View Art Gallery : News

Hidden Portraits - Exhibition Preview

2011-01-02T13:40:00.000Z

One of the great fascinations of our visual lives is people watching. Many of us spend time concerned with our own appearance and even more time observing the looks, movements, and perhaps the aura of other people. 'Hidden Portraits' considers what lies behind the exterior and investigates the concealed person.

The artists in this group show present many portrait and figurative styles, from the photorealistic to the abstract. There are also different interpretations of the theme; some artists look deep into facial detail and others show a faceless image and sugest a narrative from shape, colour or texture. Artists featuring in the exhibition are:

Alice Jones - sleep patterns are depicted in beautiful sensitive drawings. The images are biographical and expose what happens in one of our most private and intimate states of being.

Carl Melegari - deep textural layers and a calming palette are used to create an aura that surrounds unknown people. An identity emerges and a story develops that is very personal.

Russell Oliver - a combination of tightly painted realism and abandoned use of brushstroke and palette creates balance and conflict. The concealing of identity through foreground 'noise' and abstraction is in contrast to the precision on less important data, raising the question of how we identify people.

Harriet White - technically brilliant photo-realistic painting technique is combined with an eye for important detail to create the personality of the subject. Over scaled images encourage us to look beyond first impressions.

Paul Fenwick - there is an intensity in these portraits that creates an immediate impact. Beyond the colour is another story being told that challenges our obsession with first impressions.

Emily Kirby - emotion explodes from the expressions of the subjects. The vibrant colour and simple but significant lines leave us in no doubt about the high drama of the message.

Richard Twose - a remarkable talent for seeing beyond the surface and extracting the complex characteristics of people. Through using his daughter and her friends as subjects for this collection, we see familiar contradictions of teenage confidence, angst, and vulnerability.

Paul Bennett - a delicate touch with a powerful impact. These sad and somewhat tortured portraits are aesthetically beautiful with a simplicity of line that creates emotional intensity.

Jo Jones - bronze resin sculptures that are packed with expression using simple but striking lines and shapes.

Ulf Mark Pedersen - we welcome back a very versatile artist, who this time turns to video to interpret our theme with two 'people watching' films.

For details of more of our portrait and figurative artists, see our online portraiture brochure. As well as producing existing work, many artists apply their talents to commissions. Each artist works in a different way, so please contact us for more information on commissions.

'Hidden Portraits' opens on January 13th and runs through to February 27th.

Happy New Year - 2011 preview

2011-01-01T19:13:00.004Z

A very Happy New Year to all friends of View. We hope your year will be as busy and fulfilling as we're planning ours to be. Here's a brief update on what we have scheduled for the gallery in the first half of 2011.

Last few days of our 'best-sellers' exhibition

Our current show 'Here and Now' closes on January 9th. There are a few wonderful paintings and beautiful editioned bronze or resin sculptures available by four of our best-selling artists.

The private view photos are on our Facebook pages and you can hear what Catherine Knight and Amber Merrick-Potter have to say about their new collection at Vimeo. We've switched to this site for our videos because it is dedicated to quality creative video.

Coming Soon - Hidden Portraits

Our next exhibition celebrates the talents of a group of artists who interpret the theme of portraiture in many different ways; from photo-realism to abstract and from painting to video.

'Hidden Portraits' opens on January 13th with the private view (invitations will be sent to subscribers shortly). We have published a review of the show on a separate blog. Details of all our portrait and figurative artists can be seen in an online catalogue.

2011 dates for diaries

The first half of 2011 is busy with new exhibitions, collaborations and exciting events:

'Hidden Portraits' private view - January 13

'White Colour' opens - March 3

International collaboration show (title TBA) - April 21

Bristol Affordable Art Fair - May 13 to 15

UPFEST 2011 launch night - June 3

Watch out for more details on these events and other news on our blog or, to be sure of staying up to date, follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook.

'Here and Now' exhibition preview

2010-10-31T10:39:00.012Z

Celebrating two years in the life of View, we welcome back four of our most popular and successful artists with new collections especially for our show.

There is a dichotomy in the meaning behind the show's title. On the one hand, 'Here and Now' boldly suggests that, for these emerging artists, their time has come. They will be enjoying their second or third show at View and have enjoyed continued rave reviews and commercial success.

There is also a contrary meaning to the title, where the artists appear to go to another time or place to seek inspiration for their work. Whether it be a historical place, an inner retrospection, or pure fantasy, they take you away from here and now before returning with something new to reflect upon.

The name Beth Carter is now synonymous with 'collectable' as she has developed a large following of her instantly recognisable creatures in beautiful sculptures and drawings. Beth introduces new characters in both media for this show and the imagination and quality continues to be stunning.

The stories in Catherine Knight's faceless landscapes conjure up numerous personal images where the past meets the present. Her personal relationship with the history of the subject brings a real and haunting quality to the delicate painting. Click here for video.

There seems to be no limit to the depth of thought and emotion in the self portraiture of Fran Williams. This new collection of paintings provide the next stage of an autobiographical journey of personal expression through her art.

Amber Merrick-Potter wears her artistic heart on her sleeve. She describes her paintings with the same passion that oozes through the vibrant colour and abandonment of brushstroke in her painting. Each piece is an emotional roller-coaster in its production, evidenced by the depth of layers, textures and composition. Click here for video

These very different artists create work of unique beauty that initiate intriguing stories and stimulate deep emotion. The art is also immediately accessible and has stunning aesthetic quality that grabs your intention and draws you in before capturing the imagination.

The relationship with the art that follows provides a longevity that belies its inanimate form. As I write this blog, I look across at my Minotaur Reading sculpture and paintings by these artists... my mind wanders into other times and places before returning to here and now with a new experience.

Sylvie Broussine - Art Commentator

2010-10-10T11:39:00.004+01:00

Sylvie Broussine visits View and comments on the 'Dreaming Out Loud' exhibition.

In this latest exhibition View Art Gallery has combined five artists who, in very different ways, come together to convey their own interpretations of the sub-conscious and inner workings on the mind. The beauty of an exhibition like this is that whilst walking around, new perspectives and forms shoot out at you unexpectedly.

Take the artist Damian Daly for instance. His enigmatic, detailed piece ‘Fall of the Rebel Angels’ was at first something I saw as uplifting. I felt he was conveying a modern pseudo-religious piece using a mystical world as his subject. It wasn’t until closer inspection that I realised Daly had created what I felt to be a modern apocalyptic scene, not dissimilar to the hell-ish pieces of Hieronymus Bosch in the late fifteenth century. Suddenly, my understanding was challenged, and rather than the dream-like quality I had originally read, I felt something more nightmarish in its place.

