Dartmouth nonagenarian joins coastal artists
for arts trail - Sep 2015
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Coastal artists will exhibit their work on an arts trail set up by a local group in south Devon. Now in its fifth year, the South Hams Arts Forum (SHAF) Arts Trail will see 51 artists exhibit their work from 15 venues in the area, including Dartmouth, Salcombe, and Wembury. Many of the artists use the sea and the surrounding coastal landscape as their inspiration to produce work in a range of mediums. At the Dartmouth venue, The White Sails Gallery, 93-year-old Desmond Johnson is one of four coastal artists among its five exhibitors.
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Johnson began painting lightships for Phillips Shipyard at Noss on the Dart before taking commissions for the Britannia Royal Naval College, also in Dartmouth. His paintings, in oil, acrylic and watercolours, feature in collections in the US, Europe and Australia, with a further two in the National Archive. He paints mainly seascapes and ships, but also his native Devon countryside.
The South Hams landscape and Dartmoor provide further material for other artists on the trail while others produce work remote from their surroundings but still draw on the support of their artistic community. |
In the last five years, SHAF membership has grown to around 100, with new artists joining and some early members dipping in and out of the Arts Trail, depending on their work and commitments.
The nine-day Arts Trail, which will run from Saturday, October 17, to Sunday, October 25, encompasses venues ranging from the artists’ homes and studios to galleries and public spaces.
Other coastal artists that will be exhibiting on the Arts Trail include Allie Fredericks, Mair Pattersun, Steven Thomas, Siân and Rob Dudley, Jean May Parsons, Hazel Strange, Val Morsman, Helen Petit, Denise Orchard, Sara Gilbert and Diana Booth.
The nine-day Arts Trail, which will run from Saturday, October 17, to Sunday, October 25, encompasses venues ranging from the artists’ homes and studios to galleries and public spaces.
Other coastal artists that will be exhibiting on the Arts Trail include Allie Fredericks, Mair Pattersun, Steven Thomas, Siân and Rob Dudley, Jean May Parsons, Hazel Strange, Val Morsman, Helen Petit, Denise Orchard, Sara Gilbert and Diana Booth.
Press Release - Western Morning News - July 2015
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Extra venues announced for this year’s Arts Trail
Five new venues have been announced for this year’s South Hams Arts Forum (SHAF) Arts Trail. Now in its fifth year, the SHAF Arts Trail has extended its reach with the addition of artists’ venues in Aveton Gifford, Strete, Ugborough, Kingston and Plymstock. The nine-day Arts Trail, which will run from Saturday, October 17, to Sunday, October 25, will give art lovers the opportunity to see 51 local artists at work in 15 venues. The venues range from the artists’ homes and studios to galleries and public spaces, such as the Market Hall in Kingsbridge. |
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Silversmith Elisabeth Cooper, an early member of SHAF and the Arts Trail, said: “When we started the Arts Trail five years ago, we had just 30 members in SHAF and had previously run small arts trails.”
Knowing the wealth of talent in the area and with the help of funding, Mrs Cooper decided to aim for 50 artists. This was achieved, with the help of a small committee, thereby introducing a wider variety of artists and crafts people. The aim was to keep the trail relatively small, around 50 each year, and to encourage visitors to explore the area and meet artists.
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In the last five years, SHAF membership has grown to around 100, with new artists joining and some early members dipping in and out of the Arts Trail, depending on their work and commitments.
SHAF’s membership is very diverse so while some artists work in purpose-built studios others manage to produce fantastic work at the kitchen table.“The SHAF artists will be more than happy to discuss their particular artistic skill and the processes involved,” added Mrs Cooper. “There is such an abundance of talent in the South Hams that every type of art form is covered by the Arts Trail. It also gives visitors a rather unique way of travelling around and enjoying our beautiful surroundings.” |
During the run-up to the Arts Trail, brochures with all the details of the venues and the artists will be available from Tourist Information Offices in the area, as well as various libraries, hotels and shops. It can also be downloaded here.