people reacted to the work in situ. so often, large galleries can seem rather austere and it's difficult to image a piece of work hanging in your own living room. by exhibiting art in a home environment, you begin to see it in a different light and perhaps visualise it above your own mantle.

it was a great weekend for all the artists, especially jo deas who hosted the occasion and whose work virtually sold out - a testament to her talent and ability.

thank you to everyone who took part, and to everyone who visited the exhibition.

artist and host, jo deas.

open art house - 3&4 july 2010

2010-06-24T08:16:00.000-07:00

For one weekend only, thewhitegallery and artist Jo Deas are hosting an open art house at Jo's beautiful designer home in Wilmslow. Jo and husband Ben have kindly given over their living space so that five talented local artists (including Jo) can exhibit their work.

“We thought it would be a great opportunity to invite people to come and have a look at contemporary art exhibited in a home environment,” says Jo, who began life working in illustration and design and returned to her first love, painting, once her three children had started school.

The house has featured in a number of interiors magazines and the space is ideal for an exhibition. “Sometimes visiting large galleries can be a little bit daunting” Jo explains. “The art is beautifully displayed but it’s difficult for people to imagine how it might look above their own fireplace.”

All that is about to change, as we hang over 40 pictures by Jo, Amanda Wigglesworth, Jenny Hirst, Sabine Kussmaul and Fiona Charis Carswell.

All work is for sale and people are welcome to come along between
2-4pm on Saturday 3 & Sunday 4 july to enjoy the exhibition.

Lindow House can be found on Lindow Lane (off Racecourse Road), Wilmslow SK9 5LH.

mixed media painting by jo deas

For more information about the open art house, please call Fiona on 0776 167 7370.

thewhitegallery sponsors Young Macc: ART at Barnaby...

2010-06-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

thewhitegallery is pleased to be sponsoring a great event at the Barnaby Festival.

Young Macc: ART is a mixed-media show of the best art from over 20 Macclesfield primary and secondary schools. It celebrates the hard work and creative vision of pupils of all ages and their teachers too. All schools have been invited to exhibit the work they are most proud of.

Visit the exhibition, which takes place at the Town Hall on Market Place, and spot the talent of tomorrow.

Young Macc: ART, sponsored by thewhitegallery, continues until 26th June.

'Art at al PANINO' - 17 June to 17 July

2010-06-05T06:58:00.000-07:00

A specially commissioned photomontage of Macclesfield by Jack Lloyd, for the 'Art at al PANINO' exhibition.

As part of the Barnaby Festival, we've teamed up with al PANINO cafe bar on Chestergate to present a new exhibition of work by over 20 white gallery artists, including Amanda Wigglesworth, Jenny Hirst, Di Metcalfe, Carlo Eves and Jane Osmond, who, although best known for her beautiful etchings, is presenting oil paintings for the first time.

Art at al PANINO is a new collaboration: for a while now i've been looking for new and interesting spaces to hang my artists' work. When Julia, who owns the cafe, came into the gallery one day last year we got talking. Only days before I'd been in the cafe, coveting its wall space. Don't you just love serendipity. So now we're putting on an exhibition together - a great opportunity to showcase more work to more people, and enjoy great coffee into the bargain.

Art at al PANINO runs from 17 June to 17 July.

Please come along over the Festival weekend especially, and enjoy seeing Macclesfield as you've never seen it before. If you go on the festival website there's an art quiz for the kids too, so you can enjoy walking around all the different exhibitions and venues, whilst the children are kept busy hunting for clues.

Don't miss out - please get involved, buy tickets for some of the fabulous events, and support this not-for-profit festival which deserves every success.

al PANINO cafe bar is open 7 days a week, 8am-6pm Monday to Saturday & 10am-4.30pm on Sundays.

Macclesfield Barnaby Festival 18-20 June

2010-05-29T03:31:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months, thewhitegallery has been busy helping to promote a wonderful new arts and culture festival happening this summer in Macclesfield.

The Barnaby Festival is a re-invention of the centuries-old tradition of celebrating St Barnabas’ feast day, when in more recent times factories and schools would shut down and everyone would head off to the seaside. It had virtually died out, but now it's back with a flourish.

Highlights of the festival include an opening street parade; ‘Save Us’ - a stunning exhibition of art and sound sculptures by award-winning artists with a Macclesfield connection; a community opera written by local conductor Nicholas Smith based on an old Maxonian courting ritual called the ‘Monkey Run'; a Late Night Cabaret; a Flaming June Fire Show and a live concert by internationally celebrated folk musician Jim Moray.

Andrea Booker SOS 2009 Reclaimed signage

Visit the website, pick up a brochure and plan how to spend one of the most exciting weekends of the summer.

Most of the events are free, but some are ticketed (and selling fast!) so please do drop in and buy yours from thewhitegallery. We're delighted to be a ticket venue and it's been a great opportunity to tell people about the festival, the events planned and also the people behind it. It's been a fantastic team effort and if everyone turns out to support us, we can look forward to many more Barnaby's in the years to come. If you fancy volunteering for a few hours over the weekend, then please let us know - the more the merrier I say!

For more information about events and artists, please visit www.barnabyfestival.org.uk.

'PAK JOY' EXHIBITION 1-15 MAY: New paintings by Christopher Rainham & Di Metcalfe

2010-04-21T06:04:00.001-07:00

we are delighted to present a new exhibition of work by talented artists Christopher Rainham and Di Metalfe, which begins on saturday 1 may and continues for two weeks. the gallery will be open both sundays and on bank holiday monday too, from 11-4pm.

Rochdale-based Christopher Rainham paints beautifully realistic birds and modern still-lives, such as pak choi and ice cream sundaes. His fresh palette of colours – lime greens, cherry reds and iced gem blues – is perfect for leading us towards summer. An established artist, Christopher has exhibited throughout the UK - including successful Art Fairs in London and Glasgow – as well as America.

Di Metcalfe lives in Poynton and spends all her free-time painting in the garden shed! She creates vibrant sea and landscapes, using North Wales as her inspiration. Her paintings have been described as “little explosions of joy” and Di has created quite a stir since first exhibiting at the East Cheshire Hospice Exhibition two years ago.

If the weather’s nice, you'll also be very welcome to explore the hidden sculpture garden behind the gallery to enjoy ceramics by Amy Daniels and metal wall art by Congleton-based artists, Ian Turnock and Susan Laughton. There might even be tea and cakes, so make sure 'pak joy' is on your bank holiday to-do list!

paintings & chicken soup....

