Local Art Events, Workshops and Exhibitions You Need to Know
Art aficionados will want to mark these dates in their diary
The New Light Prize Exhibition
12TH OCTOBER 2024–5TH JANUARY 2025
The Mercer Art Gallery,
Harrogate
newlight-art.org.uk
Shining a light on Northern artists, the biennial New Light Prize Exhibition supports both emerging and established artists. Exhibiting artists this year include Teesdale-based Holly Magdalene Scott, Leeds University alumni Lucy McElroy and landscape artist Clare Haley from Holmfirth, with all of their work for sale.
Mary Griffiths: Everything and All of Us
FROM 24TH OCTOBER
The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, Leeds
library.leeds.ac.uk
Abstract yet full of human presence and patina, with subjects ranging from the microscopic to the cosmic, the physical to the philosophical, the art of Mary Griffiths is shaped by her collaborations across literature, science and music. Her first major retrospective brings together works from the last decade, a large site-specific wall drawing, and prints, ceramics, drawings, textiles and sculptures selected by the artist from the University of Leeds’ collections. Griffiths’ process involves applying layer upon layer of graphite to a surface and polishing it to a mirror sheen before cutting linear forms into it. Her art is immersive.
Inspired By
THROUGHOUT AUTUMN
MIMA, Middlesbrough
01642 931232
mima.art
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) are launching a series of new creative workshops which take inspiration from their artistic programme. With guidance from expert technicians and access to state-of-the-art facilities at the School of Arts & Creative Industries, Teesside University, the Inspired By workshops offer a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes, learn a new skill and experiment with creative techniques in an informal setting. This season, workshops include a collagraphy masterclass inspired by Winifred Nicholson’s relationship to Cumbria, and hand-painted silk scarves inspired by MIMA’s jewellery and ceramics collection.
Autumn Courses
THROUGHOUT AUTUMN
Turpentyne, Whitley Bay & Gosforth
turpentyne.com
Turpentyne offer adults’ art courses taught by professional artists for all skills levels. The Turpentyne Classic course offers the opportunity to have guidance through a technique-driven curriculum, whilst Turpentyne Atelier courses focus on traditional methods of learning how to draw, and Turpentyne Creative courses focus more on specific mediums or art movements. Don’t miss the various courses running this autumn including Landscapes in Oil Pastel, Autumnal Harvest: Seasonal Still Life and Portrait Life Drawing.
Living North’s Christmas Fair North East
24TH–27TH OCTOBER
Newcastle Racecourse
0191 261 8944
livingnorth.com/tickets
Don’t miss a jam-packed day out when our North East Christmas Fair returns once again to Newcastle Racecourse. As always we’ll be showcasing work by some of the region’s most talented artists. Katherine Hodgkinson’s beautiful wire flowers are displayed in glass vases, while JT Workshop’s laser cut signs and solar lights add a personal touch to Christmas. Anna Longville and Sandra Vick are exhibiting with us for the first time this year, alongside LN favourites including Mary Ann Rogers, Trevor Craggs, Jane Charles and Sue Fenlon. See you there!
Malton Sculpture Trail
UNTIL NOVEMBER
Dalby Forest, Low Dalby
forestryengland.uk
Along the Adderstone Rigg Trail, visitors to Dalby Forest can see eight sculptures from the Malton Sculpture Trail – a series of community art events including creations by Rachel Rimell, Chris Atkinson-Oxberry and Emily Childs along the way.
North Yorkshire Open Studios
2ND & 3RD NOVEMBER
Across North Yorkshire
nyos.org.uk
The annual Winter Open Studios returns and artists and makers including Garth Bayley, Jonathan Pomroy and Sarah Garforth will open their studios to meet art-lovers and promote and sell their work. You can visit studios across the county and have the opportunity to visit one-of-a-kind venues in the North Yorkshire landscape. This is a great opportunity to find unique gifts ahead of Christmas.
David Hockney’s A Year in Normandie
UNTIL 3RD NOVEMBER
Salts Mill, Saltaire
saltsmill.org.uk
A visit to Salts Mill (in fact Saltaire in general) is always inspiring but you won’t want to miss this chance to see David Hockney’s biggest ever picture whilst you’re there. At 90.75 metres long, head to the fourth floor of Salts Mill to view this beautiful piece which records the changing seasons in and around the artist’s French garden. It’s the first time it’s been seen in the UK.
Winter Snowscape Lantern
9TH NOVEMBER
RHS Harlow Carr
rhs.org.uk
In this fun and festive workshop you’ll create a winter-themed string of lanterns to decorate a cosy corner at home. Firstly, you’ll explore techniques to create a range of effects, then you’ll decide on and create your own snowscape design.
Oil Painted Portraits
9TH & 10TH NOVEMBER
Spanish Gallery, Bishop Auckland
aucklandproject.org
Develop your art skills to create life-like portraits using oil paints. This short course (with all materials provided) offers expert guidance, hands-on practice, and personalised feedback no matter how experienced you are. Professional portrait artist Jilly Johnston will guide you to experiment with form and style to bring your portraits to life.
Mosaic Christmas Trees
13TH NOVEMBER
Thorp Perrow Arboretum, Bedale
thorpperrow.com
In this fabulously festive workshop you’ll create a glass mosaic Christmas with Ann Newbould from Mosaicables – the perfect decoration or gift for the festive season. Ann will provide you with the materials and skills, then you’ll finish your piece at home.
