NEWS AND EVENTS 2010
HALCYON DAYS
SUMMER EXHIBITION 24 JULY - 31 AUGUST 2010
We are thrilled once again to be showing original paintings by 6 of
the most popular female artists in the UK at our eagerly anticipated summer
exhibition Halcyon Days.
This year we have our gallery favourites Rebecca Lardner, Sasha and Sophie
Harding and Louise Braithwaite who will be joined by Hannah Cole and Gemma
Pearce.
Rebecca
Lardner is well-known for creating animated harbour scenes that encapsulate
everything that is most charming about British coastal life. The lively
impression of ceaseless everyday activity has led art critics to acclaim
her as ‘the modern day Lowry’ and turned her into one of the UK’s most
highly sought-after and collectable artists.
She recently won the presitgious "Best Selling Published Artist of the Year" Award 2010 - well done!
Rebecca will be in the gallery on Saturday 24th July from 12-4pm when we will be serving sparkling wine and strawberries - so if you're around and would like the opportunity to meet Rebecca then please come and join us.
Sasha Harding has produced 9 stunning new pieces for us one of
which will be produced as a small limited edition print as well. The paintings
that Sasha has produced for us this year are her best yet we think!
Sasha paints with a limited palette allowing her to explore the gentle tones of a beach scene or the reflective langour of a summer day.
Sasha's sense of the absurd sparkles irrepressibly through her work but
the lasting impression is one of great affection for her subject.
Sophie
Harding has produced 9 fabulous pieces for us - a mixture of seascapes
and her ever popular word pictures, including one in reference to our
exhibition title "halcyon days".
She is inspired by living on the coast and observing its landscapes and seascapes. She works from sketches and her imagination, & is influenced by the simplicity and charm of naive art.
Sophie has also started producing by hand some stunning cushions and
fabric bags for us which include on them her popular seaside characters
and images.
Gemma Pearce, lived and grew up on the beautiful Isle of Purbeck until she left home to study art and design, firstly at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design, and then at Bath College where Gemma achieved a BA Hons in Illustration.
Although her most recent work is mainly of a 'still life' nature she's also influenced by, and drawn to, the Cornish light and landscape, soft colours, shapes and textures, rooftops, wildlife and flowers as well as the more industrial working harbours and old tin mines. They feature a limited palette of colour allowing her to capture the subtle moods of her subjects matter.
Hannah
Cole was born and grew up in a small hamlet in rural North Devon.
The paintings are often done from memory. They are produced instinctively, starting with large areas of colour and building up of layers. She regularly pays visits to the West Country where many of the harbour scenes are based, and has more recently been producing local landscapes of the South Downs.
A painting is not always of a particular place and aims more to capture
elements. With a background in textiles, she has maintained an interest
in colour and mark making rather than trying to create an accurate portrayal
of a place. 
Louise Braithwaite is based in Hampshire, England.
Over the last nine years she has developed a style of painting which is vibrant and expressive yet based on her background in graphic illustration. Her paintings are predominately figurative and painted in oils on board.
She aims to capture the underlying essence of a crowded scene or an individual person in a stylised and naive fashion. Her paintings have been described as 'happy Lowrys'.
This year is painting another "local" scene for the gallery
- a view from Joe's Cafe on South Beach in Studland looking towards Old
Harry Rocks - we've not yet seen the painting but are sure it will be
a best seller as always....
REBECCA
LARDNER - BEST SELLING ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD 2010
At the Fine Art Trade Guild's Art & Framing Industry Awards Rebecca Lardner was awarded the prestigious Best Selling Artist Award. CONGRATUALTIONS!
This award is based on a nationwide survey of 100s of art galleries throughout the UK and demonstrates how popular Rebecca's work has become in recent years.
What makes this award even more special is that Rebecca was born in Swanage
and has a long-standing relationship with the gallery that goes back many
years.
We stock a large number of Rebecca's originals as well as her popular
limited edition prints - some of which are exclusive to the gallery. She
is without a doubt our top selling artist and her work has been bought
by collectors from all over the world So if you're after an original at
a very competitive price or a limited edition print then do visit the
webshop where you can view and buy all the work that is available.
