An artist whose gallery officially opened in Pateley Bridge last weekend has thanked local people for their support.

James Owen Thomas is known for his environmental activism through art.  Much of the art on display in his gallery highlights issues on this topic and in particular single use plastics.

He was recently commissioned by Whitewoods Wellbeing near Bewerley, where he is the artist in residence, to create a collage of trees.

His latest collage involved collaging a Van Gogh portrait using discarded national lottery scratch cards. This was sold to a buyer in Leeds who visited the gallery.

James, who has lived in Pateley Bridge for more than 10 years, said:

“This is an area of outstanding natural beauty so I feel very lucky to live here and I am inspired in my art by all the nature in the local surroundings.”

“The idea of the official opening was to invite everyone local as a way of thanking them for their support and for them to see how I am developing my art business. “

Among those attending the opening was North Yorkshire deputy lieutenant, Professor David Hill, who gave a talk on environmental issues and praised James’ art for making a positive statement.

The gallery is open 11am to 3pm Wednesday to Friday. The Ripon City Photographic Society is also exhibiting at the gallery until July 30.

James (right) displays one of the pieces in the gallery.

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• Major new exhibition seeks sponsors for young artists
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A Nidderdale artist who uses art for therapy is donating fees from a workshop this weekend to the National Autistic Society.

James Owen Thomas, who has autism, is artist in residence at Fishpond Wood in Bewerley, near Pateley Bridge. His JOT Gallery was highly commended at this month’s Stray Ferret Business Awards.

He holds monthly workshops, the next one of which on Saturday will donate all £25 fees of those taking part to the society as part of World Autism Acceptance Week, which begins on March 27.

James uses recycled materials to highlight nature and the importance of protecting the environment.

He works with unwanted, discarded materials and turns them into something unique. He also uses art to make a difference to mental wellbeing, reducing stress and anxiety.

James said:

“I am on the autistic spectrum myself and have always found art therapeutic.

“There will be a full spectrum of colourful materials at the workshop and we will be creating textured photo collages of trees and nature for you to take home.”

Read more:

• Pateley Bridge artist says ‘my art is making a positive statement’
• Pateley Bridge environmental artist meets Monty Don in Harrogate

The Rising Star Under 30 Award is sponsored by Thompson’s Chartered Accountants.

Thompsons in Harrogate provides key accountancy and taxation solutions to small and medium-sized businesses across England.

Thompsons has offered specialist advice across a range of sectors specific to business, growth plans, exit strategies and targets, for over 30 years.

The Rising Star under 30 Award is designed to highlight young business talent across the Harrogate who will be making waves in the years to come.

Finalists

Tiffany Snowden, Blue Willow Heritage:

Tiffany Snowden has excelled in what has traditionally been a male dominated profession.

She is Lead Heritage Consultant and Director of Harrogate environmental consultancy, Blue Willow Heritage.

Tiffany is just one of 500 women in the UK to be granted Membership of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CifA), the highest level of accreditation that the most senior archaeology body in the UK offers.

Tiffany was also invited to join the Association for Studies in the Conservation of Historic Buildings (ASCHB), the UK’s premier body for the study of architectural preservation.

In just two years, Tiffany has led Blue Willow Heritage to become one of the top small heritage consultancies in Britain. The company is a preferred consultant for several respected planning and architectural firms within the UK, for North Yorkshire County Council and the Gotwick Manor Estate in Surrey.

Tiffany Snowden said:

“It’s an absolute honour to be shortlisted as a rising star, especially as a woman working in a male-dominated field.

“Being recognised in this way is not only a huge personal achievement, but also invaluable to help raise the profile of women in construction-related industries.”

Joe Andrew, Cocoa Joe’s:

Joe Andrew has literally brought the world of chocolate to Pateley Bridge as the Founder of Cocoa Joe’s, a retailer selling premium chocolate drinks.

Joe launched Cocoa Joe’s in 2019 after moving home from university. Four years later, the Pateley Bridge shop boasts the highest average customer review of any business in the UK, with the York branch ranking second.

Cocoa Joe’s uses luxury solid chocolate from all around the world. Customers are able to choose a chocolate, learn a little about the country of origin and see their bespoke drink form before their eyes.

