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Nov 2020

Last Updated: 23/11/2020

Environment

Showcasing the beauty of Nidderdale through art

by Thomas Barrett

| 23 Nov, 2020

Nidderdale artist Sarah Garforth, who has a Nidd Gorge exhibition coming up in Ripley, talks about how lockdown has given artists breathing space to look at their environment in new ways.

Many of us have come to appreciate nature more during lockdown, including Nidderdale landscape artist Sarah Garforth.

In normal times, Nidderdale's rivers, reservoirs and footpaths are Sarah's muse — but the last year has given her breathing space to look at where she lives in a new way.

She said:

"Even though I'm very much about the countryside and nature I've noticed more things this year. I've taken the time to look at things properly, and we all feel we've had that time this year."

Sarah works from Ramsgill Studio in Upper Nidderdale, which she bought nine years ago as a derelict barn to convert into a contemporary space to showcase her work and that of fellow artists.

She said she is fortunate to be able to call Nidderdale her home and to be able to use creativity as a tool to get through this strange year.

She said:

"That was a conversation that often came up amongst my friends. Also, how lucky we are to have a creative mind. A lot of people found the solitude as something really hard for them to cope with.

"Being creative people, we're also quite happy setting ourselves a project and cracking on with it. We get a lot of pleasure making things and producing things."

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Sarah has had lots of commissions during lockdown. She said more people were coming to Nidderdale to take inspiration for art, to explore or simply relax.

She said:

"Up here it really is all about nature and the countryside. It's encouraging that people are tapping into that a little bit more and starting to notice what's free and around us all the time."

An exhibition based on Nidd Gorge will take place from December 12 until spring at Chantry House Gallery in Ripley. It is also being held online for people who cannot attend due to lockdown.

The exhibition includes art from Sarah as well as Hanna Kerwin, Mark Sofilas, John Thornton and William Watson.

Sarah added:

"It's a cracking topic. It's to showcase the beauty of it and how picturesque the woodland and the gorge itself are."

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Showcasing the beauty of Nidderdale through art

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