Daly’s work constantly demands our attention when we are stood in front of it. In this piece he plays around with patterns, creating the illusion of symmetry in a work that might be better described as ‘organised chaos’. The colours he chooses for the background depict a calm, heavenly scene, whilst the more sinister black and red ‘Rebel Angels’ spiralling around the piece work to change it into something more restless. I feel this art is the perfect example of what this exhibition is all about. This image makes real the multiple layers that lie within our sub-conscious and only comes out during dreams. Just as our sleep can bring confused thoughts and feelings to the surface, so does Daly’s art on canvas.

Another example of Daly’s work where this is apparent is ‘Secret Sisters’, a multi-panelled large scale drawing, sectioned into twelve separate boards. When first appreciating the work, I reacted strongly to the appearance of a wolf-like animal centred between the two girls on either side, their hair forming a collar for the beast. It wasn’t until I read the title that the symmetrical, dancing adolescents appeared to me. By virtue of this doubled layered effect, the creature in the middle evokes a more sinister side to the piece. In fact Daly claims the creature is not necessarily a wolf, but as with all his work, this depends on the interpretation given by his audience; perhaps the fact that I noticed it before the two girls says more about my sub-conscious than anything else.

The power of the piece is emphasized by the black and white, graphite form of the work. Whilst speaking to other viewers it becomes apparent that the numerous possible perspectives, along with Daly’s clear talent, make his work truly interesting. Rather than give you any detail about the various interpretations of this, or any of his other work on show at View, I feel Daly’s work is best appreciated via your own analysis, not to be mislead by anyone else’s. With an exhibition focused on our inner thoughts and feelings, viewing this art is very much a personal experience, and viewers are encouraged to develop their own understandings. So rather than me tell you more, I think it is better for you to go visit and experience it for yourself.

Sylvie Broussine

'Dreaming Out Loud' exhibition preview

2010-08-31T18:03:00.007+01:00

'Dreaming Out Loud' is a show full of unconscious moments of genius, surprises, even accidents. Six artists share a common process where the subconscious has influenced, or even taken over, to create art that tells a story from deep within.

In this new collection of work, there are recognisable forms and themes that emerge from the abstract. These have been allowed to materialise through a variety of unusual processes, such as drawing blind, creating chemical reactions, and painting in a trance-like state. There is rarely a start, middle and end; the life of this artwork goes on beyond the physical process and continues to evolve with every new viewer's interpretation.

Suzanne Partridge builds a relationship with each of her paintings, without prior thought or planning. The palette is selected from mood, and layers of paint are applied and removed repeatedly until the end result represents the emotions and thoughts she was experiencing.

In Damian Daly's paintings and drawings, initial whimsical ideas form characters that develop on a journey of story telling. Initially, innocent fairy-tale characters are influenced by personal associations and then latent meanings emerge and numerous characters evolve over long periods.

Spontaneous, improvised, unpredictable. Harry Simmonds uses a multitude of unusual techniques to create raw images of portraits in his paintings. He only allows split second glimpses of his model to create components of a painting , which are then assembled to show the important memorable elements and discarding the waste of conformity.

Ann Goodfellow returns to View with a new collection, building on her sell-out show earlier this year. Her sculptures are 'drawn' using only the sense of touch and unusual markings emerge on beautiful self modelled ceramic bodies.

Photographer Charles Emerson uses ink, water and flowers to experiment with the boundaries between photography and painting, but without the use of digital manipulation. There is a sense of theatre in the process as ink is added to submerged flowers and a unique moment is captured in the 'performance'.

Installation and video artists Becky Kidson exhibits 'Fortress', where a search light emits abstract patterns that dance around the room from a honeycomb of taleidoscopes. The projections try to distract our attention from what is locked away in the centre of the fortress.

If we could build pictures from our dreams and capture the moments as they happen, we would be sharing our inner most hidden thoughts. We could translate the surreal and cryptic images into a visual expression. We could dream out loud.

'Dreaming Out Loud' runs from September 16th to November 14th 2010

Visit ViewArtGallery.co.uk for artist profiles and images of their work.

Feedback and debate

2010-07-31T20:38:00.005+01:00

We appreciate feedback and we love a good debate. The great thing about discussing art is that there are no right and wrong opinions. Everyone's view is valid, no matter how diverse or extreme. At a recent private view I over heard an in-depth discussion about a painting that was being described as "Goya meets Michael Jackson". I also heard someone remark angrily "that's shit, I couldn't be paid to put that on my wall". Love them both.

When we put on an exhibition at View, the first thing we aim for is high impact. Of course we need to sell art to stay in business, but it is a secondary consideration when selecting work and curating exhibitions. First and foremost we have to be stimulated by the art, provoke a strong reaction, and enjoy the viewers' response.

Some people like to comment directly to us when they visit the gallery and that is very much appreciated. But for many, a gallery can be an intimidating place (we really hope ours isn't) and so we offer a number of ways of commenting on what we do. There is the comment box at the end of every blog, Twitter messages, postings on our Facebook pages, or comments on the work published on Flickr and YouTube. Whatever your preference, we hope you can spare a few minutes to tell us what you think - about what we do, don't do, or anything art related.

By the way, the picture above is of Sarah, our gallery manager, and she'll hate me for putting her photo on this blog. This is often how an artists feels when they are putting their art on display for everyone to critique. Some enjoy the attention and some are more reserved, but without exception they all crave feedback, both good and bad - indifference is the biggest insult of all.

Haiti Benefit Exhibition

2010-07-11T18:44:00.006+01:00

We are proud to be hosting an exhibition which has the dual benefit of introducing some unique international artists whilst supporting a very good cause.

The Haiti Benefit Exhibition at View will be on from 22-25 July before it embarks on a UK tour. We are delighted to be the first venue to show these talented artists from Jacmel, Haiti, and launch the travelling exhibition. The vibrant colours and free expression in the abstract compositions relay messages of sadness and hope.

Earlier this year we all heard of the devastating effects of the earthquake in Haiti. One of the victims was an art community centre called FOSAJ, causing damage to buildings and death. The founder, Patrick Boucard, has set up a relief fund to help rebuild the centre so it can support the resident artists and the many handicapped and homeless people who benefit from their work. Follow the links for more information on FOSAJ and the Haiti Relief fund.

