The Bingley Gallery Christmas 2024 Exhibition

The year’s end brings our regular Christmas show (OK so I realise it’s still November), but the run into the festive season seems to start earlier every year.

The Gallery’s aim is to bring together some of the best of the 2024 shows, add a sprinkling of new artists, and allow some of our regulars to move through into the bright lights of the front room. We do like an eclectic mix, so hopefully there is something for everyone’s taste.

Returning Favourites include Josie Baraclough’s with oil and mixed media paintings Jeremy Taylor’s oils, Tony Dexters bold acrylics feature both land and sea and Marilyn Brophy  has historical and contemporary landscapes as well as her cat’s behaving badly! Also with characterful pets is Karen Harman, whilst Kawa Saed brings more traditional views of London and rural Ireland

New to the Gallery is Heather Swain- a Baildon-based lino cut printer, who achieves gorgeous effects with the technique, though her tendency to experiment is so strong that even small limited editions (typically 7)  show considerable variety.

No one will be surprised that gallery regulars Jane Fielder and L Amy Charlesworth will be represented again  Amy in particular has quite a body of her hyperrealist oils, with a from the classic views of highland cattle in snow to more surreal topics, plus her seasonal sppeciality of beautifully painted robins. Although Jane  has just completed her own solo show, she felt the need to paint a couple of new ones for the show.

A new feature oof the gallery is that it holds a greater selection of work Judith Levin who, no longer is in a position to sell from her studio.

The Creativity of 25 artists from across our region is once again being put on show a new Exhibition at The Bingley Gallery. The Christmas Show is always something a bit special; a selection box for people to pick their favourites. 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 the eye of the gallery’s director, David Starley during the year.

Among the new artists are Tracey Waddington. Her exquisite works worked in graphite, pastel charcoal and often embellished in gold leaf. Her Goddesses explore female beauty and power, whist the studies of ravens and other members crow family magnificently capture why these characterful birds feature in ancient mythology.

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.