Galleries - October 2012

14. GALLERIES OCTOBER 12 subversive, making you think differently about the established order of society. Tucked away in a Pembrokeshire cove for the past 20 years, Harbour Lights has been hiding them. It has acquired exhibition space from The Frame Shop in Cardiff, where the gallery's relaxed attitude may shine: its focus is on paintings, limited edition prints and sculptures by Welsh artists who have a distinguished track record – Graham Sutherland, Sir Kyffin, William Selwyn, Andrea Kelland and John Knapp Fisher – and emerging ones like Darren Yeadon. Officially opening on the 13th, the King Street cooperative is expanding downstairs, which must be a relief for its 25 members who have endured the poky rooms above. The quality of the work has risen dramatically in recent years: Victoria Malcolm’s images stand out, but there is a fascinating variety to choose from. Oriel Q is a great survivor, having existed on small grants for years. This month, Steve Wilson is exhibiting haunting ‘assemblages’ of animals and birds – pencil drawings which he makes by working an eraser into blackened surfaces. At the same time, Sue Hanna is showing black and white, Ashraf Hanna clay pottery which springs out of her fascination with African masks. Martin Tinney’s two galleries are exhibiting work by more than 29 ‘gallery artists’ over a period which begins with Augustus and Gwen John, and ends with up-and-coming painters such as Sarah Carvell, Martin Collins and Darren Hughes. Tegfryn's solo for Harry Holland runs from the 19th. Holyhead’s vibrant community arts centre, Ucheldre , is celebrating its 21st by upgrading its exhibition spaces and holding the first solo show of paintings by Laurie Kitchen next month. He is a promising newcomer who has won the Art for All Competition several times. It is always a pleasure to visit the modern spaces at Ynys Môn , no matter what they are showing. Now it is paintings and drawings of Wales and Cumbria by Robert A. Newell. His work embraces the ancient, underlying structures of landscape – rock faces and boulders – and emphasises their patterns in a way that is both severe and uplifting. Challenges and new ideas exist in a lot of the work on show – and on sale – in Wales, even if they are sometimes hidden in a commercial strait-jacket. Looking back over 50 years, Wales has shown that it can support continued p18 LUDLOW CASTLE Fine Art Exhibition 19-21 October 2012 75 exhibiting artists from across the UK admn £3.50 per adult (children free) sat & sun 2 for price of one with this advert for e-catalogue see: beckfordfineart.co.uk enquiries@beckfordfineart.co.uk 01989 763399 Claire Henley, ‘Collecting Drift Wood’ acrylic on canvas