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It is undoubtedly one of South Devon’s most prestigious accolades, a UNESCO status that when awarded was shared with just 57 areas around the world for their unique geological heritage. Awarded to three coastal towns in 2007, it recognised millions of years of historic activity which formed stunning landscapes, populated thriving waters, and inspired and defined generations of culture and heritage quietly and unfalteringly. More than ten years on, Torbay celebrates its designation with pride as the home of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. At the start of August, the English Riviera Geopark Organisation (ERGO) hosted two UNESCO recognised evaluators as part of a revalidation process to determine if Torbay retains the designation for a further 4-years. Under the organisation of the ERGO, partners, volunteers and ambassadors welcomed inspectors Professor Setsuya Nakada and Dr Manfred Kupetz who spent 4 days in Torbay’s Geopark visiting key sites and witnessing the contribution of organisations to help support the Geopark and raise awareness of the UNESCO Global Geopark designation. As part of the visit, Geopark Associate Partner Artizan Gallery, showcased work from their Geopark Ambassador Artist programme in an exhibition which will run throughout August. Joining the network in the Summer of 2018, the Ambassador Artist programme is currently made up of thirteen creatives from the region, all of whom take inspiration from the landscapes and heritage recognised by the designation. “The Geopark Ambassador Artist’s are a wonderful representation of Torbay’s creative community and help to tie the heritage and culture recognised by the Geopark designation directly back to the geological significance of our coastal region,” says Jacob Brandon, who manages the programme at Artizan Gallery. “The opportunity for these artists to gain recognition for their work through this UNESCO badge whilst also acting as advocates and educating audiences on our Geopark home, is a great example of how ERGO and its partners work to celebrate this exciting status.” The current exhibition showcases work from nine of the Geopark Ambassador Artists, who met with inspectors at an artist preview event to discuss their individual practise and how the Geopark inspires and influences their creativity. Each member artist brings their own unique work to the network with one of the main ambitions of the programme being to discover a diversity of creativity as broad as the designation itself. The evening also provided the opportunity to release an interview with Geopark Ambassador Artist Chrystine Jones produced by The Shorely, a digital publication delivered by the Great Place Scheme. Working in pewter, Chrystine is one of the makers based at Cockington Court and her artistic journey began when she attended the 7th International Conference on Global Geoparks hosted in Torbay in 2016 and she found herself inspired by the geological significance of Torbay. Chrystine said, “We did a tour of the coastline with this geologist. She told me about things I had no idea, like the upside-down mountain and we actually stood on it. You can see all the fossils - and it's just fantastic - and the importance of the name, the Devonian period, I had no idea about any of this. It just excited me so much I thought this is massive, this is so important.” ERGO will be notified of the outcome of the inspection in mid-December 2019. The Exhibition of Geopark Ambassador Artists’ work will be on display at Artizan Gallery until the end of August where visitors can also find out more about the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. For more information on the Geopark visit englishrivierageopark.org.uk or to find out more about the Ambassador Artists visit art-hub.co.uk/englishrivierageopark. #EnglishRivieraUNESCOGlobalGeopark #EnglishRiviera #UNESCO #GlobalGeoparks #GeoparkAmbassadorArtists #GAA #Exhibition #August2019 #PressRelease #artist #ArtizanGallery #CatherineKennedy #LeePover #RhianWynHarrison #ChrystineJones #FionaHiscox #KevinCowell #BethHill #ZoeSingleton #ChantalAshwell #BeckyButtall #KevinPatterson #NicolaNoble #DianaBooth

