Due to my association with Wye Local magazine, Nancy Albert kindly invited us to the Private View of new works by a selection of local artists.  In no way am I an art connoisseur, but I do know what I like.  Robert and I popped along to Cabalva Farm on Friday night, enjoyed a glass of wine and were enthralled with the works of art on display in Justin and Nancy Albert’s lovely house and garden at Cabalva.

Lawrence Banks, CBE, DL, gave a short talk on behalf of Herefordshire Arts.

Exhibitors:

PAT BIRKS:  In her studio near Hay on Wye, Pat Birks creates pottery in the distinct style known as majolica, tin-glazed earthenware.  The painted images come from her observations of birds, beasts, flora and fauna.  Pat makes domestic pottery to be used every day, as well as commemorative plates and tiles.

SHAN EGERTON:  Shan’s paintings spring to life in her studio from her diary of notes and sketches, as well as from memory.   She favours pastels, as she likes to work quickly and to work from dark to light.  Her widely collected work has rich colours and rubbed textures, and is sometimes inspired by a quirky detail.  Shan lives near Hay on Wye.

VERONICA GUEST:  Living and working on a small farm on the Welsh border, Veronica Guest is inspired by her natural surroundings.  She is widely known for her extraordinarily detailed watercolours of plants, flowers and landscapes.  Lately she has been creating etchings, linocuts and monoprints, which has opened up a whole new chapter of ideas.

JOSEPH GALVIN:  Born in Wales, Joseph Galvin is drawn to traditional subjects of portraiture, landscape and still life.  He works in oils directly from the subject.  He is a regular exhibitor at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in London and received the Society’s Bulldog Portrait Award. His figurative work has received accolades and he is available for portrait commissions.

SALLY MATTHEWS:  Sally uses materials such as peat, mud, hay and steel to create astonishing works that capture the true spirit of animals.  Her love of animals, their forms, movement, smell and nature enlivens her work. 

SHELAGH POPHAM:  Shelagh’s Paintings are inspired by landscape and wildlife, both in Wales and further afield.  Shelagh works in oil, watercolour, pencil and pastel as well as wood engraving and etching.  She lives in a cottage overlooking the Wye Valley across to the Black Mountains.

SUSANNAH ROYLE:  Susannah practiced as a veterinary nurse before studying classical drawing and painting in an atelier in Florence.  She then concentrated on still-life painting and portrait commissions.  Over time, she has become more interested in portraying the wild creatures of the British Isles.  She lives near Ludlow in Shropshire.

COLIN SIMMONDS:  Colin Simmonds has always been interested in traditional, painterly subject matter – from simple still lifes to extensive townscapes of Birmingham and panoramic landscapes of Herefordshire. Recently Colin has been painting a series of flower paintings, enjoying the immediacy of the compositions and textures.  He says he would like to achieve in landscape painting the fluency and abstract qualities of the flower paintings.  His studio in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, is surrounded by rolling countryside and apple orchards. 

This exhibition is definitely worth a visit.  As well as the artworks inside the house, you must see Sally Matthews’s Elk and Zebra in the garden.  I love her work.  She also has Welsh hounds inside the house, clambering up the stairs! 

It takes place until Sunday 18^th September at Cabalva Farm Gallery nr Hay on Wye. HR3 6EX on the A438, midway between Hereford and Brecon. Open Daily from 10.00 to 6.00 pm.  All works of art are for sale.

Tel:  01497 831012