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“Last year saw some awe-inspiring programming across the bay and we know there’s plenty more to come in 2019. We’re looking forward to keeping pace with this progress and hopefully exceeding the expectations of our artists and audiences this year.” After a record breaking 2018, Artizan Gallery looks forward to relaunching in February with their five Artizan Artists. This two-week celebratory show marks the start of a full 2019 programme of exhibitions and events which are certain to inspire, challenge and delight Torbay audiences in the year ahead. 2018 saw huge growth for art and culture in Torbay with venues across the three towns stepping up to achieve new standards of excellence for its communities and visitors. “As we start off the New Year, it’s almost an intimidating position to be in.” says Julie Brandon, Director of Artizan Gallery, “Last year saw some awe-inspiring programming across the bay and we know there’s plenty more to come in 2019. We’re looking forward to keeping pace with this progress and hopefully exceeding the expectations of our artists and audiences this year.” At the start of February, Artizan will announce the full calendar of exhibitions to be hosted at its main gallery premises on Lucius Street at their official relaunch event February 13th, 18:00-20:00. To celebrate the reopening of the gallery after a two-month period of maintenance they’ll be welcoming five of their 2018 Artizan Artists for a two-week showcase looking back on exhibited works from the previous year. This diverse group of contemporary, south Devon artists is made up of award-winning photographic artist, Kirsteen Titchener, South West Academician, Martin Dutton, the UKs first colour changing resin artist, Jo West, leading contemporary fine artist, F. G. Davis, and chair of Torbay Guild of Artists, Susan Cavaliere. However, if 2018 is anything to go by, this calendar of exhibitions is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Artizan’s offer for the year ahead. “We’ve got some big ideas for external projects as well as developing spaces here on Lucius Street which we’re looking forward to announcing in the Spring,” says Julie. Artizan Gallery reopens on February 13th, 18:00-20:00 with an exhibition from Artizan Artists. For more information on Artizan Gallery visit www.artizangallery.co.uk or for what to expect in 2019 head to www.art-hub.co.uk/2019. More details on their February relaunch can be found at www.art-hub.co.uk/feb19. #PressRelease #KirsteenTitchener #MartinDutton #JoWest #SusanCavaliere #FGDavis #February #2019 #Feb19 #February2019 #Exhibition #Launch #ArtizanGallery #Artizan #ArtizanArtists #relaunch19