We at View were touched by the stories the art tells and impressed with the strength of expression in the painting. This is evidenced in the pain of the figure in the painting above, 'The Flight for Forgiveness' by Haiti artist Narbal.

We may not yet know the names of all the exhibiting artists, but they deserve a mention. The exhibition will include paintings by:

Prince Luc

Destin Domond

Rose Marie lamour

Desire Obelto

Jean Garibaldi

Marc Arthur Lamitie

Eddy Prevot

Jean Paul Sylvaince

NarBal

We hope many people can enjoy the work and support the foundation in the 4 days of the show.

Naked Truths Preview

2010-07-10T21:26:00.005+01:00

Naked Truths is about how we view things, as well as what we see. We are challenged to look inside our minds and consider what we find hard to reveal and why we keep things hidden away. The show's artists explore a variety of subjects where we may find exposure difficult to address – nudity, sexuality, death, and fear. Our response may be shock, laughter, sorrow or reflection, but there is little room for indifference.

The art work also reveals some amazing creativity, technique and beauty. Each piece stands alone with aesthetic quality as well as a deeper sense of meaning.

The context of the subjects is significant. We may see nudity in a gallery as art, whereas the same image in a sex shop is pornography. Similarly, a death theme may provoke a fear of horrific memories for some people or innocent comedy to others. When we view these images, we are often looking at a reflection of ourselves.

There are seven artists featuring in Naked Truths, each with a different combination of media, style and message:

After longer inspection, the apparent chaos of the angular shapes and striking colours in Thomas Dowdeswell’s painting starts to generate familiar figurative forms and strange stories.
Peter Bullen is influenced by the artist/model relationship and contrasts the confident contortionist with the vulnerable first-timer in his nude portraits.
There is a wonderful innocence and charm to David Thompson’s male figurative paintings, with an undercurrent of commentary on our attitude to sexuality.
In ‘The Sex Shop’ series, Simon Ledson plays with our minds as we explore apparently innocent forms in imprints and wallpaper.
Russell Oliver's large and dramatic paintings explore the attitudes to life and death through the eyes of different subjects, including a self portrait.
Tim Perks challenges the traditional figurative sculpture, as the unusual poses and compositions of the female form involve imaginary cross breeding of species.
In Becky Kidson's 'Young Hearts' installation three friends take it in turns to jump into a bowl of mirrors.

Naked Truths presents some beautiful art with provocative themes and offers us a mirror to reveal our hidden thoughts. The show runs from July 29th to September 12th.

Urban View 2

2010-06-25T13:12:00.006+01:00

We're half way through the Urban View exhibition and we're refreshing it with a whole new collection of art, much of it created at this years UPFEST.

The festival this year was the biggest and best yet. The expanded area around the Tobacco Factory was packed with new and returning artists and the attendance was huge. If you haven't yet seen any photos of the festival then take a look here and you'll get a flavour of the weekend. The Urban View and UPFEST launch event was held at the gallery and this was also an exciting event. Around 300 people attended and were enjoying the live painting outside on the gallery wall and by the entrance door. Thankfully, the weather held up and we are grateful to Brothers who sponsored the event with some very tasty (and strong) pear cider. The outdoor activity was complimented by some wonderful art by UK and international artists inside the gallery. Take a look at these photos of the evening and in particular the progression of the art being created.

Urban View 2 opens on July 1st and runs through to July 18th. Some great names in the urban art world will be exhibiting, such as Fake, Agent Provocateur, T.wat, and ZeeZee. Many more new works will be part of a changing show that will look and feel different. Prices will start from just £100 for original art and there will be a more busy look to the show, with a large selection of work and artists.

It is also worth reminding ourselves of the support that UPFEST give to the NACOA charity, in terms of funding and awareness.

Enjoy the show.

Urban View

2010-05-22T18:01:00.005+01:00

For the second year running, we're joining with UPFEST to put on a show of the best urban art being 'sprayed' this year. 'Urban View' 2010 is being extended to accommodate two shows. The first will focus on the latest creations from seven of the top spray painters around. The second will open up to a larger number of artists and feature the best of the work created in the live weekend festival of spray painting.

The festival kicks off on the Friday with the opening night at View and the live painting starts from there. We have some exciting ideas for where and when the spraying starts but as ever, these things are flexible due to the spontaneous nature of the people concerned and the challenges they set themselves; some of the objects targeted for spraying this year are pretty inventive!

There's always a buzz around Bristol for this festival and this year is no exception. As the big names get confirmed, the PR builds momentum and the energy (and stress levels) rise, we know UPFEST will be bigger and better than ever. Urban View goes international with spray stars from France and Germany exhibiting alongside some of the best of Britain.

We are also confident that the quality of art improves year on year. Urban Art is no longer just about graffiti in the back streets of Bristol. For better or worse, the cross over between fine art becomes more and more blurred. At View we consider this a positive trend as it allows us to provide broader access to this exciting genre of art and give everyone the opportunity to take home a bit of art history.

For a reminder of what happened at View last year, take a look at these photos. And to get a taste of one of the main featured artists have a look at this short video. Finally, to see the full UPFEST 10 press release click here.

Enjoy the show.

UPFEST 10 Press Release

2010-05-22T14:11:00.000+01:00

Europe’s Biggest Urban Art Festival Just Got Bigger!

Upfest’10 - The Urban Paint Festival Releases Full Line-up

More than just Europe’s biggest urban and street art festival, Upfest has announced the broad range of events taking part at the two-day festival in Bristol.

As in previous years, the festival will be centred on live painting at the Tobacco Factory on 5th and 6^th of June. Over 200 urban artists and illustrators will be painting live over the weekend, with 50 artists having come from around the world to be a part of the event. The artists will be mixing it up with this year’s MashUP theme, with some very special collaborations due to take place.

Upfest’10 will kick off with a preview of the Urban View group show at View Art Gallery (159-161 Hotwell Road, BS8 4RY). The show features work from seven urban and contemporary artists and will run through 17th July.

Saturday, the festival will be in full swing at the Tobacco Factory (North Street, BS3 1TF). From 11am, over 200 urban artists and illustrators will be painting live. Visitors to the free event are also invited to take part in the painting, with a children’s painting area and the Kiss101 Give It a Go painting boards.