The diversity of practising South West artists is something we are not unaware of; our regular open exhibition programme exposes us to continuous showcases of the creative output that emanates from Devon and the surrounding areas, and it's a situation that grants us the privilege to be able to do the work we do. Torbay itself is undoubtedly a focal point for some of this activity, presumably because of the favourable conditions that earnt it the title of the English Riviera many decades ago; it's landscapes, seascapes and coastlines easily match the artistic output for diversity and quality, it's climate encourages plein air practise and it's culture and heritage continues to inspire and attract those who seemingly are predisposed to create abundantly. It is, arguably, unrivalled; maybe we're biased but regardless it understandably remains our focus. In recent years it's been pleasing to see the growth of opportunity developing to support what has always been a thriving community and doing so in a manner that appears to be increasingly focused on sustainability. Venues are embracing collaborations with groups of artists and societies, and in turn these groups and individual artists are recognising the growing expectations of audiences who increasingly want buying a work of art to be an experience which brings them closer to the artist. The bar is being continuously raised to respond to this and we’re pleased to be repeatedly challenged to raise our own game to keep pace with offers across Torbay as increasingly there is recognition that a showcase of art must value each and every work as highly as we are asking those viewing it to. One particular example that is worth recognising is the work of Torbay Guild of Artists a leading arts society that has thrown its weight behind the delivery of opportunities which truly value the bays artistic talent. With a strong group of professional and amateur artists at their core, the Guild has grown successfully by encouraging commitment from its members and justifying this through an exceptionally professional approach to the opportunities they offer in return. We make certain to attend every Guild exhibition when they’re on and have had the pleasure of collaborating with them in the past and the most recent opportunity to do both was their Summer Festival of Art at Torre Abbey. Anyone who has visited the Spanish Barn will recognise it as a grand, provoking, serene space; whether you know its history or not you can certainly feel it when you’re present in the building. All these qualities are maintained and transformed when Torbay Guild take over the space and this vast, high ceilinged barn, which echoes in its unfilled state, is brought to life through a contemporary action that feels completely harmonious; it’s grandeur complimented by the presence of art, provocation magnified by the subject of works, and as I found the other day when I visited, if you stay long enough the ebb and flow of audiences will ensure at one time or other you can still experience intimate serenity amongst the art. This year we were honoured to be invited to present the Artizan Award, which granted us the unenviable task of shortlisting our top contributors to the exhibition with the chance to exhibit with us in 2020. Narrowing down from more than 50 talented artists to a selection of just seven 2D and three 3D artists was no easy feat and we left with pangs of doubt over works which hadn’t made the cut. The quality of this year’s exhibition was truly exceptional and there was not a single artist present that we would not have welcomed to exhibit on our own walls. The outcome of the final random selection from our shortlist was serendipitously a couple of Alan’s; Teignmouth artist Alan Gregory who tempted us with new abstract works grabbed the 2D spot and wire sculpture artist Alan Poxton just couldn’t be left of our 3D shortlist with the presence of his Cockington Sculpture Trail Horse dominating the far end of the barn. They were joined by award nominees Peter Blakesly, Viv Plewes, Ashley Raddon, Peter Garatt, Val Jones and Rebecca Holley for 2D work, and Joshua Charles and Catherine Rogers, both coincidentally new to Cockington Studios, for 3D work. But for us there were so many more highlights. When we returned more recently we were delighted to see sales not only for several of our shortlisted artists but also for Geopark Ambassador Artists Chrystine Jones, Lee Pover and Becky Nuttall, as well as Will Mills who joined us for Our Place in the Seven Heavens which recently toured to the new HeArTs Gallery at Torbay Hospital. We additionally made our own contribution to the exhibition this year with works from two South West masters, Arthur Homeshaw (1933-2011) and Richard Slater R.I. Homeshaw was a Westcountry artist whose work tapped into the deep-rooted influence that represent the best in British art, with work placed in the English romantic tradition of Paul Nash (1889 – 1946) and also revealing the influence of the wood engravings of Eric Ravilious (1903 – 1942). He is best known for his exquisite linocuts which have become highly collectible. An edition of Men-an-Tol, depicting the Cornish standing stones can be viewed at the Abbey. Alongside this are examples of Slater’s watercolour work, The Owl and the Poacher II and a lithograph of Spring Nocturne. Slater has been referred to as a “hidden gem of British art” being elected to the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, but turns his hand diversely to oils and pastels also. Both will be on display at the Artizan Gallery and Artizan Collective Gallery as part of Devon Open Studios 2019. The Summer Festival of Art runs until September 1st at Torre Abbey, do visit! #SummerFestivalofArt #TorbayGuild #TorreAbbey #RichardSlater #BeckyNuttall #LeePover #GeoparkAmbassadorArtists #ChrystineJones #JoshuaCharles #AlanPoxton #AlanGregory #PeterBlakesley #DevonOpenStudios #ArthurHomeshaw #VivPlewes #AshleyRaddion #PeterGaratt #ValJones #RebeccaHolley #CatherineRogers #ArtizanTorquay #artist

Award winning photographic artists Kirsteen Titchener wraps up her 2019 art fair season at CAF Windsor where she'll release her brand new series of Botanical Vortices for the first time. This stunning new series creates works resembling contemporary bouquets inspired by Shakespeare's Ophelia and celebrating the Goddesses Flora and Iris. "This will by my first show at the Windsor venue and I'm excited to be travelling up the M5 again to greater London. These shows are great weekends where I meet so many fantastic collectors and visitors. I will be showing my new Botanical Vortices series inspired by a love of flowers and the baroque all swirled together in a misty vortex - Pre-launch interest suggests they are going to prove very popular." The show is taking place at Windsor Royal Racecourse. Private View (by invitation or ticket): Friday 8th November 6-9pm Show weekend: Saturday 9thth & Sunday 10th November #ArtizanArtist #KirsteenTitchener #ContemporaryArtFairs #ContemporaryArtFairsWindsor #BotanicalVortices #Photography #PhotographicArtist #artist #ArtizanTorquay