We certainly don’t need an excuse to head out on an adventure. If we’ve got a spare half day (few and far between recently) we’re almost certainly out on the trail, rucksack on, packed lunch stowed and energetic border collie on point as we venture out. A predisposition to Wanderlust was in fact one of the driving motivations in the choice to rescue said canine companion; there’s nothing better than a four-legged friend when your roaming distant moors, tors and coastal shores. With limited free time at our disposal, our main dilemma is narrowing down the choice of destination when in glorious South Devon we’re overwhelmed with opportunities to get off the beaten track. My university days saw my bookshelves mainly overburdened with heavily annotated copies of Beckett and minutely printed copies of Shakespeare anthologies (the latter were significantly less well-thumbed). Today, having been liberated from the chore of reading for study the balance is slowly turning towards catalogues picked up from visited exhibitions and, when I’m lucky enough to have a spare penny, picture-laden biographies of some of our guest artists. In reality, I’ve never thrown out a book in my life, so the eclectic mix simply expands outwards from Roald Dahl and Dick King-Smith until it abruptly collides with George Orwell and Grayson Perry. However, there is one preserved shelf committed to pages that serve a very specific purpose, and it’s where I turn when faced with the dilemma of where to point the compass. At its more practical end can be found enough luminescent orange OS Maps to wallpaper our small studio apartment with; being sacred texts in our household though, this would of course never be a fate they suffered. These then meander through a series of walking guides, micro-adventure handbooks and must-see wildlife beauty spots in various shapes and sizes. This section fluctuates from the more instructional, with pages of statistics, directional details and topographic tips to inform the most ignorant of expedition, through to the comparatively obscene, whose leaves are stripped of the cover of words and instead filled with scenes so stunning, aspects so awe-inspiring, expanses so epic that they should undoubtedly come with a parental guidance notice. But enough about my bookshelves… Sometimes, a destination is determined with more purpose and this was the case recently when we headed out to North Devon. At Artizan we were excited to be welcoming Gill Jones and Jenny Smy, two artists who hailed from the opposite edge of Devon to our English Riviera Gallery. Their exhibition, entitled Natural Affinity, celebrates the pairs passion for the natural world, with scenes inspired from the coast to the countryside captured in acrylics, watercolour and collagraph. On receiving their breath-taking collection of works for the exhibition at the end of February, the temptation to visit the landscapes that inspired the pieces was overwhelming. A quick exploration of “the shelf” with a focus targeted at North Devon soon disclosed a ripe destination in the form of the National Trust’s Heddon Valley. Affixed in the West Exmoor Coast, this steep-walled wooded valley draws together such a diversity of landscapes, with moorland meeting woodland only to then become the boundary between beach and soaring sea cliff. This would undoubtedly be worth the cross-county circumnavigation. Arriving in mid-morning at the National Trust car park and information centre, the landscape was immediately breath-taking. By this point we’d already been following the trail of the River Heddon for a good 20 minutes through deep woodland, but our base camp was situated at a point where the valley dramatically opened into a picturesque clearing. Birds chirped, the narrowing river babbled serenely, the trees whispered peacefully. Or at least perhaps they would have done had we not chosen a day when the whole of the South West was being battered by gale force winds. Instead the scene that met us was far more dramatic and just as beautiful, despite all sound being overwhelmed by the rush of wind through the valley. As we fought to open car doors, a nearby bird box strained at the branch it hung from, near horizontal in the adverse conditions. Towering trees clung to the sheer hillside no less fiercely so that the whole scene appeared almost to be leaning up river away from the mouth of the valley. After strenuous minutes fighting wind whipped layers on, we power walked to the map outside the National Trust information centre to determine available routes and were quickly received by a volunteer warden who advised keeping clear of some of the clifftop routes given the conditions. Duty-bound by our dependence on mobile devices, we quickly snapped some photos of the map and headed off down river towards the sea. As we got undercover of the trees again, we were periodically rewarded with let-ups in the weather, and the surrounding woodland would become completely still. These peaceful moments would give us cause to pause, their serenity so stark in opposition to the roar and agitation we were more regularly experiencing. They were few and far between and always short-lived, being all but forgotten once we exited the woodland path into a short cliff descent to Heddon’s Mouth Beach. Defined by large smooth rocks, the beach descends steeply from the mouth of the river so that it is all but lost before it reaches the sea, dispersed rapidly to bubble beneath. An old lime kiln overlooks bit sits well beneath the towering moor of the Western side of the valley and the looming cliff that opposes it to the East. We ventured East up the cliff and quickly decided to beat a path on a sheep track away from the narrow cliff trail, ascending uphill to a wider track a safer distance from the bluff. Now at the summit of the Eastern side of the valley, the views were astonishing; uninterrupted rolling waves cascaded against the shoreline whilst the opposing face to ours stood high across the depression. In our immediate surroundings, nature was inclined towards moorland with sturdy meadows of yellow gorse dominating. We ventured a little further away from home and were rewarded with signs to a fort viewing point which allowed us to ascend a little further into a clearer plateau which had once clearly been taking advantage of for its commanding vantage point. Significantly windswept and Wanderlust abated, we aligned our steps for the car park taking in a different and equally stunning route as we descended which also benefitted from a greater degree of shelter. A brief stop outside the information centre to consume a neglected packed lunch and our visit to North Devon was concluded. The inspiration for our walk, the artwork from Gill Jones and Jenny Smy, would await us back at the Gallery and had not disappointed us in its representation of these magnificent landscapes. Naturally, we finished our day by buying yet another walking guide for the shelf… Natural Affinity closes on March 23rd. For more details on the exhibition visit art-hub.co.uk/mar19 #Blog #Artizan #ArtizanAdventures #NaturalAffinity #GillJones #JennySmy #Exmoor #HeddonValley #NationalTrust #Exhibition #March #March2019 #naturalaffinity19

