This story is sponsored by Lucy Pittaway.

Lucy Pittaway, the celebrated British artist renowned for her vivid and colourful paintings, has launched a new collection at her gallery in Harrogate which is celebrating its first birthday this weekend.

In the spirit of appreciation, the Harrogate gallery has planned a weekend of entertainment and fun starting tomorrow.

The gallery will have a lucky dip for those who purchase art or merchandise including the chance to win a special 25% off voucher. There will a gallery trail quiz to keep the little ones entertained as well as new art and merchandise in the store in time for Christmas.

The most exciting of the new releases in the gallery will be the new “Little Lucy” collection.

All six of the original “Little Lucy” pieces have just gone on display at the gallery on Prospect Place in the town centre.

This captivating collection takes us on an enchanting journey through the complexities of childhood experiences, illuminating their enduring impact on our lives. With a rich tapestry of emotions and narratives, “Little Lucy” promises to captivate hearts and minds alike.

The “Little Lucy” collection draws its inspiration from the profound notion that our early life experiences, both joyful and challenging, intricately shape the individuals we become. At the core of this collection lies the compelling narrative of a young girl named “Little Lucy,” who navigates the uncertainties and anxieties of her youth with a heart full of compassion and boundless creativity.

In the enchanting world of “Little Lucy,” we meet a character who embodies the innocence of youth yet grapples with a lack of confidence. Her vivid imagination and compassionate nature serve as her guiding stars, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the backdrop of overthinking, school worries, and a constantly shifting home life. She is the girl who gazes out of her window, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, earning her the affectionate nickname “Dolly Daydream” from her parents.

As Little Lucy grows, she adapts to the changes life throws her way and steadfastly endeavours to infuse positivity into her existence. Her story is a poignant reminder that our early experiences do not dictate our future; rather, we hold the power to script our own destinies.

Lucy Pittaway herself taking in the new collection.

At the heart of “The Little Lucy” Collection lies a profound message: “Sometimes life may not grant us the best start, for reasons beyond our control. However, these experiences do not define who we are or who we can become. Each experience is but a chapter in our book of life, and we possess the pen to write the subsequent chapters. Reach for the stars.”

Lucy Pittaway’s intention with this collection is to resonate deeply with individuals on their personal journeys, instilling the belief that they can surmount challenges and aspire to greatness.

Little Lucy represents resilience and a belief in brighter days

“Little Lucy” represents a departure from Lucy Pittaway’s earlier works in that it openly addresses mental health issues, particularly among young individuals. While her signature painting style remains consistent, the introduction of “Little Lucy” and her story adds a deeply personal and relatable dimension to her art. Elements familiar to her audience, such as the iconic round Swaledale sheep, continue to make appearances, forging a connection between this collection and Lucy’s established body of work.

The launch of “Little Lucy” comes at a poignant time, as the world grapples with unprecedented challenges. Widespread suffering has underscored the need for support and the dissemination of positivity. This collection seeks to provide solace and hope to young people contending with mental health issues, fostering resilience and nurturing the belief in brighter days ahead.

The creative journey behind “Little Lucy” commenced with Lucy Pittaway’s thoughts and emotions taking shape on paper. Ideas flowed freely, leading to sketches, studies, and ultimately, fully realised paintings. From an array of visual concepts, Lucy selected six pieces that authentically encapsulate the essence of this remarkable collection. 

The six-piece collection is available as artists’ proofs, sketches for the very first time, originals, and prints. 

Lucy Pittaway’s responsibility to wanting to make a positive impact goes beyond her art. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the “Little Lucy” collection will be donated to a local charity, The Junction based in Teesside, is focused on supporting young people. By combining her artistic talent with a charitable spirit, Pittaway aims to provide tangible support to those in need.

Lucy’s aspiration for “Little Lucy” is to inspire positivity and a sense of accomplishment in those who have traversed arduous paths. She hopes viewers will perceive these paintings as more than just art; they are profound expressions of resilience and hope. If these vibrant creations can brighten even a single person’s life, then they have undeniably fulfilled their purpose.

For more information about Lucy Pittaway and the “Little Lucy” collection, please click or tap here or visit the Harrogate gallery today.

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club!

The second in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is an After Work Drinks event on February 23 from 5.30pm. Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district, get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate-based robotics company, Synovate, has built robots which are set to help reduce leaks in water and gas pipes.

The ‘LeakVISION’ robot uses thermal imagining technology from aircraft to detect minor temperate changes in pipelines and identify leakages.

The robot can be deployed remotely, reducing the excavation needed to find a leak whilst avoiding road closures.

The LeakVISION robot has already been trialled successfully with Northern Gas.

Synovate worked with Northern Gas to train repair-workers to operate the robot. The idea is to make jobs safer and more efficient without making them obsolete.

Simon Langdale, engineering director at Synovate, said:

“The LeakVISION robots will make it easier and faster to identify and fix leaks, which will be a significant benefit to the environment. In addition, deploying robots saves time and resources over traditional excavation methods.

“We are also trialling new technology where the robots will seal leaks from within the pipes, further reducing the need for extensive digging.”

Synovate worked with experts from universities in Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds as part of the Pipebots scheme to help create the robots.

In addition to the LeakVISION robot, the company is also designing robots to spot hydrogen leaks.

Artist with Harrogate gallery adds new location in York

Lucy Pittaway, who has a gallery in the centre of Harrogate, has announced a new gallery will be opening in York.

Her existing Harrogate gallery, which is on Prospect Place, features original works of art and prints, as well as various other products including stationary and homeware.