A celebration of sound and light, illuminating the overlooked, bringing people together. An opportunity to come together in the darkness of November, and explore new work by artists and creative technologists. Join us for a three nights of illumination, sound, curiosity and play. Inspiring and fun for all ages - wrap up warm, turn up and enjoy. It’s free to attend and you can pick and choose what you see and do. There will also be food and drink on sale every night at Torre Abbey - in and around the Spanish Barn - including mulled wine, hot chocolate, soups, wraps and fries, waffles, crepes, cakes and more. Come along with your friends and family. Full programme and what's on: #Eyeview #EyeviewTorbay #EyeviewWavelength

My first poetry anthology is available to order through lulu.com. Alternatively email or Facebook messenger for a copy nuttallbecky@googlemail.com; Also catch up with me reading from Nick's Gift at venues in the South West where copies will be available Here's a taster: Nick’s gifts He liked boys, he kissed me anyway. I had the taste of two lipsticks in my mouth, his named peachy pink and mine fuchsia gloss. Baby blue, shimmer cream, I blushed. Willingly I would’ve shed my clothes for him and worn his. The kiss, peachy pink, the taste of boys. He knew his limits. One look at his black rimmed eyes told me he was just exchanging gifts. So I have worn kohl ever since #BeckyNuttall #poetry #artist #ArtizanGallery

March 8th is International Women’s Day a globally recognised date marking “the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women” that also acts as “a call to action for accelerating women’s equality” (internationalwomensday.com). To recognise the day, we thought we’d talk to some talented female artists to find out how they relate to gender in their work, whether it’s a driving factor they turn to, an unconscious influence or an issue they perhaps prefer to separate from their art. We had the pleasure of speaking to some incredible artists from across the world including, Becky Nuttall, Kirsteen Titchener, Helena Cardow, Jude Jelfs and Virginia Woods-Jack, who were able to tell us a little bit about what International Women's Day means to them. We'll be releasing the first of these interviews today with the rest going live throughout this week and we look forward to sharing them with you. Released Interviews: Becky Nuttall: art-hub.co.uk/post/interview-with-becky-nuttall-iwd2020 Kirsteen Titchener: art-hub.co.uk/post/interview-with-kirsteen-titchener-iwd2020 The interviews and research were carried out by Friederike Brand and throughout the process we recognised that questions around gender and sexuality are complex, so at all junctures we invited participants to talk beyond the outlines of the rough guidelines we used to shape the conversation. #InternationalWomensDay2020 #InternationalWomensDay #EachForEqual #ArtizanTorquay #ArtistInterviews #KirsteenTitchener #BeckyNuttall #HelenaCardo #JudeJelfs #VirginiaWoodsJack #artist

To find out more about our interviews for #IWD2020 head to art-hub.co.uk/post/international-women-s-day-interviews Becky Nuttall is an artist and poet based in Torbay. Coming from an artistic and literary background, she often incorporates mixed media elements of childhood materials and student works into final pieces to reflect on her heritage, as well as adding references to religious iconography that replicate the paintings in her convent school. We asked Becky about how issues of gender have influenced her work and how coming from an artistic family has shaped her outlook. I am one of four sisters and I was educated in a girls' school. I consciously refer to this and the influence of female artists. Though I am fairly autonomous when it comes to role models, I admire and I am influenced by female artists, especially feminist artists of the sixties and seventies. They speak for their experience and I speak for mine. I have a Facebook page called The Longing and the Lack honouring lost female artists of the avant garde. Because I am female, I am proud to reference this in my art and writing. Do you think you have faced barriers as a female artist that you wouldn’t have otherwise? No, I don't compare myself or think about my status in this way. I was treated equally by my father who was an artist and was not told to expect less. Do you celebrate international women´s day in any special way? I have performed poetry on International Women's Day. I support the day but would rather it wasn't necessary to make it a 'special' day. art-hub.co.uk/beckynuttall instagram.com/beckyartistpoet/ art-hub.co.uk/post/international-women-s-day-interviews #BeckyNuttall #IWD2020 #InternationalWomensDay2020 #InternationalWomensDay #EachForEqual #ArtizanTorquay #artist

