The Gift of Art
26 November 2012 - 5th January 2013
Five artists were involved in this festive exhibition - Elizabeth Rashley's linocuts, Amy McCarthy's stained glass, Allie Gillies pen and ink drawings, Tim Salter's giclee prints and etchings and Sue Smith's glass designs - offering a broad range of mediums as well as an affordable range of gifts.
Tim Salter's paintings frequently explore a textured surface and employ fragmented materials stained with paints or natural pigments. The surface is worked on to degrade and develop, resulting in a finish that cannot be achieved using more common drawing or painting methods. Tim comments on his own work, 'For me the great joy of printmaking is the capacity to vary and explore different printing techniques and colour combinations with each plate. I limit edition sizes to a small number and each print is unique.'
Allie Gillie's pen and ink artworks draw on inspiration from her love of animals, focusing on movement and empathy for the subject. Allie builds her work up, by using a fairly thin nib and from a series of dots - this process takes the form of tone and shade. 'I enjoy looking at the innocence, beauty and intricacy of nature and the feelings that they create, so to be able to capture a hint of it is wonderful!'.
Sue Smith's glass mosaics and art glass design is influenced by her love of different cultures and architecture from her travels in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Sue has a keen interest in the environment, nature and the landscape around her. Her recycled glass mosaics can be used both indoors and out, as wall panels to add light and interest to any gloomy corner.
Working from her garden studio in Heavitree, Exeter, Amy McCarthy mostly produces bespoke stained glass windows by commission. Her work incorporates traditional kiln fired glass painting, acid etching, fused glass and she loves to include found items such as sea glass (washed up on the beach) and recycled glass. Amy also creates smaller gift items and striking panels and window decorations for her AmyOrangeJuice online shop. Amy’s work celebrates the nature and landscape of the South West.