Wilmslow is going to be showing off the wealth of its creative talent this month with the first ever Wilmslow Art Trail.
29 local artists and craftspeople will be demonstrating their talents around the town on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st September.
This new community event will see everyone from painters, sculptors and textile artists to furniture makers and ceramicists, exhibiting their work all over Wilmslow. Local businesses are involved too with 17 locations around the town have paired up with one or more artists to exhibit their work.
The Trail is the brainchild of Garry Olson, a local designer and maker of high quality furniture. Garry commented "We are delighted that so many shops, restaurants, churches, pubs and cafes across the town have offered their premises as temporary galleries so that visitors will be able to take advantage of all that Wilmslow has to offer whilst enjoying the art on display."
All of the venues are based in the centre of Wilmslow so visitors will be able to follow the Art Trail map on foot or by bike to take in as many as they like.
The Trail can be started at historic St Bartholomew's Church where three artists are hosting stunning exhibitions, then nip into Waitrose and Hawthorn's Deli on Church Street and The Old Dancer on Grove Street, to view fine art and ceramics. Before heading to the centre where Intoto, Multiyork, truKitchen, Hoopers and Revolution are hosting fantastic exhibitions of artwork, sculpture and contemporary embroidery. Turn right to see more wonderful art displayed in The Methodist Church, The Slug and Lettuce and Rise Coffee Bar on Water Lane. Beautiful prints and paintings upstairs at the Coach and Four will be another highlight.
Wilmslow High School art students will also be curating an exhibition of their own work at the United Reformed Church on Alderley Road. The next stops are St Anne's Fulshaw on Nursery Lane and Garry Olson's studio on Stoney Lane to view a beautiful series of paintings and handmade furniture. Finally, Jane Foddy's willow sculpture will be on display in her garden on Knutsford Road.
Amongst those taking part is Wilmslow resident Jane Mitchell who lectured in art, textiles and mixed media for 28 years at the Manchester College. She finished full time lecturing in 2010, having eventually given in to the dream to create her own work.
Jane said "For the last 4 years I have been lucky enough to follow my dream of doing my own design work in Wilmslow and enjoyed meeting people of the town and discovering the fabulous support there is. I have been friends with Garry Olson for centuries( not quite) and we frequently exhibit together in and out of Wilmslow.
"It has been brilliant being part of Wilmslow Art Trail and meeting yet more people, I have got to know more people in the last 4 years than I ever did in the previous 20+.
"There is so much talent in Wilmslow and this inaugural trail will be just the start. It is a very exciting time for the town and I am proud to a part of it."
Maps for the Wilmslow Art Trail, can be downloaded here or picked up from participating venues around Wilmslow.
Venues and Artists
1. St Bartholomew's Church (Open Sat 10 am-4.30 pm/Sun 1-1.45 pm & 3.45-4.30 pm)
Tony Evans specialises in movement using his own unique style, employing oxy-acetylene and plasma techniques. His materials currently are new and recycled copper.
Heather Farr MA (Fine Art): I portray the human body in oil paint. I have selected works to create a dialogue within the Christian space and context and named this site specific selection 'Abjection and Grace'.
Jackie Jamieson I work regularly from the human figure, always from direct observation, but I also collect photographic images, focusing on architectural forms, reflections and moving water, to develop into paintings at a later date.
2. Hawthorns Deli (Open Sat 9.30am-4.30pm/Sun closed - window display only)
Clive Weake I produce a mix of utility and decorative wares: thrown on the wheel or hand-shaped using a white earthenware clay body. My decorative techniques centre around the use of copper, iron, manganese and cobalt oxides.
3. Waitrose (Open Sat 8am-8pm/Sun 10am-4pm)
Jacky Freeman is well known for her 250 watercolour scenes of Cheshire that are widely collected and available from her gallery on Styal Road. Her Pet Portraits are paintings to be treasured.
4. Intoto Kitchens (Open Sat 9.30am-5pm/ Sun 10 am-5 pm)
Pietra Castellani As an English-Italian artist, my work has been influenced heavily by both cultures. I currently paint in acrylics and my collections include paintings of fish, seascapes, flowers and abstract pieces.
Nathan Millar I run my own business making handmade furniture, chopping boards, bowls and wine racks. All in beautiful local timber!
Bobby Tonge I was a resident artist in a bronze foundry in Paris for years. I work in bronze and paper mache. I have cast kippers to space hoppers to underpants... and lots of biscuits.
5. The Old Dancer (Open Sat 12pm-1am/Sun 12pm-12am)
Molly Wallis My paintings are cathartic landscapes painted from memories, pieces of images seen and pieces of those imagined.
6. The Slug and Lettuce (Open Sat 10am-1am/Sun 10am-10.30pm)
Lindsay Hill I have been painting horses, pets & children for over 24 years. In 2003 I started contemporary painting on mirror, aluminium, perspex and canvas.