To find out more about our interviews for #IWD2020 head to art-hub.co.uk/post/international-women-s-day-interviews Kirsteen Titchener is a psychologist turned photographic artist whose detailed and illusion filled work often focuses on the floral as well as the female form, though her work would not be immediately described as feminine. Having chosen psychology as a career path in her twenties she pursued a traditional academic route and whilst this is a career she left behind upon returning to the UK from Australia, it is still an area that fascinates her and finds a creative outlet through her work. Of this background Kirsteen says, “I didn’t grow up wanting to be a psychologist, a photographer or an artist and would never have guessed I’d end up as any of these things. However, I did grow up believing, from those who had shaped my thoughts during my formative years, that being an artist wasn’t a real job. In the 80’s being a hairdresser, estate agent or nurse were considered suitable careers for girls.” We asked Kirsteen where the line is between gender being incorporated into her work rather than influencing it, and whether it’s an interpretation that audiences attach to her work. There are definitely some gender related issues in my work, but my work has never set out to be about gender, it is just inherent in the work. This is particularly noticeable because the images in the Missing Series are all based around the female form. This is not to make a statement about women per se but because they are, for the purposes of the Missing Series at least, instantly recognisable as figures when draped in fabrics. The deeper issues in the series, such as the passing of time, are equally relevant to everyone. I don’t feel any obligation or particular desire to discuss gender or gender issues in my work. Interestingly when talking about my work with collectors and visitors to exhibitions it is an issue that rarely comes up despite the strong female form in the work. Occasionally people ask if I’ve considered using male figures but other than that it’s a rare comment that touches on gender. Do you think you have faced barriers as a female artist that you wouldn’t have otherwise? Not that I am aware of. I am not formally educated as an artist and I am carving out my own path into the artworld. I don’t know if things would have been different if I had taken a more academic journey to becoming an artist. Where do you see important contributions to conversations around gender being made? Anyone striving to ensure women are equally placed in society and encouraging serious discussion around gender are people who I admire very much. It is something I am aware of in my everyday life by virtue of being a woman and having traversed my working life (both as a psychologist and an artist) from that mould. I am also passionate about things like voting to make sure that campaigns fought by women in decades past are treasured. I enjoyed seeing the Royal Photographic Society’s 100 Heroines campaign across social media to celebrate women in photography today. I’m a member of SheClicks which also supports female photographers. However, I’m cautious about setting myself, as a female photographer and artist, as any different to male photographers. While I see a need for such groups at the moment to support women in photography (because they are seriously underrepresented within the profession) I am cautious because I don’t want female artists or photographers to be seen or regarded as any different to men. I don’t feel it should be relevant to my work who made it. Do you celebrate international women´s day in any special way? I’ve been aware of it for a while and usually post something on my social media accounts each year on IWD but it is not a large focus for me. I think gender issues are something that filter through my life on a more day to day basis. That said I welcome it as a day for global discussion about the multitude of issues it can promote. art-hub.co.uk/kirsteentitchener instagram.com/moragphoto/ art-hub.co.uk/post/international-women-s-day-interviews #KirsteenTitchener #IWD2020 #InternationalWomensDay2020 #InternationalWomensDay #EachForEqual #ArtizanTorquay #artist

To find out more about our interviews for #IWD2020 head to art-hub.co.uk/post/international-women-s-day-interviews Jude Jelfs is an artist living and working in Gloucestershire where she runs the Cotswold Pottery with her husband. She works primarily in hand-built ceramics based around the nude figure, mostly, but not exclusively, the female figure. We asked Jude whether she’s ever felt a need to attach gender issues to her work which focuses so heavily on the female figure. Not really. I'm a woman so obviously my gender is important! But I don't feel any obligation to address gender issues. They don't interest me, but I don't avoid them either. I'm just interested in the work itself. Issues, politics etc don't come into it for me. I would say that Like most women, I probably undervalue the work. instagram.com/judejelfs/ art-hub.co.uk/post/international-women-s-day-interviews #JudeJelfs #IWD2020 #InternationalWomensDay2020 #InternationalWomensDay #EachForEqual #ArtizanTorquay #artist