The Tobacco Factory will also host a Very Affordable Art Sale and dedicated print room, where original artwork and prints by the artists painting at the festival will be available for sale at bargain prices. There will also be badge making, clothing, and art material stalls around the venue.

Throughout the weekend, DJs, beatboxers, hip hop groups and MCs will take to two stages at the Tobacco Factory (full schedule attached). Along with music, the world renowned Kompany Malakhi will host dance workshops on Saturday.

During the day (11 am to 6 pm) on Saturday, a live illustration event will take place indoors in the Tobacco Factory Theatre Foyer. In the evening (6 pm), six artists will battle it out in a Secret Wars live art competition. The public will vote to decide whether Upfest or Monorex will be named champions of the 90-minute battle at the Tobacco Factory Cafe Bar.

The evening will wrap up (10 pm to 4am) with the Upfest’10 Mid-Festival Party at Basement 45 (8 Frogmore St., BS1 5NA), presented in association with Kiss101, featuring The Loose Cannons, Ninebar Sound System, Chris Read (Music of Substance), Dave Cridge (Ninja Tune) and Kiss101 DJs. Tickets available at Bristol Tickets Shop (£4.50) or on the door (£5 before 11, £6 after).

Upfest’10 continues on Sunday at the Tobacco Factory from 10 am with additional live painting, music, and art sales. Upfest has raised over £10,000 for Nacoa (National Association for Children of Alcoholics) since the festival began and as in previous years, Upfest’10 will raise awareness of and fundraise for the charity..

Life in Stillness Preview

2010-04-02T09:54:00.006+01:00

In many inanimate objects we see and feel life. Life in Stillness is an exhibition where five artists bring consciousness to their subjects through different sources of inspiration and use of media.

In the windows we'll see the usual high impact art and once again we'll be featuring sculpture. Dawny Tootes uses recycled aluminium from discarded household objects to create fluidity in her tree sculptures that have an apparent organic quality. These large pieces interchange between tree and female human form when seen from different viewpoints. In the rear gallery a 13ft high sculpture will dominate the space, needing to be rebuilt in the gallery for the show. Dawny's wall mounted pieces are figure landscapes where the female form is used to reflect the curves of nature.

Evocative figures appear from the depth of Fran Williams' oil paintings. Vivid colour and texture almost mask the face and body of her subjects. The strength of colour and free use of the brush are in contrast to the vulnerability of the portraiture. These are images that you can see through and discover a strong emotional connection with a person who has mystique and a story to be told.

Continuing the theme of female figurative work we have Ann Goodfellow's sculptures. Using only the sense of touch, unusual markings emerge on the self modelled ceramic bodies. A heightened awareness of her body creates exaggerated scale of the relationship between head and torso. There is energy and sensitivity in the cold, hard material that brings the figures to life and demand attention.

In the second half of the gallery we dedicate the space to photography, as part of the Bristol Festival of Photography. Two artists bring life into their images using different subjects and styles.

Frank Drake captures the music of his subjects in the drama of live performance. Limited edition large prints of images from his book 'Sounds of Music' feature photos of musicians from various album covers, commissions and WOMAD festivals around the world. Frank has had the unique opportunity to access the unguarded emotions of the performers. Signed books will also be available at the gallery.

In the front of the second gallery we feature the photography of Chris Parks. An ethereal world is created through his dynamic fluid paintings which capture light, movement and depth in a totally unique way. Using mixed media within a liquid medium, Chris creates continually changing images that develop over time and are frozen at a particular moment through photography. The paintings are naturally occurring events without digital manipulation. They only exist for a moment before they evolve and are lost for ever. In the basement installation room we are showing a stunningly beautiful film by Chris with movement of colour and shape that is quite mesmerising.

Click here to see images from a small selection of work from the show.

Life in Stillness runs from April 15 to May 30, 2010.

Exhibitions and Festivals

2010-03-17T20:54:00.011Z

The festival season is coming soon and the Bristol art scene is no exception. View is taking part in the Bristol Festival of Photography in May with two very different photographers exhibiting in the 'Life in Stillness' show. In June we are pleased to be one of the venues in UPFEST, Bristols urban painting festival, for the second year running. Our 'Urban View' show will include many of the major artists from the festival.

More information on the festivals can be found on their websites from the links above. The shows at View are introduced below with more details to come nearer the time.

Life in Stillness

In many inanimate objects we see and feel life. In the next exhibition at View Art Gallery, five artists bring consciousness to their subjects through different sources of inspiration and use of media.

Dawny Tootes uses recycled aluminium from discarded household objects to create fluidity in her tree sculptures that have an apparent organic quality. Evocative figures appear from the deep forest of colour in Fran Williams' vivid oil paintings. Using only the sense of touch, unusual markings emerge on the self modelled ceramic bodies of Ann Goodfellow's sculptures.

As part of the Bristol Festival of Photography, View introduces two photographers who portray life in imagery in both reality and abstract forms. Frank Drake captures the music of his subjects in the drama of live performance. Chris Parks creates and ethereal world through his dynamic fluid paintings, which capture a movement of light in organic materials that can never be seen again.

Life in Stillness runs from April 15 to May 30.

Urban View

Following the hugely popular urban art show last year, View Art Gallery once again teams up with the UPFEST movement and showcases the best artists from this year's urban art festival. Examples of last year's 'spray fest' can still be seen on the exterior walls and entrance floor of the gallery. 2010 promises to be bigger and better than ever, with live painting, original art on canvas, limited edition prints and the antics of more of those uniquely styled artists.

Urban View runs from June 3 to July 11.

New Video Channel

2010-03-13T14:27:00.005Z

In response to many visitors of our website who cannot make it to the gallery for every show, we've decided to launch a video channel. We will be showing videos of each exhibition, artist interviews, special events, and some of our favourite videos from the art world.

We're using the YouTube facilities (why reinvent the wheel) and have set up a View Art Gallery channel. You can access this from the YouTube logo on our home page or click here. There are only a few videos to start with but we'll be adding many more as we exhibit new work and artists, so be sure to subscribe to our channel so you don't miss out on anything new.

A huge thanks to Becky Kidson who has filmed and edited some fantastic 1 minute interviews with artists featuring in our Comfortably Strange show. These can be accessed via the channel home page or individually from our artist profile pages on the View website. Just click every time you see the blue video icon (shown at the top of this blog). and you'll link to the relevant video.

We hope you like this new feature and it inspires you to visit the gallery to see the real thing.