7. The Methodist Church (Open Sat 10 am-5 pm/Sun 11.30 am-5 pm)
Judith Roberts combines traditional hand building techniques with more experimental ways of working with clay. "I use traditional shapes and give them an original contemporary twist."
Chris Robertshaw I paint mainly in watercolours, focusing on British landscapes and coastal scenes. Recently I have expanded my subjects to include 'car art', reflecting a life-long passion in all things automotive.
8. Rise Coffee (Open Sat 8am-5pm/Sun 8.30am-3pm)
Eliza Brown creates beautiful seaside collages and acrylic paintings; and heads off to Anglesey whenever she can, to take inspiration from the windswept North Wales coastline and villages.
9. Multiyork Furniture (Open Sat 9am-6pm/Sun 11am-5pm)
Susan Gunn uses a unique process; combining pure earth pigment with traditional binders to create intense monochrome paintings that embody fissures and cracks in the surfaces of the highly modern, contemporary works.
10. Revolution (Open Sat 11.30am-3am/Sun 12pm-12am)
June Gordon My work is vibrant, colourful and varied. I love layers and texture, and work with a pallet knife to create a unique individual look. My abstracts are an explosion of colour with a high gloss finish.
Marilyn Rhind I spend much time in Wales which is a great source of inspiration to me. Working mainly in oils and painting with palette knives, I believe the texture and vibrance of oil paints cannot be equalled in any other medium.
11. Hoopers (Open window dressing so available to see at all times)
Louise Gardiner My artwork is a contemporary fusion of drawing, painting, applique and intricate free machine embroidery, techniques I have developed since graduating from Goldsmith's College, London University.
12. truKitchen (Open Sat 9.00am-5pm/Sun 10.30 am-4 pm)
Jan Lewis-Eccleston My work has a strong marine flavour, referencing travel on the sea, and life below it. Themes are developed in porcelain or earthstone, with a largely monochromatic palette of oxides to emphasise form & structure.
Jane Mitchell designs and creates original and limited edition silks: prints, scarves and gorgeous dresses. Her stunning silks are colourful, exploring organic natural design.
Liz Taylor-Webb lives in Cheshire and has been painting for the past 35 years. During this time she has exhibited in London, Paris, America and many European countries. Her friendship with her mentor, the late LS Lowry, greatly influenced her work. To her pastel paintings of street scenes she now adds this range of 'quirky' figures.
13. The Coach & Four (Open Sat 7am-12am/Sun 8am-11pm)
Iola Spafford studied at The Slade and is a member of the Manchester Academy and Royal Cambrian Academy. Iola loves to draw, working in oil, pen, watercolour and etching.
Rosemary Stubbs was born in Scotland and studied Graphics at Edinburgh College of Art. She works in gouache, watercolour, pastel, and pen and wash, and has had many exhibitions.
14. The United Reformed Church (Open Sat 10 am-5 pm/Sun 10 am-5 pm)
Wilmslow High School Art Students The art team at WHS strive to ensure that art is inclusive, diverse and fun for all involved! The excellent work on display is by both GCSE and A Level art students, inspired by the students' originality, personal experiences and interests.
15. St Anne's Church (Open Sat 10 am-5 pm/Sun 10 am-5 pm)
Diane Metcalfe My work is mainly semi-abstract coastal landscape; predominantly North Wales, where I spend an increasing amount of my time. I set out to create paintings that are aesthetically pleasing, and interesting reminders of places visited.
Christopher Rainham is an artist, illustrator and creative facilitator who exhibits internationally. "I believe in the immediacy and relevance of painting. I have a desire to communicate, share ideas and influences with art."
16. Garry Olson Studio (Open Sat 10 am-5 pm/Sun 10 am-5 pm)
Liz Brickhill was head of art at Pownall Hall School from 1995 -2004 and has taught private art classes for many years. Liz's watercolour and oil paintings of landscape, still-life and figures are exhibited widely in the northwest, London and Wales.
Suzanne Hodgson The functionality of the piece is paramount, incorporating clean lines, devoid of adornment, allowing the beauty of the wood to shine through.
Garry Olson has gained a reputation for high quality furniture making. "My work is contemporary in design whilst rooted in the arts and crafts tradition. The beauty and versatility of timber as one of nature's most wonderful resources is an inspiration."
Amanda Wigglesworth is an established prize-winning artist. By using inexpensive everyday materials and oil paint, she creates images which are built up and scraped into to reveal canvases which are strong yet harmonious.
17. Jane Foddy's Garden (Open Sat 10 am- 5 pm/Sun 10 am-5 pm)
Jane Foddy weaves life-sized animal sculptures from dried willow: from Shire horses and mighty stags, to peacocks and fabulous unicorns. "The challenge is to capture the essence of the breed and suggest character, movement and power in the sculpture."
Image: Jane Mitchell's work.
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