We had a wonderful weekend opening Lois studio to visitors. It was wonderful to meet you all! I hope we’ll meet more of you next weekend too.

I had a brain wave and created a banner for the front of the house so people could find us. I used Lois’s painting Chnicken and my painting Charlie as they both stand out well.

Lois and I had decorated one of the stables to make a new gallery space to hang the paintings, so we had both the studio and the gallery to show our work in. Took a fair bit of work but I think it was worth it. The stable is a nice space to sip a glass of wine and look at pictures.

This proved to be popular with visitors.

This is the path from the stable to the studio past the house. It’s almost a painting in its own right! Lois has a lovely home.

And this is the studio were we had more paintings and drawings on show.

I have many more photos on Flickr if you’d like to see a few more, follow this link… South East Open Studios photos on Flickr.

Come and see me at South East Open Studios in June. Lois and I will be in the studio on the 16th and 17th and 23rd and 24th of June. Why not drop in and say hello?

Bankside Cottage Studio,
Blackberry Lane, Lingfield,
Surrey, RH7 6NH

Directions: 200 yards down hill from Dormans Station at the bend in the road. On the opposite side of the road from the station. It’s the East Grinstead line.

16th, 17th 23rd and 24th of June.

Independent Artists Group Gallery Showing in Nottingham
View from the Top Gallery
January 9th through January 22nd

Over thirty top notch Artists from the Independent Artists Group - IAG are showing their Artistic creations at the View from the Top Gallery in Nottingham, England (4th Floor above Waterstones Bookstore).  The Gallery showing and sale will be from January 9th through January 22nd.   Exhibition hours are from 9 AM until 7 PM Monday to Saturday and 10:30 AM until 5 PM on Sunday.  Then Monday the 22nd, hours will from 9 AM to 12 AM.  Opening night private viewing on the 9th includes wine with nibbles and available artist’s greetings from 4:00 PM - 6:45 PM.  The art was chosen from submissions from the for this special event and coordinated by Independent Artists Group leader, Charlotte Thomson of Nottingham.

An International membership group of just under two hundred Artists, countries such as England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and the U.S.A. are represented in this all star event.  Thomson formed the group in January of last year when she saw the need for camaraderie amongst International artists working together to assist galleries in placing more Artists in the collectable art spotlight benefiting Artists and galleries alike.  The group corresponds online on the Internet daily.  The group ranges in age, with Charlotte being the youngest in age at twenty-one, to some well seasoned artists in to their sixties.

As a special added bonus to the showing, there will be concurrently showing art on EBay.  Unique art will be available online to patrons who plug in "IAG" to the eBay search engines, preferably under the Art or Self Representing Artist’s categories.  A bevy of works from the Independent Artists will give those not able to attend the live gallery showing a chance at some different art works.  A true multi-media event, Thomson points out the extra venue will only add to excitement.  "Art viewers will enjoy the opportunity to take advantage of Ebay’s bidding format, true yet this will also enable art goers to purchase in two places should they fall in love with an artist’s work and want more.  Additionally people around the world can buy our art and EVERYONE can email our artists with questions and special requests through the Ebay system during our sale.  The gallery is very excited about the interactive format for both the artists and their clients," explains Thomson.  Previews of art for both the Nottingham Gallery show and on Ebay show are at the IAG blog site, www.independentartistsgroup.blogspot.com.

Left to Right; Art by Charlotte Thomson, Maeve Wright, Richard Clarke, Karin Mear and Denise Laurent

IAG Committee member, Andrew Douse of Coventry says all styles of Art will be shown at the exhibition, "We’ll show pop art, abstract, figurative, landscapes, seascapes, illustrative quirky modern stuff, highly decorative art, and even some new loft style art".  According to Susan Barton of Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., some of the art will come across the pond in a special journey for the event.   "There are four Independent Artist Group - IAG members who will be represented in this showing from the States.  We are excited to support such a great group of fellow artists", Barton exclaims.  Selected Artists works from the United States side include artists showing from Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Left to Right; Art by Sally Swingewood, Andrew Douse, Susan Barton, Lar Shackelford and Martin Devine

The group prides itself on being called the Independent Artists Group - IAG as like the Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of independent they are free from influence, control or determination of others with persuasion or bias and are self determined, self confident, and self reliant.  They are introspective enough to recognize that being a team player is of benefit but all are rather uniquely rebels for a good cause.  In this case of course, the cause being the group itself and it’s positive collective energy.  Each Artist brings their own level of experience to the table and the end result is one of professionalism that art goers will surely enjoy during this exposition.  Price ranges, are from £40 - £1000, to suit all pockets and collector budgets for everyone from novice collectors to long term art collectors, as well as those looking for unique decorator art.

VIEW from the Top Gallery
Top Floor, Waterstone’s
1-5 Bridlesmith Gate
Nottingham NG1 2GR
UK
Tel 0845 058 1113
www.viewfromthetop.co.uk.

I have several paintings on show at the View From The Top gallery in Nottingham city center. The show runs from the 6th of December to the 10th.

The London SOFA show opened yesterday. The private view was a lot of fun! It was very well attended and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves despite it being a hot day! I took lots of photos. If you’d like to see them here they are…
my flickr photos of the private view