We're often able to source sold-out limited editions by Rebecca so do call or email us at the gallery if you are after a particular image.
9 ARTISTS 9 HORIZONS EXHIBITION
May sees the start of our Exhibition Season with "9 artist 9 horizons" running from 22nd May - 10th June.
The gallery will be exhibiting contemporary and traditional oil paintings, watercolours, mixed media and photography inspired by the Dorset landscape and coastline by some of the area's most collectable local artists.
All
the work is available for sale on our webshop
Artists include: Paul Angel, Ben Spurling, Paul Schilling, Jane Colquhoun, Richard Hooke, Anne-Marie Kelly, Paul Liggins , Nicola Rose and Felicity Hedley
On Saturday 22nd and 29th we will be serving canapes and drinks from 12-4pm so if you're in town, come and join us!
PURBECK ART WEEKS
Purbeck Art Week will be running from the 29th May to 13th June.
Purbeck Art Weeks is a celebration of the wealth of creative talent crammed into this small part of Dorset.
You will find painters, sculptors, glass makers, photographers, potters and more...talk to them in their studios or see examples of their work in local galleries around the area. There are over 30 venues and exhibitions to visit in 2010.
You
can find out more on the Purbeck Art Week website at www.purbeckartweek.co.uk
or pick up a brochure from the gallery or Swanage Tourist Information
Office.
Look out for the colourful signs and arrows which will direct you to every venue.
You may also find it useful to have a map of the area, such as the OS Explorer Map OL15 - Purbeck and South Dorset.
February Window
Our
window this month features work by a number of Dorset based artists including
Rebecca Lardner, Anna Bowen and Sarah Hough.
Rebecca is one the UK's leading female artists and her quirky harbour
scenes have won numerous accolades including that of Best New Artist,
we are delighted to be showing a number of originals, including some unusual
sizes as well as a wide selection of limited edition prints.
Anna Bowen studied at Weymouth College followed by a two-year relief-carving
and brush-lettering apprenticeship at The John Stevens Shop in America.
She works mainly to commission and designs lettering to address each commission
individually, in stone and wood. Anna is based in Dorset and works mainly
to commission, fulfilling a craving for lettering in stone and wood
Sarah
Hough creates contemporary paper goods from her small studio in the
Piddle Valley - she is inspired by fashion, textiles, botanicals and the
fun in life...
Everything is printed on 100% recycled paper, and the paper packaging
is biodegradable and feels gorgeous. Sarah is proud that her notecards
have been both designed and produced in Dorset.
January Window
We are currently exhibiting work by Dorset based artist Kate Wyatt.
Kate was brought up in Somerset and Dorset, where she developed a deep
love of the countryside, and particularly the wild animals which inhabit
the land - badgers, hares and other native species.
Kate is best known for her unique portrayal of these wild creatures.
Each painting begins with numerous preparatory sketches, from which Kate
develops a line drawing and gradually builds up colour and texture using
mixed media to reflect each animal's environment.
You can buy Kate's work on-line in our webshop
We would like to thank Dave Elliott for the loan of the hare sculptures
and walking sticks.
News and Events '09
LAND
& SEA
24TH OCTOBER - 14TH NOVEMBER 2009
Come and join us on Sat 24th Oct for a drink and the opening of our
autumn exhibition 'Land & Sea'
We have eight artists who are exhibiting their work, three of whom are
new to the gallery.....
Tony Chance loves the drama thatour climate creates and the effect it has on our landscape and the challenge in trying to capture its essence.
Emma Pickering's work is influenced by the vast contrast of the
Purbeck landscape, from the chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks to the beautiful
golden beaches at Studland, they became an inspirational force behind
her abstracts. 
Annie Campbell's pictures are a response to the atmosphere that seems to emanate from the water and chalk of the Purbeck coast where she is incredibly fortunate to be able to live, perched almost on the edge of the cliffs.
Andrew Giddens was born in Poole, Dorset and is considered to be one of Cornwall's leading landscape artists. His subjects are often the light, atmosphere and beauty of places he knows well, creating fresh, dynamic and exciting work.
Jenny
Aitken lives in Derbyshire and in 2007 was awarded Derbyshire Life
Artist of the Year. Her passion is for landscape, both dramatic and still.