2010-02-11T02:54:00.000-08:00

artist fiona charis carswell creates beautiful paintings: she also makes great chicken soup! one frosty morning recently, i drove over to chester where fiona lives. we'd been trying to meet since before christmas, when i saw her paintings for the first time at the 'off the edge' exhibition in styal, but sadly, snow, a flooded cellar (fiona's) and a dodgy clutch (mine) had prevented this. an invitation to lunch finally brought us together.

having spent most summers since childhood on the isle of jura in scotland, fiona's work is the result of a natural empathy with the wild and awe inspiring beauty of the island. interpreting its natural energy in the expanse of the landscape, her paintings and drawings are experimental in essence. she is searching out a balance, a fluency of composition, having observed the contours stretched and surrendered to the elements.

using lines of charcoal, blocks of pastel and paint, fiona works on board and perspex, layering with plaster and papers - building up or scraping back.

there is a stillness to her work - something so simple about the lines and the gentle colour palette -and yet there is also an energy and vibrancy which gives each picture a character of it's own.

fiona's background is fascinating: she studied fine art in oxford and was tutored by the world famous bookbinder, Ivor Robinson. her uncle was assistant to the sculptor Henry Moore, her cousin an assistant to anthony caro, and her grandfather a poet and writer. fiona has inherited those writing skills, and often incorporates text into her pictures. she is also currently working on the illustrations for a retelling of an african bushman tale.

the beautiful mural on her twin daughters' bedroom wall is also testament to her skills as a children's illustrator.

happy new year...

2010-01-08T13:58:00.000-08:00

a very happy new year to all our customers, in this our third year of business. i can't thank people enough for their support and encouragement: we had a fantastic christmas, with customers choosing to visit us first for inspiration, which was lovely and much appreciated.

i'm just glad we seem to be offering something a little different & original- please keep visiting, and be assured we will keep offering lots of new and exciting things for you to enjoy.

something special...

2009-12-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

painting in acrylic by di metcalfe

with christmas just around the corner, what better excuse to buy your loved ones something special from thewhitegallery: choose from a range of original paintings and prints, sculptures and ceramics, textiles and jewellery, including some fantastic new pieces made by local silversmith, alison lees, and a new range of necklaces, bracelets and rings by popular designer, jenny young.

we also have tote bags and holdalls made from vintage fabrics by artist karen anthony, on special offer this christmas.

we've even taken care of the wrapping bit, and are offering customers a special gift wrapping service, free of charge. so please do pop in for a mooch and find the perfect present this christmas.

we look forward to welcoming you.

please note, thewhitegallery will be closing for christmas on wednesday 23 december at 5pm and will reopen on wednesday january 13 2010.

let it snow...

2009-11-28T03:22:00.000-08:00

'beetham tower, evening light' by ian jarman

as the nights draw in, there is nothing i like more than dressing the christmas windows to cheer everyone as they return home from work and school. this year, we have a special addition in the shape of a christmas tree made from an old metal table and the shelves of an oven - creative recycling by artist gavin darby.

we also have lots of new and interesting gift ideas, from jewellery to journals, paintings to prints, ceramics to soft furnishings, including hand-printed silk screen cushions made by local designer,
rachel sumner.

new paintings include landscapes by emma king, emily mugridge, di metcalfe and zelda pickup.

'crisp day' by emma king.

we also have a collection of abstract work by henry quick who incorporates found objects from the two world wars into his pictures, which are both stunning and quietly respectful of the events and places remembered.

other new artists to join us include colin halliday,liz orchison and polish artist wojciech plust.

we are also delighted to welcome award-winning painter ben kelly, who has recently moved to macclesfield and created two charming prints of white nancy which are on sale now.

we also have new monoprints by ian jarman and joan fisher, whose skylines of manchester are striking and beautiful.

CARLO & CROFT EXHIBITION 4-21 NOVEMBER

2009-10-16T02:21:00.000-07:00

Rainow (oil on canvas) by Malcolm Croft

thewhitegallery is delighted to be hosting a two-man show by local artists, Carlo Eves and Malcolm Croft. The show coincides with the gallery's second birthday.

Snake Pass (acrylic on board) by Carlo Eves

Carlo paints mainly landscapes and takes his inspiration from Italy (where he grew up) as well as the hills and fields of Cheshire and Derbyshire.

Malcolm also draws on his surroundings, but focuses on still-life and the everyday: a colander, a coffee pot, a vase of chrysanthemums.

Local potter, Chris Malins, will also be exhibiting raku ceramics. "We thought it would be an interesting challenge to collaborate," says Carlo, who has know Chris for years as a friend and fellow teacher at Mid-Cheshire College in Northwich. "I worked on a series of paintings and Chris produced hand-thrown pots which I then painted in a similar style. It was wonderful working with different glazes and there is always a sense of alchemy with raku, which makes it very exciting."

A vessel thrown by Chris Malins and decorated by Carlo Eves.

Malcolm Croft is currently exhibiting work in Chorlton, Manchester and Lymm. An award-winning photographer, he had to give up his career behind the lens after a serious road accident. Influenced by Frida Kahlo and David Hockney, Malcolm uses bold outlines and strong colours in his work. "I like to paint scenes around my home, because that is my daily environment," he says."I particularly focus on food and meal times, because that is when the family comes together at the end of the day."

Recently Malcolm's work has received wide acclaim, featuring in several magazines and on BBC television. His recent one-man show sold out in 48 hours, selling a total of 41 pictures.

thewhitegallery was the first gallery to exhibit Malcolm's work back in November 2007, when we first opened.

lovely new things at thewhitegallery...

2009-09-04T02:27:00.001-07:00

This is my very favourite time of the year, when the evenings start to draw in and the trees suggest a change of colour. To celebrate the beginning of Autumn, Bollington artist Andrea Fisher has made a tree for the window, using copper and iron wire.

Andrea graduated from Blackpool college with a degree in Illustration, specialising in Science and Natural History, and her fascination with root systems and leaf structures can be appreciated in the fine detail of this sculpture.

Other recent additions to the gallery, include block paintings by Christopher Rainham who delights in painting birds, especially robins, and a new collection of felt scarves and corsages by international felt artist, Claire de Ruiter. Each piece is made using undyed wool from local sheep.

"There is no need to dye the fleece" says Claire, "as the natural colours from individual sheep are stunning: oatmeal, grey, bright brown. When you apply moisture, heat and friction, such a strong fabric is created - felt is the world's oldest fabric. Working with an organic product creates a very satisfying affinity to the landscape."

For more information about Claire's work, and to find out about her felting workshops, please visit www.clairederuiter.co.uk

beautiful light...

