The Horton Community Arts centre in Epsom, Surrey. New venue for artist Rue Stanley and friends in 2024.
I had a great year in 2023. I exhibited at four venues and sold my art to lovely people in Epsom and Dorking. I also entered a number of art competitions to exhibit in London. It was my experience of these competitions that led me to the conclusion that I need to take control of my own career and create my own exhibition opportunities.
As an artist you can enter the competitions from £20 per painting and with some of these it appears a lottery for the artist and a money spinner for the organisers. Helpful software platforms have been created to manage the online process of submissions which are great revenue generators. The summer exhibition run by the RA charge over £30 to enter and have over 10,000 entries. One art society in London had the clever idea of inviting guest artists at a small fee of £15 a time. This contributes to the cost of their 4 private views in the first week with drinks and nibbles!
I was fortunate this year to work with two artist led organisations: First for Art run by the talented Susan Sheen and Arthouse Galleries run by Dilys Foster and Kate Winskill. This provided me with a great opportunities to exhibit and sell my art and I would like to thank them all.
I have decided that it’s time for me to take back control: No more art society competitions! No more of the lottery of the Summer Exhibitions and the Mall Galleries! I will organise my own exhibitions and invite artists to exhibit with me and share the costs between us!
I have been looking for a new venue for 2024 for a while. I am really pleased to have found The Horton Community Arts Centre in Epsom, Surrey. I will be curating my first exhibition there in June 2024. I will be exhibiting a large selection of new my work, plus prints covering 18 metres. I will be joined by 4 other talented artists : Lynn Toulson, Emma Champion, Sue Sheen and Photographer Laurence Berle.
Lynn’s work is inspired by nature and her surroundings. She works from her own photographs to create beautiful textured works in oil and acrylic in a realistic style that is beautiful and contemporary.
Emma is an experimental photographer and mixed media artist working primarily with darkroom materials and camerless techniques. The artwork she makes is a collection of fleeting moments, emotional responses, reflections and affirmations.
Sue paints her work in an eclectic style and her work reflects her mood and the light of the day. Her work can be figurative or abstract and is executed in acrylic and mixed media.
Laurence is a talented photographer and chooses a diverse range of subjects from wildlife to aircraft.
Rue is an experimental mixed media artist using a wide range of media and materials to create vibrant, sculptural tactile work that depict whimsical and unusual subjects.
The Horton Community Arts Centre, Haven Way, Epsom KT19 8NP 9.15am-4pm Free parking, free entry & cafe.
Rue Stanley & Friends The Horton 25th June to Saturday July 25th 2024.
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