Beneath the Petticoats... Ghosts Get Horny Too

2010-02-23T22:37:00.005Z

I've just been marvelling at Nina Mankin's new stop gap animation. Two short films are showing in the Comfortably Strange exhibition at View, in our video room. The story is told below, in Nina's words. Hopefully you'll be enticed to come and see her films, which compliment her amazing sculptures and fit perfectly into the exhibition theme. For those who can't attend the exhibition, I hope to be showing the films on the website in the future.

Beneath The Petticoats... Ghosts Get Horny Too

The animation is based on the supression of women's emotion and feeling in the Edwardian and Victorian times, where a woman's dignity was all she had. Lustful thoughts are to be kept hidden behind closed doors...

"Petticoats, Petticoats, Petticoats,

Ruffles and ties, ruffles and ties,

Petticoats, Petticoats, Petticoats,

Starched white blouses

Stockings and thighs"

Eliza and Gertrude are ghosts, revisiting their past. They were not beautiful and did not marry, and they died old spinsters. The wooden doll posters on the ground symbolize a part of the self, and the stiff rigidness they had to embody. They are having a dream, a fantasy, where they are free and not bound to man's ideas of what they should be. Hands come out with a feather to tickle their breasts, strange heads and eyes come up from the floorboards to reach under their skirts... The face of the wooden doll has to hide behind the other pictures, she cannot witness such thoughts of lust and nudity.

"Too much fabric m'lady, too much fabric"

The hands and heads retrieve back into the walls and floor, it takes too much time and hassle to undo all the endless buttons and layers of clothing. The ladies swing again as before as though nothing had happened, the clock ticks and the dream was all just a tease.

Comfortably Strange - exhibition review

2010-02-18T21:34:00.002Z

‘Comfortably Strange’ promises to be one of View’s most innovative exhibitions to date. The styles are quite diverse but there is a commonality in the feelings that are induced through a journey of discovery. The show features some very collectable art from established artists, some new to View and some returning with fresh work.

Beth Carter is well known at View for her mythological sculptures but this time focuses on her drawing and painting to explore the shows theme. Caroline Watson, another Bristol based artist, has also been creating work especially for the show, using traditional puppetry and children’s stories in her paintings and 3D work. Nina Mankin adds some lyrical imagery to her predominantly doll themed painting and installations. John Simpson’s drawings are beautifully crafted and yet the subjects are bound to ask some challenging questions of the viewer. Alex Korzer-Robinson creates his art from old encyclopaedias that result in a very different form of book art. Arthur Lanyon’s abstract oil paintings perfectly fit the Comfortably Strange theme as we are presented with partially familiar shapes, changing as we lengthen our gaze.

The initial raw impact of all the show’s work is maybe one of playfulness, shock or humour. With further interrogation this is followed by deeper suspicion, perhaps sinister, sadness, or joy. The emotional transition through continual exploration of each piece is quite magical. All is not what it seems, and your first impressions will rarely be your last.

Comfortably Strange runs to April 11^th. Images of a selection of the work on show can be viewed here.

New Year, New Work

2010-01-01T14:22:00.000Z

To kick off the New Year, we're doing a bit of reflection combined with some forward thinking. We look back on our first year at View with pride and gratitude. We have found some amazing new talent, built a beautiful space to show their work, and met some wonderful people who have become regular visitors to the gallery.

Last year was an economic challenge for many individuals and businesses. I am very grateful that we have had such tremendous support from a growing customer base, to allow us to continue our quest to help local artists thrive in an emerging art scene on Bristol's Harbourside. Lets hope that 2010 brings an easing of financial pressure and we can all fulfil our ambitions.

In our next show, 'New Year, New Work', we look back at some of our favourite artists of 2009 who have some brand new work ready to exhibit. As usual we'll put together an eclectic mix of media and styles to appeal to many tastes in contemporary art. We have some images of a selection of the work on our Flickr pages. The show starts on January 21 and the full range of artists and work will be on our website soon. If you still haven't seen our current show then please enjoy a virtual visit via this short video.

We are working on some exciting new shows and other projects for 2010 that will keep things fresh at View. Our second show of the year, 'Comfortably Strange', promises to be one of our most innovative yet. We are also taking part in a number of local art events: the Bristol Art Fair, Photographique festival, and the urban art festival (UPFEST) in the first half of the year. We are developing some ideas to promote work from local schools and communities, which we hope to come to fruition this Summer. More news on all these events nearer the time.

To keep track of all our plans, please register with us for email updates and invitations, follow us on Twitter, or just keep looking at the website and blog.

We look forward to seeing you at the gallery soon,

Happy New Year.

Christmas Show 2009

2009-11-06T17:42:00.003Z

Our Christmas Show starts on November 19th and we have 5 fabulous artists on view. Their work delivers the usual variety and quality, each with a dedicated zone in the gallery. We have yet another new media in the form of 'light painting', which compliments oil paintings, sculpture and video.

The artists on show are:

Jimmy Galvin
Amber Merrick-Potter
Beth Carter
Harriet White
Alec Jackson

During this show we also celebrate our one year anniversary. It doesn't seem like a year since our open evening and we've enjoyed a wonderful time building relationships with artists and art lovers. We have a few events planned during the show and of course the first one is the private view. If you are registered with us then you'll automatically receive an email invitation. If not then sign-up now.

December is always a manic time so we'll be opening the occasional late night and having goodies on offer to make the shopping process more enjoyable. Even if you're not buying and just fancy a bit of tranquility in the company of amazing art, music and a mince pie, then you are very welcome.

Full details of the art and artists profiles will soon be on the website, but for now, here's a sneak preview of some of the artwork to wet your appetite.

Dancing with Amber

2009-11-04T15:17:00.005Z

I first encountered Amber Merrick-Potter at her MA show in Bath. My initial engagement with her work was very physical. I found myself moving in and out of her paintings and then from side to side, slowly at first and then with some urgency as I discovered more exciting textures, tones and shapes. This exploratory dancing with her work is not an unusual reaction for Amber to enjoy watching.

I looked over my shoulder and realised she was heavily engaged with an audience. Her performance, as she was discussing her work, was not unlike the animation I was experiencing as I viewed her paintings. Her physical and verbal expression when describing her work is full of the same freedom that can be seen in her composition and application of paint.

It didn't take me long to decide to approach Amber to exhibit at View. After seeing more of her work at another show the following week, and a visit to the gallery, we agreed to allocate our largest space to her new paintings. To this point I was enjoying Amber's work on an aesthetic level and through my own imagination to interpret the multi-layered images. Then we sat down and talked about Amber.

