Ringstead Village Hall, High Street,
Ringstead,
PE36 5LA
23rd September to 1st October 2023
10am to 5pm
We are four WNAA artists – Jane Brun, Helga Joergens, David Lendrum and me – Barbara King, whose art is informed by the wild and untamed beauty of our natural surroundings.
‘Hope Springs Eternal’ by Angela Banner
An exciting collaboration with the WNAA and Purfleet Brasserie in Kings Lynn is continuing its successful venture with exhibiting artwork from our talented members, this time showcasing works by artists Angela Banner, Barbara Anna Cichocka and David Cook. The exhibition runs from 19th June – 30th July exhibition A preview was held on Mon 19th June 7 – 9pm.
Read more …
‘Wish you were here’
The next artist exibiting in our collaboration with the Purfleet Brasserie is Patrick Hillard. Patrick’s abstract work is often inspired by music and unique through his striking colour palette and gestural approach.
His exhibition will run from 31 st July to the 10th September.
Read more …
Drawing by Peter Brown
A group of members met up on a lovely sunny day on 8th June to do some painting and drawing ‘en plein air’ around King’s Lynn. We met up at the iconic Custom House and then set off to find a good spot – some of us stayed more or less where we were while others wandered along the river and found interesting views there.
Read more …
‘Beginning – Ending – Beginning’ by Esther Boehm
Curator Rachel Allen
Thursday 6 July – Sunday 6 August
10am – 5pm
All Saints Church, Wighton
Note: Exhibition will be closed on Sturday 8 July between 12:15 and 2:15 pm
A Retrospective
Greyfriars Artspace will be showing work by Anne Roberts at the Custom House in King’s Lynn from 8 – 21 July. The exhibition will be open from 10 am – 4 pm on Monday – Saturday.
Admission is free.
You are warmly invited to the opening on 8 July from 12 – 4pm.
Watercolour by Margaret Sutcliffe
A Date for your Diary – Sunday 9 July
In conjunction with an “Open Gardens“ event, local artists will be holding an exhibition in All Saints’ Church, North Runcton between 11.00 am and 4.00 pm.
Sarah Bowett.’ Mac’s Landscape’
Showcasing stunning works of art in lovely surroundings, the Coastal Creatives group invite you to come and meet the makers at their fantastic three-day exhibition in Thornham Village Hall this summer. The talented artists and makers all live locally and reflect their unique styles in a variety of creative disciplines. Exhibits include striking paintings and photography, bespoke jewellery and lampshades, exquisite linocuts and ceramics and much more. Read more …
For the past eighteen years I have been painting and drawing on Fisher Fleet, a little-known part of Lynn’s vast docks complex. Strangely, many Lynn locals are totally unaware of the Fleet’s existence!
I was first told of its whereabouts some 40 odd years ago by an artist friend who lived in Leicester!
Read more …
Artspace on the Prom
I can’t exactly remember how I heard about the Cromer Artspace but when I did, I just had to go see it. I love Cromer with its wild, wind swept sea, so there was no holding me back. Although I’ve been to Cromer countless times, I was surprised at discovering this gorgeous Art Deco building fused into the cliff at the end of Cromer’s West Prom.
The space is both beautiful and unique. Facing north, it meets the ideal prerequisites for an artist’s studio. The sun reflecting off the sea gives a rare light to the work exhibited within. Looking out from inside is the pure wide sea. And its story is like the unexpected unravelling of a large wonderful ball of wool.
In 2013 floods caused the closure of the building. The gift shop moved to higher ground leaving the building empty. It remained so until 2022 when Cromer Artspace gained the lease for the Artspace on the Prom which opened in April of that year.
The history of Cromer Artspace goes back further than that. It was set up as a charity in 2020 to promote publicly accessible art. A research project was undertaken to explore possibilities and compare similar ventures elsewhere.
2020 saw the first initiative ‘Lockdown Views’ an “online response to lockdown experiences.”
A group of artists started looking for a space that could be used for art exhibitions. The passion of the artists was rewarded with a huge positive response from the residents and council of Cromer but there was work to be done. The first volunteers meeting was held in February 2022 and attended by over 60 people. Now, there is a growing group of about 50 active volunteers. Help also came from a charity called Volunteer it Yourself by providing young people Not in Education, Employment or Training to gain useful experience. They installed an accessible toilet and decorated internally.
In April 2022, Artspace on the Prom was launched with a Silent Auction named ‘It All Starts Here’ to raise money for repairs and improvements to the building and there’s been no looking back since. Thanks to a grant of £20,000 (£5,000 short of what was needed) from the Norfolk Coast Partnership an inclusive access ramp was installed and further renovations took place just before the second Silent Auction ‘Tah dah, We’re Back’ and launch of the 2023 season.
The Artspace is offering a full programme of contemporary art exhibitions this summer. The season runs into November. (Mine will be in September.)
Boy bitten by a Lizard, Caravaggio
But this is not all they do! They also run Pictures Around Cromer, a way to bring art to the people. This year, in collaboration with the National Gallery, 30 life-size reproductions of works from the collection are dotted around the streets of Cromer. The pictures date from Van Eyck (1434) to Monet (1907) and include works by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Turner, Van Gogh to name but a few. Printed brochures are available at the Information Centre and the Artspace on the Prom.
The most impressive thing about the project is that Cromer wants art. It’s the efforts of many that is creating a buzz around the town. Not only is the Artspace a well loved venue, it’s through the support of artists, art lovers and volunteers that the iconic Art Deco building is being restored. But there is still a lot of work to be done. The last time I visited, there was a bit of water on the floor. Money needs to be raised for roof repairs …
So, if you are looking for an artistic outing, Cromer is worth a visit.
Esther Boehm
All images © Cromer Artspace
A selection of links:
Listing of this year’s exhibitions
Apply to exhibit
Renovation appeal
Pictures around Cromer
The paintings
Where to find paintings
Family Trail and Artwalks