2009-07-22T12:58:00.001-07:00

you have to wonder whether the mills around here were designed with photography in mind, all fabulous vaulted ceilings and huge arched windows letting in the light. whilst shooting at clarence mill for the local wisdom project, i was drawn to the way in which sunlight danced off the stone and made peoples' skin almost iridescent. it was one of those beautiful summer days...

we met some wonderful people, all generous enough to share their stories with us: about their wedding suits (which would be their death shrouds too - so practical and such a lovely idea, taking your wedding suit and everything it witnessed, to the grave) and their inherited shawls; their special skirts and commissioned kimonos; their handbags made from recycled horse tack and jumpers knitted using hair from a much-loved hound! all of life visited the mill that day.

the photographs we took in totnes and bollington will feature as part of an exhibition at 'fashion for good' in sydney australia, where kate fletcher will be giving the key-note speech. some of the photographs will also be on display in thewhitegallery window during our summer holiday in august. please take a look.

for more images, please visit www.fionabaileyphotography.co.uk and click on 'special projects'.

local wisdom comes to bollington...

2009-06-26T06:22:00.001-07:00

aaron sweater - 'never washed, much loved'

over the last few months, i have been working on a fascinating project called 'local wisdom' with fellow bollingtonian, kate fletcher, who works at the london school of fashion.

kate's research work focuses on the issue of sustainability, and this project is all about how ordinary people connect with their clothes. i have been involved taking photographs for the project which will be part of the 'fashion for good' exhibition in sydney, australia, where kate is giving the keynote speech in july.

we have already visited totnes and worked with members of the community there. now it's bollington's chance to show us what they're made of!

for more information about this project, and to find out how you can take part, please visit www.localwisdom.info

THREE SHIRES TEXTILE FESTIVAL 2009

2009-06-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY 4 - SUNDAY 19 JULY
SPECIAL SUNDAY OPENING FROM 11-4PM

thewhitegallery is pleased to be taking part in the first Three Shires Textile Festival, which has over 100 events planned around the region.

an exhibitiion of contemporary textile art, 'New Threads', will include work by international artists elizabeth brimelow and claire de ruiter. the windows too, will be bursting with colour as we hang a quilt made entirely from plastic bags by lynn setterington and a silk kimono by anne ward, inspired by her helicopter ride over arctic glaciers.

following the success of the bollington festival, we will also be using the garden summerhouse to hang work by other artists, including felt pictures by suzy shackleton (shown above), silkscreen canvases by designer rachel sumner and quirky stitched hangings by artist jilly duffy unwin. other local artists exhibiting work include angela oswald, dandy lewis and sarah johnson.

the sculpture garden will include new installation pieces by embroidery graduate becky waite, ceramic sculptures by amy daniels and recycled metalwork by gavin darby.

for more information about the festival, please visit www.textilefestival.com.

other bollington events include an exhibition of work curated by anne ford at the arts centre, an exhibition of pictures by dandy lewis at the cafe waterside and an oriental rugs and carpets exhibition at 'the weave' rug shop on bollington road.

for more information about these events, please visit www.happy-valley.org and click on 'the arts'.

stitched violin on paper, by sarah johnson

dogs love art too...

2009-05-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

a wonderful world...

2009-05-21T06:02:00.000-07:00

thewhitegallery has been humming, with hundreds of people dodging the rain to come and see jack's exhibition and the secret sculpture garden. it's been a pleasure sharing the space with visitors and receiving such positive feedback. children especially, have enjoyed the animals in the garden and the summerhouse studio has been a big hit, with several pictures sold and lots of praise for local artist, emily mugridge.

gavin darby's recycled metal horse, hercules, has caused quite a stir, with lots of people wondering how on earth we got him up to the top of the garden. the answer is in two pieces.

david broadhurst's little clay men on the top of the summerhouse have also delivered smiles, looking as they do like inmates on the top of a prison roof, trying to escape.

people have also been busy photographing the garden.

jo belfield took pictures as her little boy alex wandered amongst the dingle dangles, made by becky waite out of recycled plastic bottles. when the sun shone, flakes of light bounced off the mirrors and danced around the garden.

thanks to everyone for their kind words and for recommending us to friends and family. due to the success of the garden, we now plan to host a sculpture garden & special summerhouse exhibition every year.

'nosey cow' by emily mugridge (mixed media on board) available to buy at thewhitegallery. please ring for details.

into the swing...

2009-05-10T00:55:00.000-07:00

lady bugs & butterflies filled the streets of bollington, as the festival got underway and the sun shone for the carnival procession.

we had a fantastic day at the gallery, with lots of interest in jack lloyd's exhibition. artist becky waite worked with little people in the garden, making garlands out of petals and leaves made from the laminated pages of old magazines.

the summerhouse exhibition showing work by local artist emily mugridge also proved popular. emily will be here at the gallery over the weekend of 16/17 may as part of the artists' trail.

secret sculpture garden takes shape...

2009-05-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

Everything is on schedule for the launch of thewhitegallery’s secret sculpture garden, which opens this week.

Macclesfield artist, Becky Waite, has been putting the finishing touches to her installation piece, ‘Glittering Fall’, which is made entirely of recycled water bottles.

“It took the whole day to install” says Becky, “but I think it was worth it.”

The waterfall is made of hundreds of discarded water bottles which have been beautifully woven with coloured plastic thread and mirrors. When the sun shines it reflects all the light and creates a real sense of water flowing. Even if it rains, it’ll be just as effective.

‘Glittering Fall’ is just one of the sculptures on show in the garden, which includes work by internationally renowned artist Jeff Teasdale and David Broadhurst. Clay sculptures by award-winning graduate, Amy Daniels, also nestle amongst the plants. They have a really organic quality, resembling strange but beautiful alien pods: they look as if they’re about to burst open like something out of Doctor Who!

At the top of the garden sits Hercules, a life-size metal horse made out of old car parts by sculpture Gavin Darby, whose work will be recognised by regular visitors to thewhitegallery.

thewhitegallery sculpture garden is open from 8-25 May between
11-5pm. For further details please contact Fiona Bailey on 01625 260016 or email fionabailey@mac.com

BOLLINGTON FESTIVAL 8-25 MAY 2009

2009-04-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

8-25 MAY 11-5PM TUESDAY-SUNDAY : 'THE VILLAGE' PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION BY JACK LLOYD

8-25 MAY 11-5PM TUESDAY-SUNDAY : 3D SCULPTURE GARDEN WITH SUMMERHOUSE EXHIBITION SPACE

9-10 MAY 11-5PM ARTISTS' TRAIL WEEKEND :
JACK LLOYD & BECKY WAITE OPEN STUDIOS

16-17 MAY 11-5PM ARTISTS' TRAIL WEEKEND :
EMILY MUGRIDGE OPEN STUDIO

thewhitegallery is delighted to be part of this year's bollington festival and we have lots of exciting exhibitions & events planned.