As with many artists, it is often easier for them to talk about their work rather than themselves, and Amber is no exception. She described the importance of the process of painting being more important than the subject matter. Amber has a strong connection with nature and her subject starts with a landscape theme. The palette and materials are loosely planned and the composition evolves as she applies the paint from her imagination. She explores the imagery through the process and is often in a semi-conscious state. This trance-like approach allows her to watch the the movement of colour, texture and shape in a fluid motion. Amber becomes so engaged with the process that she is often surprised by the output and enjoys a symbiotic relationship as creator and viewer. She describes painting as an obsession and a drug, with none of the downsides.

The physical environment Amber works in reflects the abandonment she experiences in the painting process. Her studio is a mess, she is covered head to toe in paint, and there is no start and end to a day. Amber speaks about her work with great passion and enthusiasm. She displays a child-like excitement and also an innocent vulnerability, particularly when describing her early years of engaging with nature.

As a child, Amber could be found foraging for unusual plant life, exploring their dangerous or healing properties. She would pick pants based on their perfume, colour and texture; the more unusual her findings, the more excited she would be. Even now she enjoys describing the effects of plants that appear in her work, especially the fatal ones.

It is this combination of nature inspired source with abandoned painting process that creates a unique object of desire that encourages exploration... and dancing!

Visit our website to see a selection of Amber's paintings.

Normandy Soto - for 3 days only

2009-10-28T11:24:00.003Z

We are really excited to present Normandy Barcelo Soto at View. This fun-loving artist is very popular among the celebrity world, with his stunning, nature-inspired paintings. In true celebrity style he is making a big appearance in only 3 days: Friday 13th - Sunday 15th November 2009.

With a background in landscape design, Normandy's affinity with nature is captured by his use of earthy tones and natural colours. The visual aspect of the formation of rust and verdigris inspires his powerful, abstract work. Normandy uses a specialist paint that is mixed with iron and copper filings, more commonly found on Hollywood film sets where its purpose is to create a metallic appearance. The result of this innovative use of paint is a unique piece of art with an authentic effect.

In his own words:

"My work is created in the subconscious part of my imagination. I don't plan any picture or image beforehand. I always paint 'in the mood' and enjoy using natural pigment, although occasionally splash out on vibrant colours. I don't title my work, I let the work take on the names that other people have given them, so I don't influence what they see in them. My work is meant to be fun, moved, touched and explored"

We love Normandy's work and hope many people can share this short but very sweet experience. Here are some images of his paintings.

I Love Art Trails

2009-10-12T17:08:00.011+01:00

There is so much to enjoy about an art trail. I liken it to a kind of art treasure hunt, but with an easy map and no clues to solve, other than the challenge of how to visit as many venues as possible in the time you have available. Whether you only have an hour or the luxury of an entire weekend, there will be a way of experiencing the magic of the trail.

Some people love to look at art from emerging local artists and some people love to meet new people or simply nose at their houses! The open-house nature of an art trail tells you much about the community spirit and the generosity of people sharing their homes for a weekend. Of course, they are also exhibiting their art and hoping for a few sales, but for many that doesn't seem to be the main appeal; an art trail is a big social event for like-minded people with a common interest.

Bristol has a fantastic art trail presence, with a very active calendar covering many areas. On the 17/18 October there is the West Bristol Arts Trail (View Art Gallery is one of the venues), followed by two more this year; Totterdown and North Bristol art trails are both in November. Earlier trails this year included Easton, Southbank, Bristol Art Fringe, St. Werburghs, and new ones continue to be announced.

The West Bristol Arts Trail is in its second year and includes the work of 120 artists in 50 venues. The variety of styles, medium and pricing will be vast, as will the different types of venue, which include homes, galleries, cafes, pubs, and churches. In the unlikely event you don't enjoy the art, you are bound to enjoy the walk, the company, and the exploration of parts of Bristol you haven't seen before. To download the map or see last years video, have a look at the website.

I hope you enjoy the West Bristol Art Trail next weekend and find the time to pop in and see us at View. Who knows, you may be inspired to open your house next year and show off your creativity.

Visiting Al Greenall

2009-09-17T22:43:00.005+01:00

My favourite part of the art gallery life is visiting artists' studios. It is a great privilege to to be invited into a personal space where someone reveals the results of work that has demanded so much time, thought, and emotion. I am often met with an artist's sense of pride, expectation and sometimes vulnerability.

A recent visit to Al Greenall's Bristol studio was a particular highlight. Having previously visited Al's Bath based studio, I was delighted to offer him a show in October. For the past few months Al has been working on creating his 'Patron' collection of paintings especially for the show and I paid a visit to get a preview of the work soon after it was finished.

As I entered the studio, I was immediately struck by the colour and shape that attacked my senses. I didn't speak for a moment while I dealt with the overload and then tried to justify my startled reaction to Al. I likened the sensation to filling your mouth with the explosive space sweets that make your taste buds dance. We then started to look at, and discuss, the paintings one by one.

The inspirational sources of Al's paintings are many; he absorbs the architecture and landscape of his environment over time and when he is 'full up' he releases his creativity at an astonishing pace. The colours are vibrant and the palette extensive. The shapes are strong and assertive and applied with a sense of abandonment. The style can appear abstract but offers an endless source of imagery in its depth. The complexity of construction provides multiple 'blank canvases' to create your own pictures.

Al's work often stimulates a musical analogy in me when I describe it. My first response is to hear a loud noise which demands attention. I then listen to the overall sound. It's not a catchy pop song but a more complex orchestral piece with layers of instruments working in harmony, with an edge of jazzy improvisation. The collection offers an album of tracks that grow with you the more attention you invest.

Impossible to ignore, and maybe just as difficult to love, but once you build a relationship with this work, you will want more!

Al Greenall's Patron collection can be seen at View Art Gallery from October 1st to November 15th, as part of the Morphogenesis exhibition.

Morphogenesis Press Release

2009-09-07T21:37:00.003+01:00

Morphogenesis

1^st October - 15^th November 2009

View's Morphogenesis exhibition explores the creation of shape.

Fred Swist, Al Greenall, Julian Abrams, and Julian Cox ARBS, study this common theme from very different inspirational origins.

