Summer Gallery Exhibition
Explore our latest exhibition in the gallery this season
Gallery Plinths
Tracy Newman (until 12 July)
Tracy has always been interested in wildlife. He comes from a farming family on the English/Welsh border near Monmouth and as a youngster was encouraged to draw and be inspired by wildlife and the nature around him. At five years old a family trip to the famous Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust nature reserve at Slimbridge started a real passion for wildlife and conservation.
He studied at Newport College of Art and then specialised in 2D design and visual communications in Cardiff. After graduating he worked in graphic design for a number of national and international companies based in London and the South East. He has also been closely involved with various wildlife travel companies in Spain working as a designer for the Andalusia Wildlife Guides, Worldwide Birding Tours and as a wildlife guide with Sierra-Trek and Iberian Lynxland.
Now in collaboration with Sculptor Oswaldo Mérchor, Tracy is working on a number of projects. Most of the work on display has been cast in Wales from Oswaldo’s moulds and hand finished by Tracy.
https://www.trace-wildlifeartist.com/
Sarah Brabbin (15 July - 11 October)
Yorkshire-based sculptor, Sarah Brabbin, creates tactile, soulful sculptures inspired by her personal, joyful encounters with British Wildlife.
Working in clay and bronze, at the heart of her work is a mission to reconnect people with nature for the greatest good of both. Through her work she’s able to raise funds for wildlife charities and grassroots wildlife rescues.
Like many, Sarah was brought up being told that art was simply for fun - not a career. The enforced break during the pandemic saw her return to her beloved art making where she discovered a love for clay.
Since she started sculpting in 2021, she has been a British Art Prize 2022 finalist, had work exhibited in the OXO Gallery London as well as The Great Yorkshire Show and was featured on a brand new BBC1 series, Make it at Market in 2023.
Gallery Walls
Jo Whiteland (3 June - 8 September)
Jo discovered a passion for batik whilst working with artists in Kota Baharu on the east coast of Malaysia in 1991.
On returning to the UK Jo moved to Bristol and has continued to develop her own style of batik, repeating motifs to give the works life, depth and a sense of movement.
The natural world provides an unlimited source of inspiration - Jo's love of wildlife is reflected in her work.
Her father is a keen birdwatcher and fisherman, so as a child Jo learnt a lot about birds and British wildlife.