we’re hosting a new exhibition of work by the popular manchester-based photographer, Jack Lloyd, whose images of Bollington (including the evocative 'bollington heights' & the quirky 'palmerston street', both below) have become quite a talking point.

jack will also be taking part in the Artists’ Trail, which happens over two weekends during the festival. the artist will take contemporaneous photographs of Bollington and build a new piece of work from scratch. “it’s a really exciting project,” says jack, “as the work will be very much influenced by the things happening around us on the day.”

visitors to thewhitegallery will be able to watch Jack at work on his laptop, combining image and text to create a unique photomontage of the village, which will be available to buy.

a sculpture garden will also be open at the rear of the gallery, with work by various artists including jeff teasdale, gavin darby and david broadhurst. work by amy daniels, a recent graduate and ‘art in clay’ award winner, will also feature alongside recycled-plastic installations by new artist becky waite.

talented local painter, emily mugridge, will be painting and exhibiting too in the summerhouse as part of the artists’ trail.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FESTIVAL ARTISTS:

JACK LLOYD

Jack's original work for thewhitegallery offers a unique perspective of Bollington. As an artist based in Manchester he views things from the outside, presenting the village in a completely new light.

“I work in the photographic medium, using digital techniques. Pictures are created from multiple images with the intention of conveying a sense of the area. My artwork documents how people use the environment and the marks they leave behind. I walk around the area I intend to photograph and try to capture the many elements - sounds, smells and visual rhythms – that are present. I have never felt that any one shot alone will convey the complete reality of a scene..."

‘the village’ exhibition includes a series of six original images created specially for the 2009 Bollington Festival. All of the limited edition prints on show are available to buy.

EMILY MUGRIDGE

Emily Mugridge is a painter and Fine Art lecturer. She trained at University College Falmouth and lived, worked and exhibited in Cornwall for several years before returning to Cheshire.

Her paintings are based on rural and urban landscapes. Emily’s primary concern is creating a personal record of ‘how it feels to be somewhere at a particular time’, rather than creating a faithful representation of a place.

A recurring theme in Emily’s work is human impact upon the natural environment - evidence of construction and organisation of land spaces contrasted against natural phenomena.

Emily uses a range of traditional and non-traditional media depending on the overall effect she wants to achieve. She often stitches and folds the canvas before painting, drawing, applying tile grout and collage, scraping, sanding, stencilling, spraying, splattering and washing the work to build up layers of texture and colour.

GAVIN DARBY

Based in Nottingham, Gavin Darby works with scrap metal to recycle it into birds, flowers, dogs, or anything else it wants to be. The raw material is found in the skip of an agricultural engineer, fly tipped, discovered or donated.

Where possible the found material is not heavily worked, so traces of its previous life are visible. The finished piece is not painted or chemically treated but left to react to its environment and to weather in.

Gavin’s snails in particular have proved very popular in Bollington, adorning mantle pieces and gardens around the village: if you drive to the end of Water Street and look up to your right, several of the little critters decorate the iron railings of a roof garden.

The full size horse exhibited in the sculpture garden took Gavin three months to construct and is made entirely of recylced metal - the legs and body used to be a shop security grill, the hooves are pistons, the shoulders are car suspension arms & the twirly bits are electrical cable.

As well as selling his work through galleries and his own business, Frailloop, Gavin has worked on a variety of commissions designing sculptures for hospitals and schools. He has also made a pair of 20 foot high cricketers out of scaffolding for a village in Northamptonshire.

AMY DANIELS

Amy Daniels is a ceramic artist making sculptural objects for indoor and outdoor spaces.

Inspired by junkyards, she collects obsolete objects and examines their qualities, striving to recreate the details seen in discarded metal and the deteriorating surfaces of old industrial structures. The effects of nature and time on the artefacts of urban life are important aspects: rust, cracks, bright layers of peeling paintwork and rough, worn edges are the qualities she transfers through her work.

Each piece has a unique surface and form, and is slab built using crank clay. A geometrical shape is often used as a body to carry intricate and delicate surface details. The piece can then be sited in a garden setting, and allowed to slowly become part of its environment, echoing the beauty in discarded junkyard treasures.

Amy Daniels won a Highly Commended Student Award at the Art in Clay Ceramics Festival at Hatfield House in 2007 and in
March 2008, her work was featured in Craft&Design Magazine.

DAVID BROADHURST

Born in south Manchester, David spent three years on the south coast training to be an art teacher. He then returned to the north- west to teach in Cheshire. After a long and fulfilling career in primary education David retired from full time work in 2007. He is presently enjoying a busy life that includes serving Bollington as its Town Clerk, leading art workshops in schools and working with the education faculty at Manchester Metropolitan University. David illustrates and paints in watercolour and acrylic. He also hand builds quirky models in earthenware clay. David also works in schools creating large painted boards for installation in play spaces.

For his contribution to thewhitegallery sculpture garden, David has created two whimsical little figures out of clay, to be found climbing the summerhouse roof.

JEFF TEASDALE

Much of Jeff’s work is sculptural and combines a love of earthy textures and colours translated into raku ceramics, with other ‘found objects’ incorporated into them, such as pebbles, sticks, bones and stones collected from the landscapes he happens to find himself in at the time.In 2007, Jeff designed some wall sculptures for the ‘Purple Stripe’ entry by Macclesfield Borough Council at the Royal Horticultural Show in Tatton Park. The MBC ‘small garden’ theme was to illustrate just what was possible when transforming a small back-yard, the like of which is common in Macclesfield and Bollington, into a garden of limited space. Jeff used roof slates as a base and a spiral motif of ‘found objects’, all of which had been unearthed when digging gardens – old plant pots, pebbles, bits of china, and broken mirrors and glass. The spiral was inspired by snails - ‘our garden is alive with them; they have probably lived here since long before our Victorian house was built, and will no doubt still be here long after it has gone!’’ It is also a potent form in terms of shapes found in nature (ammonites, pine cones, leaf stems for example) and thus mathematics, and Henri Matisse’s study of nature was reduced to this common but most complex of forms.

BECKY WAITE

Becky Waite was born in Macclesfield in 1986. She studied embroidery at the Manchester School of Art.

Becky’s work explores the jewel-like potential of discarded waste and takes the form of sculptural pieces and window installations. A love of light and the pure sensory energy of illuminated colour informs much of her work.

During several trips to India, Becky learnt traditional folk embroidery techniques such as aari and mirror work, which she incorporates into her art, juxtaposing the traditional with the avant-garde.

