The Great North Art Show (GNAS) whose planned opening was delayed because of The Queen’s death, is now open to the public at Ripon Cathedral.
Among those with works on display is Yorkshire artist Eleanor Tomlinson, whose ‘Jubilee Ma’amalade Tea’ illustration of Her Majesty holding hands with Paddington Bear, touched the hearts of the nation and became even more poignant after her passing.
The painting was inspired by the now-famous TV sketch, that was broadcast as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.
Ms Tomlinson, whose artwork and illustrations are inspired by the countryside and wildlife around her, is exhibiting six new pieces, plus her jubilee themed prints.
A selection of Kay Latto’s works, which are on display at the exhibition
The exhibition, which is open until October 9, can be visited free of charge and is also showcasing the work of Ripon-based sculptor Kay Latto, who has exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts and the Royal Scottish Academy.
This month, The Society of Portrait Sculptors is exhibiting her sculpture ‘Talented Too’ at their FACE 2022 exhibition in Chelsea Barracks, London.
The GNAS, is providing a platform to the charity Vision Support Harrogate District, with sculptor Kim Murphy, who started out by sculpting her guide dog, one of eight vision impaired artists exhibiting their sculptures.
The work of vision impaired sculptors, including Kim Murphy, is on display at the Vision Support Harrogate and District stand
This is the 20th GNAS exhibition in a year of anniversaries, with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the 1350th anniversary of Ripon Cathedral’s consecration by St Wilfrid in 672 AD.
Pictures at the exhibition
Wendy Orme, the artist who started the show in 2001, explained the origins of the event:
“I felt at the time that the market for art was very much based around London and I thought it was high time we had something that allowed the work of northern artists, often rural, to be seen by people who live in the north.
“We wanted to bring art to the wider community and to people who had possibly never attended an art exhibition before, thus enabling them to view a large-scale exhibition in an open, neutral space – albeit in this case, the house of God.
“There is an important need for cathedrals to play a part in the community, bringing people together – and Ripon Cathedral does this so well. We are grateful for the use of this sacred space, which can be accessed by all, for free.”
The exhibition runs alongside the cathedral’s 1350th anniversary installation From Rome to Ripon, produced in partnership with Art in the Churches. It features work by Syrian artist Sara Shamma, whose paintings of Wilfrid and his contemporaries hang between the great pillars of the nave; the late Jack Chesterman; poet Olivia Mulligan and sound artist Paul Baily.