We're pleased to welcome South Devon artist Tamara Savchenko as our newest Arthub member. Tamara exhibited with us in the 2018 Winter Open with her work defined by a unique triangular vision. I am an artist-explorer. I never liked to be put in a box with the label on it. I have experienced life in so many ways that it is impossible for me to stick to one form of art. You can view Tamara's full profile here. #Arthub #Profile #NewArtist #TamaraSavchenko #Landscapes #Surreal #Abstract

Due to the current climate surrounding Covid-19 we have taken the decision to make temporary adjustments to our operating procedures. In line with the government’s advice for social distancing, working from home and isolation other than for essential activity, we are following the example of many other tourism and retail venues to shut our doors to public audiences for the immediate future. We do not take this decision lightly which will impact our small team who are all reliant on the continuation of this business, and which will also equally affect the artists we are here to represent. However, in the absence of definitive action being taken to require businesses to close, we feel it is important for us to make a contribution to a scenario that encourages individuals to remain at home for the safety and wellbeing of our communities. In the short-term, our team are still necessarily intermittently on site to continue delivery of other services and will continue to be so as long as they remain healthy and able, or until definitive requirements are outlined for individuals to self-isolate in their homes. During this period, where it is appropriate and safe, we will allow visits to our exhibitions by appointment. Enquiries can be made to info@artizangallery.co.uk In the meantime, we will be running a number of digital and virtual campaigns to continue to deliver access to our exhibitions and other cultural content, as well as implementing new services to support our local creative community. We invite you all to join us online via our social media channels on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, by signing up to our newsletter, and through our websites artizangallery.co.uk and art-hub.co.uk where purchases can continue to be made. Further updates on our events and programme as the situation develops will be released regularly by our team, and we're working on opportunities to collaborate and deliver support for creatives with our colleagues in the sector. For now we wish you all good health during the weeks ahead and look forward to opening our doors to you all again soon.

A group of Torbay schools has come together with the support of a local fine art gallery and prominent family-run property developer to show the importance of the arts in their curriculums with a collaborative exhibition of students work. With the kind support of Cavanna Homes, Artizan Gallery will host a showcase of KS3, KS4 and KS5 work from young people across Torbay in an exhibition that asked students to consider the theme of “My World”. As education budgets are stretched thin the security of the creative arts in schools is a concern for many who fear they may be the first to suffer in favour of core subjects despite the known benefits of allowing young people the opportunity for creative expression. From improved mental health, to better problem solving and communication skills, it has long since been established that the visual and performing arts have impact far beyond the art class or drama studio. Forming a part of Artizan’s main 2019 programme, the showcase will be hosted in their professional exhibition space on Lucius Street and sit alongside solo and group shows from full-time practising artists. The English Riviera gallery is committed to supporting the local arts community from emerging to professional artists across Torbay and South Devon and “My World” continues their work with students and young artists, marking their most ambitious attempt to reach out to the local education sector, as well as acting as a platform to launch new opportunities for young people at the gallery. “We’ve regularly invited students to work with us since opening the gallery. Earlier this year we had the opportunity of working with artist Claire Harmer who teaches young artists from Torbay Council’s Medical Tuition Service, exhibiting their GCSE pieces. Her work and that of her students is really inspiring and it’s unmistakable the importance art plays in their education. To be able to welcome students from multiple schools for a second exhibition this year with the support of Cavanna Homes is a real bonus and we’re hoping it’s building a strong foundation for future work in Torbay with young visual artists.” Jacob Brandon, Artizan Gallery Group Director, Martin Cavanna commented “we are supporting Artizan this year as part of our commitment to local organisations in the area and delighted to be involved with the Torbay Schools Art Exhibition which provides a fantastic opportunity for local students”. The exhibition theme offers students the opportunity to explore their own interests within their lives, thinking about the things that are important to them or alternatively considering wider global issues. More than 70 submitted works from nine participating schools showcase an incredible range of personal responses produced in various media from photography, digital techniques, to fine art to sculpture. On October 22nd the exhibition hosted a prize giving ceremony with the support of awards sponsors The Training Partnership and Accounting 4 Everything, presenting 10 students with prizes recognising their exceptional work in various categories including photography, fine art and sculpture. The exhibition is being hosted at Artizan Gallery and runs until 2nd November. For more information on Artizan Gallery visit www.artizangallery.co.uk. More details on “My World” can be found at www.art-hub.co.uk/student19. #StudentArt #MyWorld #October2019 #ArtizanTorquay #TorbaySchools #Exhibition #Artizan #OpenExhibition #CavannaHomes #TheTrainingPartnership #Accounting4Everything #Patronage #artist #ArtizanGallery