Becky’s installation art for thewhitegallery sculpture garden was inspired by her graduation chandalier made entirely of recycled plastic bottles. She wanted to recreate that sense of light playing on plastic, and both the canapy and her dingle dangle trees reflect her love of sunshine and colour.

BOLLINGTON FESTIVAL ARTISTS' TRAIL MAPS & SOUVENIR POSTERS

thewhitegallery has helped to produce the open studios map for the artists' trail, illustrated by local artist and gallery exhibitor, dean entwistle.

please visit the gallery to pick up a map and also buy a souvenir colour poster which we've had printed as an additional fund raiser for the festival. other venues selling the poster (for £2) include the post office, the library and the festival box office.

jenny hirst at thewhitegallery...

2009-03-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to welcome local artist Jenny Hirst to thewhitegallery.

Jenny ran an interior design business for nine year's before deciding to return to college six years ago to study Art and Design. Working from her studio at home in Alderley Edge, Jenny has exhibited in Cheshire, Manchester, Derbyshire and Wales as well as working on several commissions for homes and offices.

Mainly she takes her inspiration from the landscape around her, whether rural or urban, and she is particularly interested in the juxtaposition between manmade structures and the natural landscape.

Jenny works by making quick sketches and taking photographs in situ to capture the atmosphere of a place before developing these ideas back in her studio.

She works in various mediums including paint, charcoal, ink, pastel, collage and monoprint and is very interested in bringing texture into her work using various techniques to achieve this such as scratching and rubbing into the paint to reveal the layers beneath. Most of her work is semi abstract, giving the viewer a hint of the subject matter without it being a true representation.

Work currently on sale at thewhitegallery include paintings of Vietnam, Greece and Kinder Scout in the Peak District - an eclectic mix which illustrates the richness and variety of Jenny Hirst's work.

love, love, love...

2009-01-16T04:17:00.000-08:00

after the chaos of christmas and the turning of the new year, it's nice to stop and think.

there is so much to look forward to at the gallery: new arts and crafts; new cards and stationery; new exhibitions; the bollington festival in may and the three shires textile festival in july.

with valentines day just around the corner and hyacinth bulbs popping in the garden, what's not to love.

new artists & designers bring festive cheer...

2008-12-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

this christmas time, we are delighted to introduce a whole bundle of new artists and designers, whose original work can be seen for the first time at thewhitegallery.

'dark shore' is one of three new oil paintings by zelda pickup, an artist from alderley edge who is quietly making waves.

other new artists include barry wigzell, di metcalfe, janet rigby and david evans, whose intricate three dimensional pictures, handpainted in watercolour, can be seen both in the window - the amazing 'babel table' which took four months to create - and on the walls.

etchings by popular local artist, jane osmond, are also now available for sale. some are especially poignant at this time of year, depicting snowy scenes of white nancy in the moonlight or tiny sledgers on blaze hill.

a warm welcome is also extended to textile artists rachel sumner, anne ward, jilly unwin-duffy and gemma lockwood, whose beautiful and unique aprons and tea-towels adorn the mannequin in our window, like some winter bride.

handmade cushions decorated with chandelairs and sparrows by young textile graduate, rebecca wilson, dress the sofa and ceramic tiles & bowls by manchester artist, lee page hanson, brighten the interior.

this has also been a busy time of year for fionabaileyphotography and earlier this month i spent a lovely morning taking photographs of the smith family. this is just one of the images - of charlie - which we took on white nancy early one sunday, as the sun came up...

the calendar boys...

2008-11-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

Bollington's Calendar Boys are out and proud at thewhitegallery. Please call in to buy a copy or order online at www.bollingtonfestival.org.uk

new paintings by bollington artist dean entwistle...

2008-07-04T04:23:00.000-07:00

"I'm convinced that all authentic beauty originates from the natural world," says Dean Entwistle, whose new work now hangs in thewhitegallery. "I try to reflect that in my paintings", he says. "That's what gives me a buzz."

Originally an illustrator, Dean worked on projects as varied as designing postage stamps for the Republic of Ireland, illustrating travel guides and painting dolphins for the Sultan of Imman. He now paints full time, using only watercolours which he loves for their "subtle and responsive" nature.

The two new pictures, 'Windgather Rocks' and 'Shuttlingsloe', are strong examples of Dean's use of colour and detail. Looking at the nightscape of Shuttlingsloe - with the moon and the snow - makes you want to whisper for fear of disturbing the peace. The energy of Windgather Rocks, on the other hand, makes you want to shout into the wind.

Both pictures are available as framed limited edition prints from thewhitegallery.

bangles and baubles...

2008-06-20T04:53:00.001-07:00

derbyshire designers jenny young and rachael marnoch have sourced both fairtrade and recycled materials for their new range of beautiful handmade jewellery, 'earth', available now at thewhitegallery. each piece is unique and is created using a combination of wood, glass and metal such as brass and pewter. a range of silver jewellery made from silver clay - a bi-product of the medical industry - will be available soon.

thewhitegallery welcomes amanda wigglesworth....

2008-05-10T08:09:00.001-07:00

'The Gathering' by Amanda Wigglesworth

Amanda Wigglesworth studied Art and Design at Manchester Metropolitan University. She first gained exposure in 2003 when she was a prize winner at the Birmingham Royal Open. Since then she has exhibitied in Cheshire, Harrogate, London and most recently at the City Inn, Manchester.

Amanda's work reflects the changing nature of Manchester's urban landscape, its people, buildings and unique atmosphere. Her work communicates the vibrancy of the city and is achieved by building up layer upon layer of paint and then scraping through to the canvas.

shine a light....

2008-05-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the beauty and simplicity of nature, artist Hannah Nunn designs a range of lamps and shades to bring the beautiful botanical world into your home.

New to the white gallery, Hannah's lamps are available in a variety of sizes and designs. Each table lamp is freestanding and comes with a two metre cable and 40 watt bulb.

new photogravures by harold thompson...

2008-04-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

Working out of his studio in the Derbyshire hills, artist Harold Thompson uses the traditional printing method of photogravure to produce beautiful nudes, now showing at thewhitegallery.

Photogravure is a process which uses gelatin to transfer an image from a black and white negative to a copper printing plate. The gelatin carries the image because it hardens in proportion to its exposure to light. Areas of the gelatin not exposed stay soft and can be dissolved away in water. What remains is a gelatin version of the image which is then pressed onto a copper plate. The plate is placed in an acid bath. Where the gelatin is thick, the acid eats the metal away slowly, where the gelatin is thin or absent, the acid eats faster. Thus the plate is etched to different depths according to the tones of the original image. When inked for printing, the varying depths hold different amounts of ink.

easter at thewhitegallery...

