The Bingley Gallery Christmas 2022 Exhibition

The Gallery will be launching its traditional Christmas show on the evening of Wednesday 16^th November. The show is always something a bit special; a selection box of favourites, hopefully without the orange creams. Many of our regular exhibitors have prepared new work, some of the highlights of this year’s exhibitions have been brought back and a little space has been left for new artists whose work has caught my eye during the year. The front exhibition space in the gallery will have over twenty artists’ work on show - an eclectic mix with something to suit all tastes and, given the current economic concerns, we have done our best to include a range of affordable gifts.

Personally, one of my highlights this year was a show featuring the highly respected tutor and artist, Jeremy Taylor, with his tentative return to painting. We are therefore particularly chuffed that he has kept up the painting and provided us with four new works featuring our region’s landscapes. One of his co-exhibitors, Pam Bumby also has new examples of her exquisite plein-air oil paintings. Another who spans the tutor/painter fields is Josie Barraclough. As a former teacher at Bradford Grammar, her output always attracts visits from her former students, many of whom were sufficiently inspired to follow careers in art themselves.

No Christmas show could be without L. Amy Charlesworth’s big snow scenes This year two feature Ribblehead Viaduct and a fresh brood of lovingly depicted robins will, or course, be strutting their stuff. Jane Fielder’s solo exhibition ran immediately before the Christmas one, so we’ll keep a selection of these, but we have also persuaded Jane to show a selection of my favourites, which feature the gas holders at Marley near Keighley. Sadly, the actual structures were demolished earlier this year, but these striking art pieces serve as a reminder of the local landmarks that once dominated the area. Meanwhile David Starley’s work will include the latest off the easel, including a big new view of the Three Peaks.

Contrasting styles are presented by the big, bold acrylics of Tony Dexter’s boat-inspired pieces, the gentle, reflective traditional water colours of Susan McQuade and the small, but evocative, etchings of Ian Brooks.

Two of our big hitters from the ‘Footsteps of Turner’ show are back. Judith Levin’s popular misty moorland scenes will be joined by her  ‘four seasons’ multi-panel works. William Morrison’s atmospheric paintings will also be back on show. The main response to these works was ‘Why haven’t we known of his work before?’, but it seems most are shipped out to the U.S., rather than reaching outlets here, so we’re pleased to be the only local gallery showing his work.

The richness of textiles will be demonstrated by two artists; Sarah Light (Seven Hands) with exquisite embroidery on felt and Kate Stewart’s painted and embroidered silk. A new batch of Forme&foryou’s papercuts has just arrived with themes as diverse as cycling, dog-walking, bird watching and astronomy!

It is great to welcome new (to us) artists including Deborah Dyer with her pastel landscapes, ceramics from Jane Hurford and some wonderful bird pictures created from re-purposed materials by Lucy Wray of Thrift Designs.

Do come and see what our amazing local artists have to offer. Following the launch (7-9pm on Weds 16 Nov., the show will remain open until Christmas Eve.

Once again, The Bingley Gallery are pleased to be sponsoring The Saltaire Living Advent Calendar – well worth taking a little time away from Christmas preparations to visit the windows in December. For those interested in supporting the event, and looking for distinctive Christmas cards, packs of these featuring 12 of last year’s windows are available at The Gallery and a number of other outlets. The proceeds of the sales of these go entirely to Saltaire Inspired, the charity that runs the event.

The exhibition runs from 17th November to 24th December.