She conveys the sense of a place with her personal reaction to the land,
its history, weather, seasons, passage of time and of people.
Sarah Ross-Thompson is a Fine Art Printmaker living in Dorset. Her work explores Dorset's geographical variety, from hidden coves and rocky coastal paths to dense woodland and vast vistas overhung by massive skies.
Nicola Rose takes her inspiration from the wild and remote landscapes seeking to capture the essence of the weather, structures, ice and water through the use of oil paint.
Heather Gibbons' work is developed from her surroundings, interpreting the land shapes and coastline through colour, texture, pattern and line.
VENICE - CITY OF LIGHT AND SHADOWS
12TH - 26TH SEPTEMBER 2009
Romantic,
captivating, decaying - it's hard to describe Venice without using
a cluster of adjectives - but one thing is certain, it is a city dominated
by light and shadows, where the water is ever present. 
The Mulberry Tree is thrilled to be holding a 2 week exhibition celebrating
this wonderful city, original works by Paul Allen are in our main window
and limited edition canvases and prints by Hazel Soan and Henderson Cisz
as well.
Paul
Allen enjoys painting a broad range of subjects, with a special interest
in urban landscapes, interiors and beach scenes.
He works mainly in oils and occasionally in watercolour and acrylics.
He only began exhibiting his work in recent years, but his paintings now
feature in collections across the United Kingdom, Europe, America, Canada
and the United Arab Emirates.
His work is about communication and seeing the world through his interpretation
of life. He tries to simplify subjects in order to encourage the viewer
to play a part in the creation of the image in front of them; avoiding
the temptation of being too descriptive thereby leaving something to the
imagination. He is particularly interested in light and what light does
to the world around us.
SIMPLICITY
25 JULY - 31 AUGUST
Our
eagerly awaited summer exhibition starts on Saturday 25th July.
We love paintings because they bring beauty and interest into our homes.
The artists behind those images cast an eye over the colour and texture
of life, choosing what strikes them for the canvas.
When six artists come together, you might expect a cacophony of ideas,
or a great sprawl of concepts.
Instead, this summer, a collection of original work by six of the UK's
favourite artists. Sasha Harding, Sophie Harding, Louise Braithwaite,
Emma Ball, Rebecca Lardner and Anna Macmaidhachain are united not
only in being female, but also in the distinctive outlook represented
in their paintings.
They come together to display the latest in their collections, drawn together
by a shared love of Purbeck, and their long-standing partnerships with
the Gallery. It is a unique exhibition. All the artists work from doorstep
observations of land or seascapes, often featuring playful figures or
astute portrayals of the remarkable so often overlooked in the everyday.
A common stripped back style gives an impression of the primitive in their
work, so that everything is recognisable, even familiar. It's a refreshing
combination, as we are presented with a stunning simplicity of vision.
Be sure to take this opportunity to absorb the work of six artists offering
such extraordinary clarity; in the noisy fog of real life, it comes as
a breath of fresh air.
BEST OF BRITISH
STARTING 20TH JUNE
Our
front window is currently displaying some great works by:
Colette Fowler-Marson, Richard Adams, James Bartholomew and Ben Spurling
- it has a distinctive bovine theme!
We are also displaying ceramics by Emma Bridgwater and new textiles by
Poppy Treffry.
DORSET PERSPECTIVE EXHIBITION
23RD MAY - 12TH JUNE 2009
May
sees the start of our Exhibition Season with "A Dorset Perspective"
running from 23rd May through to the 12th June.
The gallery will be exhibiting contemporary and traditional oil paintings,
watercolours, mixed media and photography inspired by the Dorset landscape
and coastline by some of the area's most collectable local artists.
Artists include: Anne-Marie Kelly, Ben Spurling, Carmen Watson, Jane Colquhoun,
John Dimech, Michael Sole, Paul Liggins, Paul Schilling, Rob Marshal andl
Sarah King
Purbeck
Art Week will be running from the 23rd to 31st May and is a celebration
of the wealth of creative talent crammed into this small part of Dorset.
You will find painters, sculptors, glass makers, photographers, potters
and more...talk to them in their studios or see examples of their work
in local galleries around the area.