2008-03-07T03:59:00.001-08:00

artist and designer, lindsey vigurs, creates cakestands out of vintage plates and glasses found at charity shops and car boot sales. a fantastically inventive way to recycle all those odd pieces of china, lindsey's work is now on sale at thewhitegallery in time for easter and beyond.

an invitation to our first exhibition - 'marrakech' by ewa james: sat 1 - sat 15 march 2008

2008-02-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

Here at the white gallery we're delighted to be hosting our first exhibition by local photographer, Ewa James.

‘Marrakech’ brings together a collection of fascinating images that portray this Moroccan city from a very individual point of view. Taken using old film stock and a plastic ‘toy’ camera, each photograph bristles with atmosphere, each picture seeming to tell a story: the old man sitting by the bread oven, the mule and cart being driven through the marketplace. Although these pictures are contemporary, the style and format – a halo of darkness around the edges, sepia tones, saturated colours – evoke a sense of the past. “I have noticed that the best photos are those taken before I get familiar with the environment”, says Ewa. “Before I fully integrate, stop seeing and start taking what surrounds me for granted.”

Originally from Poland, Ewa moved to Bollington after she got married and continued to work in advertising, although her real passion is photography. A confirmed technophobe, Ewa relies on instinct when it comes to taking photographs. “I am still ignorant about aperture, focus and shutter speed”, she says. “I shoot with intuition and I think my role in the process is to spot a subject, point at it and click.”

q) When did you first start to take photographs?

I have been interested in photography for some time. My husband was a professional photographer and would talk to me about light and techniques, but all I absorbed was the final product of his work rather than the technicality. I had my own ideas - I always wanted to capture contrast.

q) Have you always used a holga - what do you like about this type of so-called 'toy' camera?

Three years ago a friend of mine told me about Holgas and the ‘toy camera world’, where your attitude towards taking pictures is more important than the quality. The best part for me is the unknown and unexpected. This is where I see the advantage of film cameras over digital. I hardly ever use the viewfinder so I don’t really know how I capture the photo. I may not know for a long time, until the film is developed. And then there is a surprise, or disappointment, with what I imagined would be. It is also raw. I hardly ever enhance photos digitally – only if I have to remove dust or salvage a frame – and sometimes it’s great if they are over or under exposed too.

q) Tell us about your marrakech images.

There are a few reasons why I think ‘Marrakech’ is successful. Firstly, my attitude towards travel – I am not a touristy kind of person and everywhere we go we want to get a ‘feel’ and be a part of the place. I suppose that helps you ‘look down’ while others ‘look up’. I am lucky as my husband is exactly the same and we want the same things and travel together very well. Secondly, it is difficult to take pictures without being asked for a few Euros, so most (but not all) of my photos are taken ‘from the hip’ – that’s why there are so many unusual crops and angles. Also, by accident I packed lots of black and white film although Marrakech meant colour to me and I intended to use colour film only. So in a way I was forced to use black and white and now I don’t regret it. Lastly, the collection works I think because of one very simple thing - the light of Marrakech in winter.

q) Your photographs have a very particular point-of-view: they seem almost secretive or stolen - is this intentional?

There is little intention in my photography. Most pictures are spontaneous. Some of them may be intentional but I don’t have full influence on what comes out in the end. Or maybe the intention is to find something - that’s my role - and to give it a different look – the camera’s role.

q) You work in advertising and your photographs are very compelling - each one seems to tell a story. if just one of your marrakech series could be used to advertise a product, what would that be and why?

This is difficult. I am an advertising director not an advertising art director. I think maybe my photos could advertise the camera itself. What you can do with it. Forced to think about it maybe they would be best conveying an emotional message rather than a product-based one. The photograph of sheep being herded, ‘wool in motion’, could be for quality carpets…or the berber in blue could symbolise airline hospitality...perhaps the Volvo & Donkey could communicate a sense of reliability, something that doesn’t break down...

q) What else do you have up your sleeve?

I have built my own scarecrow and I take him everywhere with me. Not to landmarks, but to places you would least expect to meet him. I will publish the first pictures before the end of the year. I’d really like to show my ‘Arizona’ series in America (see ewa’s website for images) and I’m hoping we can go to South America soon too. I would also like to capture central Asia, for example, Uzbekistan, but I need to work on my husband to let me….

to see more of ewa's work visit her website at www.flickr.com/photos/ewaj

land falls at the white gallery...the new year brings new artists.

2008-01-31T13:41:00.000-08:00

local artist, carlo eves, takes inspiration from his native italy and the hills around bollington, to create beautiful landscapes in mixed media.

'land falls' is a large painting in five sections, like panes of stained glass that hang together to make a whole. the landscape drifts between each window making you look again and again at each part, your eye following the paths and contours of the land.

the last few months have been really exciting for us at the white gallery. there has been a tremendous response to our framing business and pictures are selling well. there is a huge demand for local scenes - a reflection of just how special the village is to the people who live here - and jack lloyds's photomontages of palmerston street and the surrounding hills have proved especially popular. oil paintings by bollington artist and part-time teacher, christine anne sharrock, have also sold well, with sea scapes of st ives flying off the walls. chris and her husband, dave, have a house there and it obviously provides a deal of inspiration for the artist whose particular skill lies in creating a sense of movement and light.

fun on a sunday...

2007-12-18T12:53:00.000-08:00

my first official white gallery commission and what a lovely job. originally asked by helen to photograph four children, 2 horses and a dog i was reminded of that famous phrase about children and animals, but it never came to pass. ted, ev, gabriel and joshua where a delight, and reggie the dog was just fantastic, lying about the place looking enigmatic...

winter at thewhitegallery...

2007-12-06T15:09:00.000-08:00

with christmas in the air, i wanted to introduce some new things to the gallery, which would hopefully intrique and inspire....

local artist ian jarman created a beautiful new picture in mixed media - angels in albert square - which sits in the fire place of our new window display, alongside an etching of white nancy by macclesfield-based artist, karen anthony. karen also made the stockings which hang from the mantle piece, using her imagination and lots of recycled textiles, including photocopied maps of bollington. look closely to see the fantastic amount of detail and intricate stitching used to create these heirlooms.

the work of ewa james (originally from poland but now living in bollington) is also new to our walls. her photographs, taken using a plastic holga 'toy' camera are fascinating explorations of journeys and points-of-view. a self-confessed technophobe where cameras are concerned, ewa's talent nevertheless shines through. it's perhaps precisely because of her simple point-and-shoot technique that ewa's picture's are so effecting. an exhibition of ewa's 'marrakesh' series will premier at thewhitegallery in the new year.

designer claire elsworth, of whaley bridge-based company 'durier', has provided our white sofa with some fabulous new cushions for sale...