Swist’s digital imagery engages the relationship between art and science, resulting in both aesthetic and technical appeal. Greenall extracts physical and emotional pictures from geographical locations and their experience is shared through multi media paintings. Abram investigates and captures patterns of light through photography and creates the impression of gyroscopic movement in his images. Cox interprets the lines and curves of the female form in his minimalist, elegant ink painting and sculpture.

Rose Popay brings an additional dimension to this eclectic mix of styles and media in her video installations, using her ability to morph into a collection of stimulating characters.

We shall also be dedicating part of the show to an exciting range of prints by local artists, who range from established to first time exhibitors.

About View

View is a contemporary art gallery, situated in Bristol’s Harbourside. We’re here to champion new art and artists, and bring a refreshingly informal approach to viewing and buying art.

The space offers 5 zones over 2 floors, with room for innovative conceptual art alongside traditional styles and media. An active events programme and frequently changing exhibitions keeps the art fresh for new and regular visitors.

Show us your prints!

2009-08-07T11:35:00.005+01:00

As part of our next show in October we will be dedicating a large space to prints. This is partly to provide another price dimension for our customers, to compliment the show's original art, and also for when we take part in the West Bristol Art Trail.

So, artists, if you would like to be considered for this space in our October show please do the following:

1. Register as an artist on our website.

2. Send us images of 2 prints, with dimensions and the price you would like to receive (we'll add the commission), by email to sarah@viewartgallery.co.uk.

If your work is selected it will either be exhibited on the gallery wall (if framed), or in a print rack. We will start looking at the submissions this week and give you feedback within a few days.

We look forward to seeing some new and different prints.

SUPERNATURE

2009-08-02T11:41:00.006+01:00

The second of our Summer shows is almost ready to go and promises to be an original and innovative collection of work. The show involves 11 artists who have been brought together by artist and curator Jesse Leroy Smith (who is exhibiting in both of our Summer shows). SuperNature is being shown at View as its first venue before being taken on an international tour next year. Have a look at images of some of work.

The common theme is the landscape, but the interpretations are extreme, as are the media used. Exploring new techniques with traditional media and introducing new media is a passion of ours at View and so we are delighted to show a group of artists with such diversity. Photography techniques include pinhole, Polaroid and digital, colour is presented with oils, ink and biro, and installations involve a wide mix of media.

Inviting a variety of emotional responses is something we are also enthused about at View. With SuperNature we aim to create a range of reactions from calm and serenity to wonder and intrigue and maybe admiration of technical excellence. As ever, we hope there is something for everyone.

The artists connection is through Jesse and his Revolver movement - a collection of artists who have a Cornish influence, either by birth, residency, or a love of the physical and social environment. The full list of artists is available here. You can meet the artists at our Private View on August 13th, so if you're not yet on our mailing list, register now to receive an invitation.

The show runs from August 12th to September 27th. We look forward to seeing you there.

Urban Art Success

2009-07-19T14:45:00.006+01:00

Just finalised the numbers from the Urban Art Show in conjunction with UPFEST09. The great news is that we managed to contribute thousands of pounds to the NACOA charity, through the Private View, the Show, and the Auction.

Another very positive aspect of the show is that we received a whole new set of visitors to the gallery. We are passionate about creating a friendly and welcoming environment for all types of visitors who can see and buy a broad range of contemporary art in a comfortable environment. The feedback from the show is that we are achieving this and it makes us very happy that we are delivering on one of our key aims. Art sold for between £85 and £4,000, satisfying both the casual buyer and the serious collector.

As I regularly pass the Bristol City Museum it's great to see the queues getting even longer to see the Banksy show. So many new people are being introduced to art and Bristol, which can only be good for all art venues in the city.

As far as Urban Art is concerned, it remains a very lively movement and popular medium. I look forward to adding urban artists to the range of contemporary styles at View, as well as taking part in next year's UPFEST.

Summer Show 2 - Preview

2009-06-28T20:31:00.004+01:00

We have selected the artists and are now finalising the work for our second Summer Show, which starts mid August. The theme is going to be related to landscapes, all with a Cornish influence - either through the artist or the work.

But it would be very misleading to imply these are some picture postcard style paintings of the cornish coast. Take a look at a selection of images from some of the artists, to get a taste of what's to come.

New Summer Show

2009-06-23T08:46:00.032+01:00

Our new Summer Show starts next week and we have an exciting blend of new and established artists. The work being exhibited will be a mix of media and styles that is sure to capture the imagination of new and regular viewers. The list of artists are:

Jesse Leroy Smith - Paintings

Richard Southall - Sculpture and installation

Catherine Knight - Paintings

Simon Ledson - Paintings

Nici Ruggiero - Ceramics

Jessica Slater - Paintings

A selection of photos can be seen here. More images of the work on show and a profile of the artists will be on our website next week.

If you would like to receive an invitation to the private view next Friday (3rd July) then ensure you are signed up to our database and an email invitation will be sent soon.

Auction Artists

2009-06-19T21:07:00.011+01:00

We now have the full list of artists whose work will be included in the auction on Friday 26th June (6.30pm):

Banksy, Grafter, BAM, Stick Man, Avian Security, FarkFk, Snik, Ben Slow, SPQR, Agent Provocateur, Data, Lee Ellis, Martin Whatson, LET, Boon, Oliver Winconeck, Jess Hartridge, Phil Blake, and K74 will all have work in the auction.

Photos of a selection of the 20+ urban paintings to be included in the auction can be seen here. We may also add a few more on the night if it's going well.

The reserve price for some of this work will be well below market price (from only £50) and so there may be some real bargains to be had. We also expect some lively bidding for some of the higher value work (you now who), and we already have some registered telephone bids.

Remember, all the profit goes to the charity NACOA, so there's two reasons to feel good about your purchase.

Banksy Show Review

2009-06-16T22:28:00.006+01:00

Having spent a couple of hours in the Bristol City Museum today, I think the answer to the question Banksy asks us (above) is 'not many'. As I listened to and observed people's reaction, the most frequent response to his new show was definitely laughter. There was a hint of anarchy and a frequent reference to the social comment we've been used to on the street, but the overwhelming feeling I got was that Banksy was having fun. Maybe having fun at the expense of the art world, the council, and maybe at himself. I applaud the museum for hosting the show, and even more so for the freedom Banksy clearly had with the curation. They have definitely opened their doors to a whole new set of art lovers.