There are over 30 venues and exhibitions to visit in 2009. You can find
out more on the Purbeck Art Week website at www.purbeckartweek.co.uk or
pick up a brochure from the gallery or Swanage Tourist Information Office.
Look out for the colourful signs and arrows which will direct you to every
venue. You may also find it useful to have a map of the area, such as
the OS Explorer Map OL15 - Purbeck and South Dorset.
CURRENT EXHIBITION - APRIL 2009
Louise
Braithwaite and Aline Johnson
Louise discovered her talent for art and design at school, where she
specialised in screen printing. Having completed an Art Foundation Course
at Portsmouth College of Art, she embarked on a 4 year Degree in Media
and Production Design at the London College of Printing.
The great love of the sea which took her back to the South Coast is reflected
throughout her work, but we can also see a great affection for human interaction
in a variety of social and public situations. Her paintings are predominately
figurative and painted in oils on board. Her paintings have been described
as "happy Lowrys".
The gallery has 3 new limited edition prints available from April called
Tea at the Ritz, The Shooting Party and Vineyard - all are available for
sale through the webshop.
Louise is currently undertaking a commission for the gallery based around
Swanage Pier and the Padle Steamer the Waverley - the original along with
limited edition prints will be available from our Summer Exhibition "Simplicity"
at the end of July.
Aline Johnson makes a welcome return to the gallery where her glassware
has proved very popular.
After graduating in Holland in fashion design, Aline freelanced in Italy for several years. On moving to England she felt motivated to translate her fascination for colour, pattern and surface texture into new media. She studied architectural glass at Central St. Martin's School of Art and Design.
Her
inspiration is fuelled by her affinity for the Jurassic Coast of Dorset
where she spends a lot of her time. The vibrant palette of beach paraphernalia,
stripes on windbreaks and seaside rock translate with ease into bright
designs in fused glass. The sparkling translucency, the fluidity and the
ever-changing colour-palette of the sea have immediate relevance to working
with kiln-formed glass and provide an infinite source of inspiration.
EXHIBITION - MARCH 2009
Gillian McDonald, Neil Tregear and Aline Johnson
Gillian McDonald is an acclaimed landscape artist, consistently
one of the top-selling print artists of her generation. From the Scottish
Highlands to the remotest shores of the British Isles, Gillian seeks out
the dramatic locations that inspire her images.
Gillian's artistry is rich in drama and atmosphere. It evokes isolation
and solitude and focuses on the interplay of light and the natural environment.
Coupled with her bold, mixed-media use of colour, these are the hallmarks
of her highly sought-after work. See the webshop
for her work
Neil
Tregear's pottery has always been popular at the gallery and we are
pleased to display his new work; beautiful fish jugs and fish pots.
The jugs come in three sizes, all with Neil's unique fish design. The small jug makes a perfect milk jug to complement Neil's very popular coffee mugs and the lidded pots could be used for delicious cookies - an ideal accompaniment to a cup of coffee.
Aline Johnson makes a welcome return to the gallery where her glassware has proved very popular.
After graduating in Holland in fashion design, Aline freelanced in Italy for several years. On moving to England she felt motivated to translate her fascination for colour, pattern and surface texture into new media. She studied architectural glass at Central St. Martin's School of Art and Design.
Her
inspiration is fuelled by her affinity for the Jurassic Coast of Dorset
where she spends a lot of her time. The vibrant palette of beach paraphernalia,
stripes on windbreaks and seaside rock translate with ease into bright
designs in fused glass. The sparkling translucency, the fluidity and the
ever-changing colour-palette of the sea have immediate relevance to working
with kiln-formed glass and provide an infinite source of inspiration.
VALENTINE'S DAY
14th February 2009
Why
don't you surprise your Valentine this year with a specially chosen gift
from the gallery.
We will be stocking Emma Bridgewater pottery and her Pink Hearts range
is ideal for that special person in your life.
For those of you with a more quirkly sense of humour you could try the
Emma Bridgewater tea-towels!
If
your thinking artwork for Valentine's Day, then Paul Angel's work is sure
to capture your heart. His love and landscape series depicts the image
of the heart in a variety of settings from the romantic to the truly bizzare
- prices range from £25 to £250.