...and derbyshire-based woodturner matthew lovell has created some very tactile (and sustainable) wood bowls and dishes.

the oak, ash and birch colours of his wood perfectly compliment the textiles used by karen anthony to create her range of 'bitsbox' bags and bangles which we are now selling, alongside her popular 'book in a bag' (it's just that - a beautiful book, in a beautiful bag) and some unique evening bags which are all made from vintage fabrics - including some that have a wonderful, local theatrical history.

woodturning at thewhitegallery...handmade sustainable wood bowls, by matthew lovell

2007-11-29T05:50:00.000-08:00

our featured artists...

2007-11-14T12:56:00.001-08:00

a short introduction to some of the artists exhibiting their work at
thewhitegallery.

A JUG AND TWO TOMATOES - OIL ON CANVAS, BY MALCOLM CROFT

born in newcastle and brought up in leeds, malcolm moved to london to become a press photographer in the mid-80’s. a job transfer saw him move back up north and he's lived in stockport since 1991. sadly, a serious road accident brought malcolm's photograhic career to an end, but painting has given him new inspiration. "largely self taught, i like to use bold outlines and strong colours in my work. above all I like to see the texture of the paint and the marks that the brush makes. increasingly i find i’m drawn to the more mundane of landscapes; motorways and overgrown riverbanks, railway stations and rusty gasometers. i also like to paint still lives of eclectic groups of objects.

after several years of painting in the spare room at home I have just moved into a studio at vernon mill in stockport, a collective of over 40 painters, sculptors and ceramicists, and am greatly enjoying the company of so many like-minded and creative people."

'DAN' - RECYCLED SCRAP METAL SCULPTURE, BY GAVIN DARBY, OF FRAILLOOP IN NOTTINGHAM.

"frailloop is my description of the world in which we all live. if you take more out than you put back, you break the loop, and it will all come crashing down. we should all try to recycle and reuse as much as possible. this is part of my effort. i cannot claim to be perfect, but I hope to do my bit. if i can make a difference for the good, i’ll feel better about myself...i use metal off-cuts and scrap and give them a second chance at life. sometimes things go well and those results are for sale..."

SHOP WINDOWS - MIXED MEDIA, BY IAN JARMAN.

"i produce cityscapes, nightscenes and landscapes in mixed-media, oils and watercolour. my aim is always to convey atmosphere." ian completed a foundation course at warrington college of art & design, followed by an honours degree in graphic design and illustration at leicester polytechnic. he spent over twenty years in the graphics industry before concentrating on building his own style using mixed media.

ian's work is highly regarded and has been exhibited in galleries across the country. he works out of the longden gallery in macclesfield, which is run by ian and several other established artists.

MUM'S SOUVENIR CUP - PART OF 'HEIRLOOMS AND SOUVENIRS', BY NICOLA JARVIS.

It was in her late thirties when Nicola finally summoned the courage to embark on a career as an artist. Previously, she had worked as a traditional hand embroiderer, teaching and making samples for an extensive client list in the British Fashion Industry. Tired of working to other people's specifications, she started a degree course in Fine Art Printmaking at Manchester Metropolitan University, using drawings and photographs of objects from her childhood home to experiment with various printmaking methods. As a child, Nicola was taught to make things with her hands and this appreciation of the hand-crafted - especially cooking and embroidery - is very evident in her work.

The ceramics featured in the prints exhibited at thewhitegallery are heirlooms and souvenirs belonging to her mother and grandmother, and embody the powerful female influence that helped to shape Nicola's personal culture.

FIELD, BY EMMA KING.

emma is a local artist living, working and exhibiting in bollington and surrounding areas, as well as a lecturer of art in a south manchester college. she graduated from the university of northumbria in 1996 with a ba hons in contemporary art practice, majoring in painting. after a year of voluntary work she trained as an art teacher in secondary education.

'field' is part of a series of paintings originally shown at the arts centre in bollington, and was inspired by the colours and textures of local landscapes...

VESSEL I - PORCELAIN VESSEL, BY CHERYL LEWIS.

cheryl lives and works in buxton, derbyshire. she studied for both a ba and ma in fine are and is a qualified homeopathic practitioner. she says: "the work on display at the white gallery is the beginning of a new body of work exloring the idea of surface. surface in the sense of our outward appearance and the history that leads us to be who we are. the work is process based and arises through the intuitive exploration of materials. the starting point may be a fragment of old lace, a piece of wallpaper or a token from the past. then, through a process of addition and subtraction, an image emerges which maps the totality of it's existence through the traces it leaves behind."

BOLLINGTON HIGH STREET, BY JACK LLOYD

"i work in the photographic medium," says jack, "using digital techniques. compositions are created from multiple images with the intention of conveying a sense of the area. my artwork documents how people use the environment and the marks they leave behind. i walk around the area i intend to photograph and try to capture the many elements, sounds,smells and visual rhythms present. i have never felt that any one shot alone will convey the complete reality of a scene..."

jack's original work for the white gallery offers a unique perspective of the village. as an artist based in manchester, he views things from the outside, presenting bollington in a completely new light.

'PASSAGE' LIGHTBOX, BY LIZ SCRINE
the idea for the passage light evolved from a commission liz did for bristol children’s hospital, where she was asked to make a series of miniature theatre sets inspired by typical fairytale motifs such as ‘the dark forest’ and ‘the labyrinth’. these were set into niches in the wall along the main hospital staircase. each passage light is individually made by liz out of stoneware clay and fired to 1220 deg C. although she uses moulds to make up component parts, most of the work is involved in building up the complex interior by hand.

CERAMIC PIECES, BY JOHN WEBBER
"i make ceramic vessels for the contemporary home. they can be seen as decorative objects, grouped together in small collections or used as individual functional bowls, plates cups etc. .although they are simple forms the vessels start as drawn ideas in a sketchbook before making begins. most of my work is thrown on a potters wheel using a porcelain clay body that fires to a temperature of 1260 degrees centigrade. occasionally i use liquid clay and casting as a process to make more complex forms. i then add hand built elements like spouts and handles.

i am particularly interested in the glazed surface of my pieces. i apply high fired glazes that have their origins in the ceramics of ancient china. these glazes are mixed using natural minerals derived from finely ground felspathic rocks, china clays, wood ashes and metallic oxides. to achieve the qualities of surface and colour, the vessels are fired in a kiln heated by gas and in an atmosphere where the availability of oxygen is restricted. the kiln is fired slowly at first, over an eight hour period, to the required temperature and then left to cool for a further eight hours before the doors can be opened. the individuality of the pieces comes not only from the making process itself but also from the firing process. vessels placed in different parts of the kiln can vary in colour and glaze quality, thickness of glaze can dramatically change the fired result. one of the pleasures of making simple vessel forms in this way is the opening of the kiln and the discovery of a collection of unique pieces, not always successful but always part of a never ending process of learning."

a page from john's sketch book

the gallery opens...