We are pleased to welcome lifelong landscape artist Simon Fowler to the site. "As a young boy I discovered a passion for drawing, which was to influence my life forever. I come from a family of artists from all disciplines including 3D work from pottery to sculpture and woodcarving. My connection with the landscape was very hands on as a caver for 35 years on the Mendips, whilst also being a motorcyclist and angler." You can view Simon's full profile here. #Arthub #Profile #NewArtist #SimonFowler #LandscapeArtist

For more information head to: www.facebook.com/events/566991097117990/ Coming soon to Artizan Gallery, L I V E is a new event series that will challenge and inspire. Featuring everything from musical performance to spoken word with everything from lectures to comedy in between, this new series of events will be defined only by its diversity. Launching April 15th, we look forward to welcoming to kicking off the series with a particularly eclectic mix. Today we introduce our first performers... The Woodward Brothers Marc Woodward is a renowned mandolin player who's taught and performed internationally. He's also a widely published poet whose work is deeply rooted in the rural West Country. His recent Maquette Press chapbook 'A Fright Of Jays' (2015) was reviewed as: 'Beautifully crafted poems that sing in the dark of darkness' - Canto 'Stories of moonlight and wildlife in the strange small wildernesses of the South West' - Ink, Sweat & Tears His new full collection 'Hide Song' is just out with Green Bottle Press. Andrew Woodward is an exceptional artist, sculptor, film maker and musician. He graduated in fine art from Bath and his kinetic sculptures are in international collections. He has been playing (and building) hammered dulcimers for over twenty five years and performs on the hammered and Appalachian dulcimers. Jack Woodward is a singer/songwriter with a superb voice, fine original songs and inspired covers. He is a skilled multi-instrumentalist and you can expect banjo, guitar, ukelele bass and percussion at the very least! Together The Woodward Brothers bring their eclectic mixture of influences and experience to Artizan Gallery, combining beautiful music played on a variety of instruments with finely crafted poetry reflecting the green heart of the West Country. For more information head to: www.facebook.com/events/566991097117990/ #Events #LIVE #2019 #April #TheWoodwardBrothers #SpokenWord #Acoustic #Performance #ArtizanTorquay

An exhibition of paintings and photographs by landscape painter Rosemary Bonney and underwater photographer Dave Peake will be on show at The National Park Visitors Centre, Princetown, PL20 6QF from Tuesday February 6th to Sunday April 15th 2018 inclusive. Opening times: until 31st March, 10am to 3pm Tuesday-Sunday; from April 1st, 10am-5pm daily. The exhibition explores the theme of water and Dartmoor. Rosemary’s paintings capture the majesty of Dartmoor’s rivers within the wider landscape and her more abstract paintings marry with Dave’s stunning shots of Dartmoor rivers, above, below and at the surface of the water. #Exhibitions #Landscapes #Dartmoor #2018 #Photography #RosemaryBonney