Living North’s Christmas Fair Yorkshire
14TH–17TH NOVEMBER
York Racecourse
0191 261 8944
livingnorth.com/tickets
Don’t miss a jam-packed day out when our Christmas Fair returns to York Racecourse. As always we’ll be showcasing work by some of the county’s most talented artists. See Sarah Schiewe’s ceramic sculptures, admire Laura Pennell’s semi-abstract acrylic wildlife paintings and find ceramics and Jesmonite eco-resin creations to make your house a home at Willow & Flo’s stand. We’ll see you there!
The Majesty of Trees – an arboreal world of craftsmanship and wonder
15TH OCTOBER
moorcroft.com
Launching on 15th October, The Majesty of Trees is a new collection of pottery, the first collaboration between Moorcroft pottery, the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) and the Action Oak partnership. Standing a colossal 26-inches in height, the Hockeridge and Pancake Wood vase celebrates a treasured Royal Forestry Society Chilterns’ woodland and is the raison d’être of the Arts & Crafts design. With the natural world as her muse, Kerry Goodwin’s Moorcroft masterpiece captures the biodiversity of these woodlands on an epic scale. On the neck of the vase, a colourful tapestry of birds and boughs unfolds, and below, many indicative species of ancient woodland mark the understorey – deep-purple foxgloves, pale ferns, foxes and badgers.
Needle Felted Robin Workshop
23RD NOVEMBER
The Station, Richmond
thestation.co.uk
Elli from Blue Mouse Art will guide you to create your own life-size robin on a wood log with all materials and equipment provided.
Art Cares
UNTIL 30TH NOVEMBER
Main Gallery, Bishop Auckland Town Hall
artstops.org
This transformative exhibition showcases artworks that have previously been displayed in bus shelters across the region as part of the Art Stops project. Visitors will see 29 unique artworks on display, conveying thoughts, feelings and passions.
Creative Christmas Evening
4TH DECEMBER
Raby Castle
raby.co.uk
Raby are encouraging creativity this Christmas. Join this festive evening of wreath-making, Estate grazing and Prosecco sipping in the newly restored, character-rich Riding School. You’ll leave with a wreath to rival all those on display in your street.
Cumbrian Landscapes: Stuart Wilkie
UNTIL 22ND DECEMBER
Farfield Mill, Sedbergh
015396 20125
sedbergh.org.uk
This display of large-scale linocut and more intimate wood engraving relief prints is inspired by the Cumbrian landscape. Stuart Wilkie creates his relief prints in his studio at Farfield Mill itself and is inspired by the light, weather, water and the seasons.
The Midnight Garden
UNTIL 31ST DECEMBER
Masham Gallery
mashamgallery.co.uk
With a focus on the mystery and otherworldliness that night brings, this exhibition is dark and intriguing, displaying artwork by various artists including Tim Southall, Victoria Brookland, Josie Beszant and Adele Karmazyn.
Coalface Drawers: 90 Years of the Pitmen Painters
UNTIL 5TH JANUARY 2025
Woodhorn Museum, Ashington
01670 624455
museumsnorthumberland.org.uk
In October 1934, Robert Lyon arrived in Ashington for the first time to deliver a class on Art Appreciation to a group of local mine workers. A series of slideshow lectures soon developed into a career-defining project for Lyon and a lifelong passion for the soon-to-be ‘Ashington Art Group’. Reuniting artworks and artefacts back together where it all began in Ashington, ‘Coalface Drawers’ offers an exciting opportunity to revisit the beginnings of the Pitmen Painters project and to celebrate their innovation and vision 90 years on.
Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L.S. Lowry
UNTIL 19TH JANUARY 2025
The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle
01833 690606
thebowesmuseum.org.uk
More than 50 paintings, drawings and sketches by Northern artists Norman Cornish and L.S. Lowry are currently on display at The Bowes Museum, including a newly discovered self-portrait by Norman Cornish (which was found when staff at the museum removed the back board of another one of his paintings). Read our interview with The Bowes Museum team and Norman’s son John at livingnorth.com to find out more about what to expect, and why he believes it’s so important to continue sharing both artists’ work. Until November, the museum will host a series of events running alongside the exhibition, encouraging visitors to explore its theme.
The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co.
UNTIL 23RD FEBRUARY 2025
York Art Gallery
yorkartgallery.org.uk
York Art Gallery is presenting the archive of Morris & Co to celebrate the work and legacy of renowned Arts & Crafts textile designer William Morris. This fresh perspective on Morris’s iconic wallpaper designs prove why he is still so influential in the design world. Visitors will marvel at more than 130 works from the Sanderson and Morris & Co. archives, from the 1830s to the 1920s.
Elisabeth Frink: Natural Connection
UNTIL 23RD FEBRUARY 2025
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton
ysp.org.uk
This exhibition of work by the late renowned artist Dame Elisabeth Frink is a special addition to Yorkshire Sculpture Park, with many of these creations being displayed together for the first time. Visitors will see her sculptures and prints both indoors at The Weston and outdoors in the YSP landscape.
Hannah Perry: Manual Labour
UNTIL 16TH MARCH 2025
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead
0191 478 1810
baltic.art
Combining film, sculpture, print and sound, this unique exhibition explores the process of motherhood (as well as labour and class). Hannah Perry is known for her psychologically-charged installations that explore industry, class and gender and materials include steel to car lacquer and body wrap. Look out for the choreographed mechanical sculpture which considers the physical act of labour.