2007-11-14T11:40:00.000-08:00

what a fantastic start. we opened our doors at ten o'clock and i didn't sit down for the rest of the day. dan coloured an open and closed sign and helped me to put out the trees. at two minutes past ten our good friends craig and judith arrived from levenshulme, and from then on a steady stream of friends and local people wishing us well, kept us busy. some of the artists too, joined us to celebrate and by five o'clock we'd sold several paintings and a buddle of cards. john's pottery was popular too.

on monday (even though we're closed) some new friends asked if they could buy a few last minute gifts. not a problem - one of the joys of living on the property. individual viewings are definitely something we want to promote, as we realise our school-friendly hours won't suit everyone. we're also going to open extra days in the run up to christmas.

a cup and saucer, by john webber...

2007-11-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

the art...

2007-11-04T05:20:00.000-08:00

the first pictures have arrived and i am surprised by how emotional i feel. when malcolm croft delivered his oils on thursday, we propped a couple of the larger canvases on the sofa and just stood for a while, looking at them. the white room suddenly seemed alive with colour...i saw malcolm's work for the first time a couple of weeks ago when i went to an open exhibiton at vernon mill in stockport. his brother and mum where there, obviously so proud. i was immediately taken by a portrait of a young boy, who turned out to be malcolm's son. i also loved his 'kippers' on a plate. the next morning - unable to shake those kippers from my head - i emailed him to see if he'd like to hang in the gallery. fortunately he said yes.

jack lloyd (whose team at the creative recycling gallery in chorlton, will be providing the framing service for the gallery) arrived yesturday with his photographs, and also mine. when i saw the one i call ''the sound of music' (a blue tinged picture of my daughter carrie in the spainish mountains with my brother's dog in the foreground) i actually cried! ridiculous i know, but testament perhaps to the effect a photography can have on you - that holiday was one of the loveliest we've shared as a family.

jack has done some really unusual photo-montages of the village which are going to look great on the walls and in the window and will hopefully make people stop and look. another artist, cheryl lewis, has dropped off her ceramics - big beautiful pots with discs of porcelain that hang around the neck.

the biggest challenge now will be hanging the pictures - who knows how the walls will behave! hopefully better than our old house in levenshulme, which spat out the nails we hammered in, like a child refusing calpol.

the postcards...

2007-10-30T11:37:00.001-07:00

The postcards have come back from the mill and look great. I only hope that people are intrigued by the images and want to know more.

For some reason it seems to be taking an age to get the signage sorted. Original etched vinyl lettering on the front window had been there 24 years and the shadow of 'Greenhouse Gallery' seemed destined to haunt us. Eventually though a very nice bloke from b&b signs in the village dropped by with some noxious fluids which did the job.

the best bit...

2007-10-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

It all feels very real at last. some wonderful artists have agreed to show their work in the gallery and from the end of this week I can start to hang pictures.

It's been strange, filling the space - first a sofa, then a desk - but still no paintings, a little like a stage with props but no performers.

dan gets comfy...

2007-10-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Dan likes the new sofa.

The children think it's fantastic to skate up and down the wooden floors with just their socks on.

The cat - called blue, although he's actually black - is banned.

the new white....

2007-10-12T02:43:00.000-07:00

We finally chose to paint the exterior of the gallery 'swansdown', which is almost white, but isn't. Originally I had wondered about dark grey (and all the colours inbetween, hence the myriad of tester pots in the kitchen) but decided it would look too funerial and went for something bright and clean instead.

We've had lots of positive feedback over the last couple of days which is fantastic, and by next week we should be able to start dressing the gallery. Several artists have arranged to visit and view, and I'm confident they will want to exhibit in the space.

Nick at Polite Printing up at Clarence Mill is taking care of the promotional material, and I'm now able to start thinking about advertising and marketing the gallery in time for the launch.

nothing is ever simple...

2007-10-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

It was all going so well...the night we finished plastering, we also noticed a leak. Of course, it was directly behind the part of the wall we'd had boxed in, so on Saturday morning, I set too finding a plumber. Two guys turned up and gave a collective sigh, muttering "steel pipes (shake of head) don't touch those, sorry love." Finally found a bloke who was prepared to come out on Sunday morning to take a look. Fortunately, he was positive and suggested taking back the plaster and asssessing the damage. We had a bizarre conversation in the bedroom (where the boiler is and where i'm currently working) about faith - I thought this might have been because I was listening to Sunday Worship, but apparently not - he just wanted to know whether I believed in God. All this whilst draining the radiators.

All well, as the leak was just a few inches above a stop cock in the wall and not a huge job after all ("we could have to chase it back behind all sorts" said one of the half empties, "who knows where that could lead").

By Monday morning we were back on track and on Thursday the flooring went down, not without it's problems of course as this is an old building and the floors are uneven. Once the boards were down, the joiner, Simon, could begin to fit the skirting and box off the old radiators to give a clean finish. It was wonderful to see him work the wood and produce beautiful results. The decorator, Rick, arrived on the same morning, but they managed to work around each other and to take the project forward.

the refurbishment begins...

2007-09-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

Work has begun on the gallery refurbishment.

The previous owners, an artist and his wife, ran a traditional gallery which worked well for them for over twenty years. The pictures where landscapes mainly, in watercolour and pen and ink.

I want the space to feel much more contemporary though. The name reflects the space - it will be white, with clean lines - as well as giving a nod to the famous Bollington landmark, the 19th century summerhouse on the hill called White Nancy. The art, too, will be contemporary, with large mixed media canvases sitting next to modern photomontage, linocut prints and exquisite ceramics.

To begin the transformation of the gallery, I have enlisted the help of an electrician, Paul, and a plasterer, Saun.

Paul prepared the way by tearing out the old light fittings and digging channels in the ceiling and walls for new spot lights and sockets. Then Saun and his colleague Stewart arrived to 'dot and dab', plasterboard and skim. Watching them work reminded me of ballet dancers, stretching and leaning, arching and balancing - the way they hold their trays and scoop up the plaster in dollops, double quick so as not to let anything dry out.

Beautiful.

thewhitegallery

2007-09-17T06:06:00.000-07:00

the white gallery is a new art space in Bollington, Cheshire.

The aim of the gallery is to support new and established artists in the region and to have changing exhibitions of work throughout the year.

I will also be using the space to show my own photographs, examples of which can be found at www.fionabaileyphotography.co.uk.