Joe Andrew said:

“I’m absolutely over the moon to have made the shortlist, there has been a lot of very impressive applicants this year, so it still feels slightly surreal!

“This has been a great way to begin 2023 and will certainly be spurring me on as we begin to expand both our menu and range of products over the course of the coming year.”

Laura Mounsey, Harrogate Family Law:

Laura Mounsey only qualified as a solicitor with Harrogate Family Law four years ago and is already a director of the company.  An equity stake in a law firm usually takes at least 10 years to achieve.

Laura is the Chair of the Advisory Board to the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS). This includes implementing the Domestic Abuse Act and shaping their policies on perpetrator schemes.

Laura is also the youngest ever president of the Harrogate & District Law Society. She has organised advocacy training via the local Judge, networking training and wellbeing sessions to support those struggling with working from home post-pandemic.

Laura’s clients describe her as “extraordinarily approachable and knowledgeable”.

Laura Mounsey said:

“I was honoured to find out that my team had submitted me for this award. I was even more surprised and overjoyed when I found out that I am shortlisted, especially in what I expect is a very competitive category.

“I feel very lucky to be where I am.”

James Owen Thomas, JOT’s Gallery:

James Owen Thomas is an environmental artist and owner of JOT’s Gallery.

James was diagnosed with autism aged three and has since used this, as well as his love for the environment, as a means of inspiration for his art.  James uses recycled materials to create his artwork.

James is an ambassador the Tree Council, supporting their ‘Force For Nature’ campaign. He was nominated by the Tree Council for COP26 and then selected as a One Step Greener Ambassador for the UN Climate Change Conference 2021: “Together For Our Planet.”

In 2022,  James’s artwork helped raise funds for The Alzheimer’s Society, Autism Trust, Disability Action Yorkshire, Horticap, Shelter, National Autistic Society, Harrogate Homeless Project and The Caudwell Children’s Charity.

James Owen Thomas said:

“It’s an honour to be shortlisted as a rising star. I’ve been working hard to create a sustainable practice by creating art using discarded materials, running workshops in the community, taking on commissions and opening my own gallery.

“I have faced several challenges during my life, but I see my autism as a gift – it gives me the strength to be different”.

The Stray Ferret Business Award event sponsor is Prosperis. To find more and to purchase tickets for the big night, click here.

A young artist from Pateley Bridge has used lockdown to find new inspiration in the outdoors much closer to home .. his garden.

James Owen Thomas, who has autism, uses disused materials such as scratchcards and ring pulls to create art with a message.

He likes to express emotion in his pieces, whether it is through the beauty of the outdoors or the importance of recycling.

After finishing a two-year art course at the Bradford School of Art, James is now studying a business and computer course in Harrogate. He hopes his new skills will allow him to improve his art blog and use his social media for business use.

James uses household objects such as scratch cards to create art.

During lockdown, James wasn’t able to travel far to find his inspiration and found himself looking out of his window more often. He said:

“Looking out of my window at home at our cherry tree I knew that it would soon be in blossom as spring was on its way. I decided to create a collage involving the tree with materials I already had at home that could be recycled.

“I feel that the covid situation has led to more people appreciating nature whether in gardens, parks or the countryside.”

Read more:

• Nidderdale artist says lockdown has given her a new outlook on the nature around her. 
• An artist from Pateley Bridge has produced artwork for the Tour de Yorkshire.

His cherry tree in blossom project is part of a collaboration with Caudwell Children, a charity that helps disabled children.

James wanted to give back to the charity that helped him when he was first diagnosed with autism, aged three.

Art and pictures have played an important part in his life and more-so during this time of isolation. He added:

“As a small child I liked nothing more than being taken to art galleries. I also enjoyed collecting litter in parks and playgrounds and disposing of it correctly. Perhaps this is how my interest in recycling and collage art started.

“My artwork is also therapeutic and I include everything important to me in my ideas for collage – nature, places I have visited and special occasions.”

Another example of James’ work.

He says he will continue showing in a different light items that other people throw away.

“What I am proving is that art isn’t what it’s made from, but what it has become.  My art is making a positive statement about recycling.”

“People have said it’s amazing how something as disposable as scratchcards can be turned into such beautiful works of art.”

To visit James’ website, click here.