Latest News

MAKING NOTES 14th October 2019 There are three exciting exhibitions opening in the two major Cumbrian galleries next weekend. It is a happy coincidence that a major exhibition of the work of J M W Turner opens at Tullie House in Carlisle just as the artist has been chosen to grace our new £20 notes against a background of his best known and loved painting The Fighting Temeraire.  Turner is one of our finest watercolour painters who could capture light and atmosphere like nobody who had gone before. It is great that he should... Read More »»
SHEILE FELL RA 1931 - 1979
SHEILE FELL RA 1931 - 1979 13th September 2019 Buying a work of art is a memorable occasion – especially if you queued for it on the doorstep of the gallery as many of you did.  I clearly recall buying my first Sheila Fell painting in 1991 from the Rev Geoffery Bennett’s solicitor Ian Sutcliffe in his office in Castle Street Carlisle where it was hung. This was shortly after attending the opening of Fell’s Retrospective at the Royal Academy in 1990 which then travelled the country. Subsequently a surprising number of her works went through m... Read More »»
NORTHERN EXPOSURE
NORTHERN EXPOSURE 6th September 2019 A Percy Kelly charcoal drawing, Church by the Bridge dated 1958, sold at Mitchells Auction a few months ago. I was pleased when the successful bidder got in touch to tell me she had found exactly where the artist had stood to make it.  Although it had passed through my hands at some point, I had no idea it was Calder Bridge.  She told me of the frisson of excitement she felt as she stood where Kelly had stood to take the photograph which she sent to me.  Calder Bridge hasn’t changed much in 50 y... Read More »»
AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT
AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT 25th July 2019 I wrote a newsletter a year ago about the mural that Ewanrigg School in Maryport had made on their playground wall from plastic waste. They based it on one of Percy Kelly’s paintings of a trawler in Maryport harbour.  I was so pleased when I got an invitation last week to the unveiling of its sequel which is based on Percy’s painting of the red church in Maryport. This has been a wonderful project in so many ways and it was lovely to see the enthusiasm of the children. We had tea and cake afterw... Read More »»
A WALK ROUND ALLONBY WITH PERCY KELLY
A WALK ROUND ALLONBY WITH PERCY KELLY 18th July 2019 For the last 40 years there has been a summer art exhibition at Allonby, a small village on the Solway coast just a few miles North of Maryport. It is a free for all - anyone can submit – and many do. There are no rules for entry, no selection committee, no prizes, no judgments. The works are hung in the village hall - floor to ceiling, edge to edge (sometimes on the floor!) in alphabetical order so you get the picture as it were and there are lots of them.  The exhibition opens Thursday 25th Ju... Read More »»
PERCY AND THE D DAY LANDINGS
PERCY AND THE D DAY LANDINGS 7th June 2019 Last night, as part of the D Day celebrations, the BBC showed footage of the cathedral in Caen where French civilians had taken shelter during the D Day landings. This sent me up into the loft to find the folder of Percy Kelly’s army drawings.  I have attached his superb drawing of a bombed church in Caen.   Percy and his twin brother John aged 20 volunteered to join the army in 1939.  John who was employed by a local builder was drafted to the Royal Artillery and Percy who was employed by the ... Read More »»
BILL PEASCOD. PEAKS AND PAINTINGS
BILL PEASCOD. PEAKS AND PAINTINGS 16th May 2019 I am just preparing a talk about Bill Peascod;- Maryport miner, climber and painter which I will present at the Settlement Maryport 23rd May at 7.00. (doors open at 6.30).  £5 entry which goes to the Settlement Restoration fund I will be talking about Bill’s life and work as well as my own experiences tracking him across the world; Maryport, Bassenthwate, Australia and Japan. I mounted a memorial exhibition in 1989 at Castlegate House opened by Melvyn Bragg, sponsored by The Coal Board and atte... Read More »»
BIRTHDAY FLOWERS
BIRTHDAY FLOWERS 13th May 2019 BIRTHDAY FLOWERS This is my all-time favourite Kelly painting. I don’t know why. I used it on the invitation card to the second Kelly exhibition in 1996 and it became the subject of the first all-night queue. The gallery had become well known for waiting until 2.00 pm on the day of the opening before anything was sold.  I stuck to this rigidly despite firm pre- offers. People who were present in person were given a 10 minute priority and then I would turn to the ‘wish list’ of people who couldn... Read More »»
A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 9th May 2019 The film and talk last night at the pencil museum was very much enjoyed – particularly several appearances  in it of Ena the Mole catcher and her hirsute brother sitting by her on the sofa who said his sister used to have a quick ‘murdle’ with Roberta! (AKA Percy)  There was also some sadness too. What is it about Kelly’s paintings, drawings and life that elicits deep emotions – people found it very moving in parts – especially sitting among Percy’s beautiful letters and etchings. We all felt hi... Read More »»
AN EVENING WITH PERCY – AND ME!
AN EVENING WITH PERCY – AND ME! 2nd May 2019 It was good to see so many of you at the Pencil Museum in Keswick on Saturday enjoying the chat, the letters, artefacts and etchings – oh and the humbugs. Thankfully - because it ran from 1 -5 -  you didn’t all turn up at the same time. It was lovely to see all ages gathered around the tables in the museum drawing, painting, chatting and enjoying the experience. I’m just preparing my talk and choosing the images for next Wednesday evening when I will be talking about Kelly’s letters and picking... Read More »»