27/04/2011

Issued by North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Forces of Nature, the latest exhibition at the Inspired by... Gallery in Danby, brings together four very different artists who are united by a love of the elements. Jim Wright, Andrea Bailey, Elisabeth Bailey and Andrew Cheetham will be exhibiting their paintings, felt, ceramics and drawings from Thursday 28 April to Tuesday 10 May.

The energy these artists possess is clearly visible in their work, whether it is the strength of a line, a confident brushstroke or vitality of colour. Andrew Cheetham will be showing some large and powerful drawings he created as Artist in Residence in Rosedale on the Inspired by Heritage Project and Jim Wright will also be using the opportunity the Inspired by... Gallery's space offers to show some large scale paintings of the moors. 

Jim Wright spends much of his time in the more remote areas of the moors, mountains and coastline of Northern Britain feeling the full power of the energy in these places. Transferring this energy into his paintings is the objective in his work.  "I have a love of remoteness," he says. "I'm not saying I'm a hermit but the vast emptiness, the wildness of the sea and moors is something that I strive to capture."

 Andrew Cheetham also paints landscapes and seascapes, but in contrast to Jim's paintings his work often focuses on our industrial heritage. He has documented the declining fishing industry at Scarborough for many years and during the Inspired by Heritage Residency he documented the landmarks of Rosedale's past mining industry. His studio is in one of the baiting sheds on the harbour where he paints the sea and those who earn a living from it.

Andrea Bailey studied art at Chelsea in 1947 before moving to Paris where she worked in a studio. Her inspiration comes from the land she has farmed  in the North York Moors and the animals she sees on her smallholding. She enjoys the challenge of exploring different mediums. Currently she's working with felt, creating colourful and tactile wall hangings and objects, but painting, printing and sculpture are all part of her range.

Andrea's daughter, Elisabeth Bailey, is a potter who appreciates function as much as beauty. "It's no good if the teapot's lovely but it doesn't pour right," she says. Her colour palette ranges from a pale wintry blue with shades of white through to more earthy hues and the pieces she produces are decorated with simple but charming animals - a mouse on a milk jug, a goose on a plate. She adds: "What you're buying is a little piece of my lifestyle; made with love and care."

The Inspired by... Gallery is at The Moors National Park Centre and is open daily from 10am to 5pm.  Elisabeth Bailey will demonstrating the creative process behind her work at the gallery on Wednesday 4 May between 10am and 3pm.

For information on forthcoming exhibitions go to www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/events or call 01439 772738.

ENDS