The new gallery in York is located at 21 Coppergate, in close proximity to attractions such as the Jorvick centre, the Shambles and York Minster.

Lucy said:

“We hope our gallery offers a refreshed opportunity for locals to love their high street and enhance the experiences for tourists with a further boost to the city’s visitor economy.”

The new site is Lucy’s sixth solo gallery.

Lucy, who has painted many landmarks from across Yorkshire, added:

“Yorkshire affords us so many opportunities to enjoy diverse landscapes such as fells and valleys, amazing coast lines and vibrant cities and historic towns.”

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This story is sponsored by Lucy Pittaway.

One of the UK’s favourite artists says she has been “blown away” by the reception since opening her new gallery in Harrogate before Christmas. 

Lucy Pittaway already has four other galleries across the North – in Richmond, Yarm, Keswick and near her home in Brompton-on-Swale – where she sells original artwork and prints of her paintings, which she calls “art that makes you smile” – but wanted a presence a little further south. 

She said: 

“We’ve been blown away by the reception we’ve had in Harrogate – not just from other traders, but from local people coming into the gallery too.The feedback’s been wonderful. The gallery has been really well received, which makes us feel we’ve definitely made the right decision opening here.

“Footfall’s been incredibly strong. We were getting people wanting to come in before we’d even opened. It’s actually been quite challenging, because we’ve had to take on more people just to cope with demand.”

Lucy Pittaway graduated from Northumbria University with a degree in Graphic Design, and went on to teach and lecture at Darlington Technical College of Art and Design. It was only after she had started a family with childhood sweetheart Neil that she felt it was the perfect time to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a professional artist.  

Her pictures, which often feature scenes, animals and characters from the Yorkshire Dales, can now be found in homes and galleries across the UK and beyond. 

She has won an armful of prestigious awards from the Fine Art Trade Guild, including Best Up-and-Coming Artist, Best Art Website of the Year, and the UK’s Most Popular Published Artist in 2018, 2019 and 2022. 

Nevertheless, when Lucy decided to open her gallery in the heart of Harrogate, on Prospect Place at the end of James Street, she had little idea of how local traders would respond – but she needn’t have worried. 

She said: 

“Coming to Harrogate has been really eye-opening. It’s a very welcoming town. From a business-to-business point of view, we were really quite overwhelmed by the help we received from [tourism body] Destination Harrogate. They took a lot of time out to answer all our questions about recruitment, seasonality, advertising and business organisations.

“Other businesses have been very supportive too, and I think that says a lot about the genuine nature of businesses in Harrogate. They want to do the best for their customers and are interested in improving choice on the high street.”

Buoyed by the success of the Harrogate opening, Lucy is now hoping to repeat the achievement in other towns in the region. 

She said:

“We’ve just gone through some major renovation at our head office in Brompton-on-Swale, and have invested a lot in new warehousing and office space, which will help us feed more galleries and expand. 

“We want to bring a vibrancy to the high street to make people smile. We’re planning to open more galleries this year – so watch this space!” 

Find out more:

Discover why Lucy Pittaway is the UK’s most popular published artist by visiting her newest gallery at 21 Prospect Place, Harrogate.

Or check out her latest paintings on her award-winning website, lucypittaway.co.uk.

North Yorkshire-based artist Lucy Pittaway is ready to open the doors at her debut Harrogate gallery this weekend.

The gallery, which sells original works of art as well as prints, homeware and stationery, had a preview night last night.

The shop replaces the former menswear shop Austin Reed on Prospect Place, which had been empty since 2016.

It’s been a long wait for Ms Pittaway, who has had her eyes on a site in Harrogate for five years.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret ahead of tomorrow’s official opening, she said:

“We have been wanting to be in Harrogate for some time now but we are finally here, and in an absolutely fabulous location.

“The response we have had from local businesses and shoppers has been amazing. We are absolutely thrilled with the interest we have seen already.

“It wasn’t easy but we have managed to get this space turned around in just three weeks which is a testament to our amazing team. I feel very proud looking around.”

Read more:

• Well known Yorkshire artist to open gallery in Harrogate town centre
• Himalayan Garden inspired artist to host first exhibition
• Sneak peek at Harrogate’s new Cosy Club

Ms Pittaway’s best known works are her signature sheep art and her work on the Tour de Yorkshire and UCI Road World Championships in Harrogate.

The Harrogate store will be open Monday to Saturday from 9.30pm to 5.30pm and from 10am to 5pm on Sundays.

A number of promotions are in the pipeline for Christmas and various other initiatives are also on the horizon, including a meet-the-artist event and debut showings of original pieces of art.

More pictures from the preview evening:

Lucy Pittaway with husband Neil and the rest of her team.

The new store looks ready for Christmas.

The gallery also sells homeware, stationery and more.

You can also find some of Ms Pittaway’s original work.

Yorkshire artist Lucy Pittaway is to open a new gallery on Prospect Place in Harrogate.

The award-winning artist is taking over the space formerly occupied by menswear store Austin Reed which closed its doors in 2016 and has stayed empty until now.

The new premises will be Ms Pittaway’s fifth solo art gallery and will offer original works of art as well as prints, homeware and stationery.

Her best known works are her signature sheep art and her work on the Tour de Yorkshire and UCI World Championships in Harrogate.

She said moving into Harrogate was always part of her business plan:

“We evaluated the town as part of our growth plans a number of years ago and just had to wait for the right time.”

The gallery is taking over the corner store that used to be Austin Reed

The store will welcome customers at its opening weekend on Saturday and Sunday, November 5 and 6.

Opening times will follow those of other stores which can be found here.