The show is split into 4 main areas. In the first hall there are a number of large classical sculptures with very modern and amusing poses, all surrounding a burnt out ice cream van. The angel holding a cigarette and a lipstick-smeared can of beer made me smile, as did the stone lion who had eaten his tamer. A very safe introduction to the show.

In the second room was the more traditional Banksy work, with graffiti style painting and a stronger more challenging commentary to some of the content. There was enough work in his replica studio alone to spend an afternoon looking at, but time didn't permit. Some of the work was familiar in style and subject, with the inclusion of some interaction - many kids and Japanese tourists enjoyed poking their heads through the cut-outs of a seaside style take on a classical painting. I had to revisit this room once I'd satisfied my curiosity and excitement with a quick tour.

The third room was the biggest diversion from urban art and introduced animatronics in a zoo format with caged animals. Each cage or glass cabinet had a twist inside, some very obvious (like swimming fish fingers in a bowl) and some quite subtle and very life like - I found the monkey artist quite addictive to watch.

The remainder of the show was incorporated into the existing rooms and among the resident art work. This 'find the Banksy' was an event in itself and was causing great surprise and amusement among adults and children. Someone had to point out the penis in the stalagmite case to me! I won't tell you any more because half the fun is the discovery. For those with less time, or no sense of fun, there is a quick way to see them all (but I'll let you find that for yourself). And for those who can't get to see the show (although it's free and definitely worth the trip from almost anywhere), here are a selection of photos.

I'm sure there will be many reviews commenting on the importance of this exhibition, the cross over of urban and fine art, the outrage of bastardising classical art or the hypocrisy of an artist who is now a part of the world he once ridiculed. I prefer to see it as a gift to Bristol from where it all began, and most importantly... to not take it too seriously.

Urban Art Auction

2009-06-13T09:31:00.010+01:00

Bristol seems to be going Urban Art crazy in June. First we had the UPFEST weekend of live painting around the city, including our Urban Art Show, then Banksy's surprise exhibition at the Bristol City museum, and now we have an Urban Art auction at the gallery.

On Friday June 26th at 6.30pm we will be auctioning paintings made at the UPFEST weekend and also work from our current show. All profits are going to the festival charity NACOA. News of the artists and images of the work to be auctioned will be here on our news blog soon. Keep looking on the site, or follow us on Twitter to get the news as soon as it happens.

To receive an invitation to the auction, please join our database, and you will be kept informed of, and invited to, future gallery events.

UPFEST 2009 winds down

2009-06-07T12:03:00.005+01:00

UPFEST 09 is winding down and we've had an amazing festival weekend. It started Friday afternoon with Snik and Ben Slow painting two pieces on the gallery outer walls and one on the entrance floor (photo above). Take a look at photos of them making of these great paintings.

Then on Friday night we held the launch party and private view, where collectors and admirers were first to see the Urban Art show at View. Lots of happy people went away with anything from a small print at under £100 to a Banksy for thousands.

On Saturday we had a continuous stream of people visiting, from 9am (before we open!) through to the evening. It was wonderful to see so many people in the gallery and also to receive such positive feedback - our comments book is overflowing, thank you.

With the festival closing today we continue with our show for 3 weeks, ending with an auction on the last day. We've sold out of one artist and others are going fast. We hope to replenish stock with work made at the other festival venues. We'll let you know here.

There are many tired and yet happy people who organised and took part in a very successful festival. And lets not forget it was supporting a very worthy charity, NACOA.

Bex Wade degree show

2009-05-31T10:01:00.004+01:00

Two things are important to us at View - showcasing new talent and making best use of our gallery space. We combined both of these on Thursday night with an exhibition by Bex Wade called Perform. Bex is a film and drama student and the work for her degree show is based on observing people in night clubs.

The gallery was transformed for the evening, with performing art, installations and photography. Bex clearly has a lot of friends and support for her art, as there was an excellent attendance which helped create the right atmosphere for the show. We hope her tutors were as impressed as we were.

Good luck to Bex and we hope to be working with you again in the future.

Urban Paint Show flyer

2009-05-27T23:33:00.004+01:00

Here's the flyer for the Urban Paint Show. Click to expand.

BANKSY showing at View

2009-05-25T22:14:00.013+01:00

Great news, we've got the biggest name in urban painting coming to View. Work by Banksy joins the line up for the Urban Art Show starting June 6th.

Banksy is considered by many to have been the artist who brought street art to the masses. We are extremely proud to be showing work at our gallery, in his home town of Bristol where it all began. We are expecting some original work (details to be confirmed) to compliment prints for sale during the exhibition, and we will be auctioning one piece at the end of the show in support of the UPFEST charity NACOA.

We've also got another great late entry in Logan Hicks who is sending us work from his June show in Los Angeles.

Artists confirmed for Urban Art Show

2009-05-23T19:34:00.006+01:00

The artists for our Urban Art Show (June 6th - 28th) in conjunction with UPFEST09 have been confirmed. They are:

Andy Council, Dale Grimshaw, Ben Slow, Fake, FarkFk, Snick, and SPQR.

These urban painters are world reknowned and will be taking part in the festival on the 6th and then showing new work at View for 3 weeks. The show will have canvases and limited edition prints, with prices ranging from £100 - £3000, so there should be something for everyone. Whether you're a follower of urban art or seeing it for the first time, you are likely to find something in the humour, social comment, technical skill, or aesthetics of this absorbing art medium.

There will be live painting at, and around, View on Saturday the 6th and something special for Friday the 5th - we are planning a few surprises. Keep looking at the blog or follow the 'viewartgallery' twitter to be among the first to know. You won't be disappointed!

View takes part in Upfest 2009

2009-05-21T10:25:00.003+01:00

We are really excited to be taking part in the UK's largest urban painting festival - UPFEST 2009.

Before we talk about the art, lets talk about the cause. UPFEST supports the National Association of Children of Alcoholics. Have a look at the website and support this worthy cause if you can.

UPFEST is a Bristol based festival and attracts artists from all over the world. We will be taking part by having live art performances on the main day (June 6th), a private view on the evening of the 5th, and a 3 week exhibition of the most exciting urban painters around today. More news on the artists soon.

New News at View

2009-05-20T13:12:00.004+01:00

Following requests for more information about what is going on in the gallery, we have decided to use our blog to publish news rather than its previous use as a discussion forum on topics of interest. This will also be complimented by Twitter feeds for those of that persuasion! I hope you enjoy the change and as ever, your feedback is welcome by adding comments to the news items or emailing us.