Hot on the heels of a successful show in Teignmouth, FG Davis is now showing a further series of work based on his extensive travels to France, Australia and Morocco as well as some depicting scenes closer to home. This time he is at the Harbour House in Kingsbridge, a stunning space which he is sharing with fellow artist Ian Carr. Aptly titled ‘Passion for Colour’ George’s pieces abound with bold primary colours and are full of texture and detail. George’s skills as an artist are fully on display here as he produces work in miniature and larger scale but always getting the colour balance, forms, shapes and texture exactly right so hurry on down and take a look for yourself but be quick as the show ends Sunday 3rd June. More Info... #FGDavis #HarbourHouse #Exhibition #May #June

Another chance to see some quirky art by Lee Pover and Rhian Wyn Harrison, who are jointly exhibiting at The Flavel, Dartmouth 6th August - 2nd September 2018. 9am - 9pm Monday to Saturday. Sundays ring Box Office 01803 839530 Rhian’s colourful illustrations on vintage maps and books are balanced perfectly by Lee’s chunky hand-built nautical ceramics. The theme is inspired by the coast around South Devon… expect fishing boats, cottages, sea birds, fish and other sea creatures! #RhianWynHarrison #LeePover #2018 #Dartmouth #Flavel

When I begin another artwork I initially spend days researching, mapping and merging all the influences that will bring the piece together into a coherent (to me anyway) theme. Alice, my latest work follows my theme of adolescents wearing the clothes of artists and heroes that influenced me. She wears Alice’s dress, as illustrated by Tenniel, and David Bowie’s 1974 yellow jacket and stance. To find the different types of clothes Alice has been illustrated as wearing, I searched my bookcases for a book my dad gave me in 1974 called The Illustrators of Alice. Alice in Wonderland was having a bit of a revival back then and the book included modern illustrations. As I flipped through the book I started thinking about the editor and complier of the illustrations, Graham Ovenden. Graham Ovenden, I thought, what is it about him. Then I remembered, and in the context of Alice in Wonderland, it gave me a bit of a jolt. After his arrest and prosecution for possessing child pornographic images his work was destroyed. There are a couple of his illustrations in my book and yes they are dodgy. As a child I was approached at a Puffin Book Club event, and groomed later long distance, by the children’s author William Mayne, arrested and imprisoned later for child abuse. I had a lucky escape and I wrote the poem The Puffin man about him. The puffin man (on being groomed by a children’s book author in 1968 at a Puffin Club jamboree) The puffin man squats at the bottom of the cliff. He stinks of death, his siren song. He pimps words for souls and fishy fish. He’ll have you kippered on his little dish. Little webbed feet, little webbed hands, signing the language of the gulled. Perched on his little rocks, Sending words in seashells, smelling of fishy smells fish. Selling words in seaweed books, sending seaward, floating driftwood, snared nets to get you. The presents he sends are polluted, the words he says are lies, his words are written in quicksand, he wants to see you die. The puffin man, eater of eggs and procurer of the maiden’s purse. The eater of the embryo, rock dweller, porn seller, little girl smeller. Little webbed feet, little webbed hands, signing the language of the molester, oppressor. Puffed up little puffin Violator. So beneath the surface of my artwork is my real or imaginary self rallying against these men who put themselves in the orbit of naïve literary children and their parents and the patriarchal institutions that allowed them to flourish. For more from Becky, you can visit her profile here or head to her website: beckynuttall.com If you'd like to become a contributor on our site, get in touch today: jacobbrandon@artizangallery.co.uk #BeckyNuttall

Rosemary Bonney, together with Mike Bonney, Jenni Evans and Kate Cowling are hosting a pop-up art sale in the Village Hall in Holne, on the edge of Dartmoor, on September 15-16th from 10am to 4.30pm. They will be showing affordable paintings and items of jewellery and Kate will be making her Glow Bead creations on site. Light lunches and cream teas can be enjoyed at the Holne Community Café and the Church House Inn is now open for alternative refreshment. For further information: Tel: 01364 631395 Mob: 07519 650212 E-mail: rosbonney@gmail.com #September #2018 #Sale #jewellry #paintings #RosemaryBonney