Latest News

KAY DUNBAR
KAY DUNBAR 1st August 2025 A youngish couple were buying sculpture in Castlegate House garden in 2004. I had just had my first book published, The Painted Letters (its now out of print).  Kay and Stephen were the founders of the well known LitFest in Dartington Devon where they lived and had made it a great success.  They had been sent to see me by Michael Baron, an ideas man who lived at Loweswater and ran poetry readings at the gallery .* He had run the idea of a literature festival in Keswick past me and I had advised ... Read More »»
SHEILA FELL Catalogue Raisonne
SHEILA FELL Catalogue Raisonne 10th June 2025 At last - a long awaited catalogue of ALL the works of Cumbrian born artist Sheila Fell. Born in Aspatria1931, educated at Nelson Tomlinson School Wigton, Carlisle College of Art and St Martins  School of Art London, she was the first Cumbrian woman to be made a Royal Academician (ARR in  1969 and RA in 1974.) She died in London in 1979 aged 48. L S Lowry, her friend and mentor described her as one of the finest British landscape painters of the 20th century. She loved Cumberland which was the s... Read More »»
WHAT’S NEW?
WHAT’S NEW? 27th March 2025 There is so much going on locally in the Arts at the moment I really don’t know how to fit everything in.  No sooner had Words by the Water finished after a triumphantly packed 5 days than lots more exciting things came roaring along. I was at Theatre by the Lake last night to see a totally absorbing play THE SPITFIRE GIRLS. My parents  lived on the Isle of Wight for  many years (I got married in Ventnor) and then I and my family lived  and worked there at the southernmost point of the island f... Read More »»
REMINDERS
REMINDERS 20th February 2025  Forgive me if I repeat myself but there is so much art on offer at the moment, it’s easy to miss a closing date and regret it. When it’s gone, it’s gone! First up is next Tuesday 25th February. I am giving an illustrated  talk about 3 prominent artists – L S LOWRY RA, SHEILA FELL RA AND PERCY KELLY  who came together in the fifties and  sixties in Maryport and Allonby.  It is in the hall of Keswick School and there is plenty of parking.  It starts at 7.30 (admission £7.50 on the door. )  *Look... Read More »»
COINCIDENCES
COINCIDENCES 10th February 2025 I  love coincidences. It’s great when things join up and make sense.  There is one in particular which sets my imagination going.  I wish I could have been around when 3 of my favourite and most interesting artists met in Cumbria. Each of them have had a solo show at Castlegate House in the past. Yes, it’s L S LOWRY, SHEILA FELL AND PERCY KELLY. They all met a few times in Allonby and Maryport between 1958 – 68. They chose the same subjects but painted and drew them in entirely different ways. F... Read More »»
THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO HEAVEN
THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO HEAVEN 25th January 2025 THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO HEAVEN Written in Percy Kelly's final report from Carlisle College of Art   I won’t be in The Beacon at Whitehaven today. The forecast isn’t good and there is too much to clear up in the garden after the ferocious storm and I guess that many of you will be in the same position. I will definitely be there next Saturday 1st February for my talk THE SWINGING SIXTIES. I am thoroughly enjoying putting the talk together. The decade from 1959 – 1969 was astonishing for PK. He m... Read More »»
THE SWINGING SIXTIES In Whitehaven
THE SWINGING SIXTIES In Whitehaven 15th January 2025 INSPIRED BY INDUSTRY A reminder that the exhibition INSPIRED BY INDUSTRY opens next Saturday  18th January at the Beacon in Whitehaven. You will be able to see the BRIAN KELLY COLLECTION of 11  of his father, Percy Kelly’s paintings that he donated to Haig Pit which have never been seen before. Brian Kelly gave them to Haig Pit in 1993 for their planned museum but they were lost for 32 years despite my frustrating search for them. Brian died in 2002 aged 57 so had never seen them hanging in a g... Read More »»
WHAT LIES IN STORE
WHAT LIES IN STORE 4th January 2025  Things often go a bit flat after all the excitement of Christmas so here’s some cheery good news of things to see and do in the dark days of winter. If you haven’t been to Tullie House to see the Sheila Fell exhibition as yet – don’t miss it.  Don’t be put off by all the building work going on inside and out at Tullie and in the shopping precinct in Carlisle.  It is child friendly as you see from the photo of my great grandson  learning something about art appreciation.  Be aware that the muse... Read More »»
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS 19th December 2024 Once again I’m sending a charity donation instead of a Christmas card.  It doesn’t mean I don’t love you all but it is disturbing to see people sleeping on the streets in our towns and cities.  No Christmas cards for them!  The numbers  have grown massively as rents and evictions have increased. So this year I’m  supporting Crisis at Christmas.  Your Christmas card by Percy Kelly is at the top of this newsletter. As I write this an exciting year ahead is unfolding.  The Sheila Fell exhibition a... Read More »»
SHEILA FELL 1931 - 1979
SHEILA FELL 1931 - 1979 28th November 2024 Cumberland has never been painted as I would like to see it, so I should love to do it. Cumberland is not like the rest of England. It is like no other place.                                                              Sheila Fell                                                            Don’t miss the new Sheila  Fell exhibition CUMBRIA ON CANVAS which opened last Saturday  at Tullie House in Carlisle  (the name  has just changed to Tullie but it will always be Tullie House to me.) Sheila ... Read More »»