h.Art (Herefordshire Art Week) is here once again, running from Saturday 4 to Sunday 12 September 2021 and is a nine day art trail open to all. Galleries and studios all over Herefordshire will open up their doors and welcome you in to view a wide array of arts and crafts in a variety of interesting and unique venues such as manor houses, historic barns, farms, churches and beautiful gardens.
The county-wide art trail has taken place every year in the second week of September since 2002 and has become part of Herefordshire’s rich cultural calendar.
Ross-on-Wye is renowned for its excellent galleries and has plenty of arts and crafts to view and buy, with many local artists available onsite to discuss their unique pieces with you. The h.Art and Ross-on-Wye art trail can be viewed at the following galleries and venues:
Made in Ross: this year-round gallery is located upstairs in the iconic Market House in the centre of Ross-on-Wye and is a co-operative of local arts and craft producers living within 20 miles of the town. Artists include Rosie Callinan, Chris Champness, Myra Fricker, Caz Holbrook, Eleanor Kercher, Jan Matthews, Claire McKnight, Louise Pilditch, Jackie Poulter, Nigel Street, Frances Warren and Susan White. The gallery is open every day from 10am until 4pm.
St Mary’s Church: situated just above the town, the church is one of the most prominent venues in Ross-on-Wye and is, for the first time really excited to be included as a venue for h.Art. Here you will find some beautiful collections from ten talented, local artists: Vanessa Burley, Helen Crawford, Alison O’Doherty, Berna Pullen, Donna Rose, Susan Sharp, Anna Taylor, Di Weissberg, Georgie White Winter and Sharon Yorke.
Gallery 54: the premier art gallery in the centre of Ross-on-Wye is located in a beautiful 17th Century listed building and displays a fine collection of contemporary abstract art including paintings, ceramics and glassware. The exhibition space consists of two discrete floors balanced and accessed by an open stairwell gallery. The strength of Gallery 54 lies in the calibre and integrity of the collected art and represents work from over 20 artists, both local and international. You can view the collection here.
Gaby Devitt Woven Textiles: located at 18 The Basement on Gloucester Road, a couple of minutes’ walk from the Market House, talented handweaver, Gaby, creates fabric patterns and designs that evolve from the actual process and experimentation of weaving. The most intriguing aspect is that throughout the entire process, the colour and fabric change. From initial card windings, making the warp, putting the weft through, to washing the fabric and turning it into its final product, at every stage you see the fabric in a new light. View Gaby’s gallery here.
Brunel Workshops: Ali Tregaskes (silversmith) and Sharon Curtis (printmaker) showcase their unique contemporary etched and oxidised silver jewellery and printmaking respectively. Ali’s work is inspired by patterns found in nature and architecture and Sharon’s creations are vibrant contemporary original reduction lino prints and hand-cut paper art. Brunel Workshops house a very unique collection of individual workshops and are within easy walking distance of Ross-on-Wye town centre (next door to JMART and near to Ross Garden Centre).
Yat Pottery: one of the newest galleries to arrive in Ross-on-Wye, Yat Pottery is located on the High Street and is run by husband and wife team, Adam & Gillian. The shop is a working pottery and art studio and their aim is to encourage everyone to try out or improve their creative skills, whether pottery or art. Adam will guide you through wheel throwing & hand building lessons or you can learn to paint and draw with Gillian. Full details of their exhibitions, studio and courses can be found here.
Lyons Gold: established in 2020 by James Lyons, this gallery is a hidden Herefordshire gem located right in the middle of Ross-on-Wye on Broad Street, and exhibits unique works of art from contemporary to functional – including innovative and beautiful original paintings, collectable limited edition prints and sculptures from acclaimed national and international artists alongside the most exciting emerging talents.
Oakwoman Glass: Nina Oakwoman creates beautiful, original handmade stained and fused glass art, and works from her studio and garden, located in Kent Avenue in Ross-on-Wye. As part of h.Art week and the Ross-on-Wye Art Trail, Nina will be exhibiting a selection of commissioned glass panels and also has smaller items for sale. New commissions accepted.
Edgelands: a friendly, open studio on Trenchard Street just a couple of minutes’ walk from the town centre near the riverside. Artist, Ann Johnson, exhibits her paintings, drawings, prints and collages, including explorations of the Wye. In recent years, Ann has had four paintings hung at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Ann has published a book of her work, Wild Margins, Drawings and Inspirations which is available on Amazon.
Sarah D’Arcy Ceramics: tucked away in a courtyard just off Church Street in the town centre, Sarah works from her studio, creating beautiful, idiosyncratic collections of animal sculptures, each handmade and unique, ranging from smaller pieces to large garden features. Sarah has been making ceramics all her working life, starting with a six month apprenticeship in the mid 1970s with Adam Dvorski at the Clyro Pottery just outside Hay-on-Wye. Her eclectic collections include hares, geese, sheep and hens made with a Crank mixture, which is a coarse clay and gives her work its beautiful tactile nature.
For full details of h.Art Week log on at www.h-art.org.uk or for Made in Ross, visit www.madeinross.co.uk.