To find out more about our interviews for #IWD2020 head to art-hub.co.uk/post/international-women-s-day-interviews Virginia Woods-Jack is a photographic artist working with in camera and traditional film based processes to create her work. An investigative approach sees each piece start with a question or point of interest which is then responded to photographically, her preferred traditional techniques becoming a vehicle for considered and mindful representation which she hopes will be shared in the experience of the viewer. She is the founder of Women in Photography NZ & AU, a platform to highlight women and non-binary creators working in photo based arts. We asked Virginia how her work is impacted by an awareness of gender and found out more about the Women in Photography platform she’s established. I think it would be impossible for my gender to not influence my work as ,in part, it deals with the human experience from the perspective of being a woman - how I see things and the work is a reflection or imprint of that. I neither focus on or avoid gender but I am always aware of how gender impacts my experience of being a human. When I was much younger I didn't see or feel this so acutely but with more experience under my belt I do and it's one of the reasons why I created Women in Photography NZ & AU which I now work on with fellow artists Caroline McQuarrie and Christine McFetridge, as I wanted to address gender inequity in the arts and create a virtual space where female, non binary and female identifying photo based artists could share their work and discuss what was important to them. Are there barriers you have faced as a female artist that you think you wouldn't have otherwise as a male artist? Most definitely, particularly when I ventured into parenthood and when I became a single parent but I have to say that those barriers haven't always been made by men unfortunately. I believe that when women work together not against one another great things can and will happen. Where do you see important contributions to conversations around gender being made? In 2016 Jill Solway delivered a masterclass at the Toronto film festival titled 'the female gaze' Soloway explains: "The female gaze is more than a camera or a shooting style, it is that empathy generator that says: I was there in that room. The female gaze says I was there, and this is my shame, and this is my life, this is my humor, I'll take all of it and put it into my protagonist, with music, with light, and we will all side with HER." Though Soloway's ideas are based around experiences of the film industry, they resonate strongly with how female/non binary and female identifying photographers are working today. The series by Sama Alshaibi 'Carry Over' is a brilliant example of a female photographer reappropriating the gaze, recalling and subverting how women in the Middle East were portrayed by Western Male photographers (read here) Outside of the arts I am a huge fan of the how our prime minister here in New Zealand Jacinda Arden demonstrates time and again that empathy and strength can and should coexist and that these qualities create an amazing foundation to lead a country from. Do you celebrate international women´s day in any special way? I love being a woman and it is cause to celebrate and International Women's day is a great way to remind us all that we need to be aware of the barriers that stand in our way and to make sure we support and stand up for one another and lead by example. instagram.com/virginiawoodsjack/ art-hub.co.uk/post/international-women-s-day-interviews #VirginiaWoodsJack #IWD2020 #InternationalWomensDay2020 #InternationalWomensDay #EachForEqual #ArtizanTorquay #artist

To find out more about our interviews for #IWD2020 head to art-hub.co.uk/post/international-women-s-day-interviews Helena Cardow is a London-based artist with a diverse creative practice including collage, photography, oil painting and graphic design. Thematically, her art is concerned with the depiction of bodies in spaces which are actively created by a partial eye, and how these compositions and biases affect the meaning of the overall image. She is also heavily influenced by her academic background, delving into sociological topics such as the intersectional relationships between conceptions of race, feminism, gender and sexuality - revealing subjects whilst simultaneously encouraging the viewer to question the power dynamics inherent in the act of ‘looking’. We asked Helena about the themes she explores in her work and whether she sees gender as an influencing factor. Of course! My background in Sociology has taught me that everything is influenced - knowingly or unknowingly - by one's lived experience in society. You see things from where you stand. Looking at it intersectionally; as a cisgender female artist of mixed heritage, my way of thinking is influenced by my unique experience in the world, and so my work is influenced - whether I know it or not. I feel a natural affinity for exploring issues of gender and sexuality in my work, in part influenced by my previous studies in Sociology. I am interested in how women are portrayed in art, why women are portrayed in art, and how the artist behind said portrayal influences the work. My work often features women who I feel I haven't seen much of in the canon of Western Art History, it is my way of including narratives and faces who have been marginalised by the mainstream institution of Art. Do you think you have faced barriers as a female artist that you wouldn’t have otherwise? I think the barriers are the same as those I encounter in my daily life of being a mixed-race woman in today's society; my occupation may change but my struggles are the same. Who do you think is making important contributions to conversations around gender? Yes! Florence Given is a great illustrator and activist who shares insightful content on Instagram. What does International Women´s Day mean to you? It means being seen. I celebrate it every day! instagram.com/helenacardow/ art-hub.co.uk/post/international-women-s-day-interviews #HelenaCardow #IWD2020 #InternationalWomensDay2020 #InternationalWomensDay #EachForEqual #ArtizanTorquay #artist

We are pleased to welcome South West artist Peter King. "It was on family holidays driving through France and Spain that he was struck by the vibrant colours of the Mediterranean and his passion for landscapes was ignited. These paintings were the beginning of his exploration of the use of intense bold colours, which would be a dominate theme within his work." You can view Peter's full profile here. #Arthub #Profile #NewArtist #PeterKing #ContemporaryArtist #artist