In This Newsletter

• Spirit of Fire
• Wilder Hereford in Art & Poetry
• Timothy Hawkins Gallery
• More News

Spirit of Fire

An exhibition on the theme of Pentecost with more than seventy artists invited to respond openly to the theme. The show is curated by Ruth Cameron-Swan, Charles MacCarthy and Andrea McLean.

6-9pm Friday 26th May Private View
You are warmly welcome to join us, there will be a short talk at 7pm by nationally known art historian Frances Spalding.

 27th May - 11th June
St Michael's and All Angels Church, Kingsland, Herefordshire, HR6 9QW

My contribution is 'Phoenix', a watercolour of a young oak nurtured into life as part of a project which has transformed a dark, closed and mostly sterile forestry plantation into wildlife-rich wood pasture. Moccas Hill Wood in Herefordshire is now a designated National Nature Reserve.

Phoenix (detail) - watercolour

Wilder Hereford in Art & Poetry

This is a partnership between the Apple Store Gallery, the Wildlife Trust's City Branch and me. Last year we invited a group of local artists and poets to explore the nature reserves around Hereford with a special focus on the restoration of the Yazor Brook. The City Branch, with help from Bugs & Beasties (local nature consultancy), have achieved tremendous improvements in five years, and the work continues - volunteers welcome!

It has been such a pleasure to explore the brook and its wildlife through the seasons but alas the story is not all positive. The water is repeatedly polluted by untreated sewage, industrial run off, road silt, fly-tipping, careless littering and other human spoilations. Last summer it dried out along much of its course because of drought and over-extraction of water for farming. I felt compelled to paint the ugly side (end of newsletter) alongside the beauty (below) in my series of twenty four small paintings.

Our events begin in 6 weeks so this is a 'save the date' alert. As well as our show at the Apple Store Gallery you are invited to create art and poetry with us, join guided walks along the brook, try stream dipping and more. All events are free, and we will be offering activities for children too.

Sat 1st July                             Save the Wye event on Castle Green, Hereford

Fri 30th June - Sat 1st July     Pop up show (provisional) in central Hereford partnering with Save the Wye 

12th July - 12th August           Show at Apple Store Gallery

Sat 15th July 2 - 3.30pm         Private View

Sun 23rd July 11am - 3pm      Apple Store Gallery public event about our project with pop up art & poetry, short guided walk (2pm start)

Sun 30th July 11am - 3pm      Moor Park public event about our project with pop up art & poetry, stream dipping, Wildplay, short guided walk (2pm start)

Tue 1st August 7pm                Poetry Event (ticketed) at Apple Store Gallery

Narrow-leaved Ash in Autumn- watercolour, 20 X 20m - these trees are thriving and I wonder if at least some of the many species dependent on our native ash might adapt to this continental tree?

Timothy Hawkins Gallery

I have much enjoyed showing my work and greetings cards at Timothy Hawkins Gallery in central Hereford for some years, so I'm very sad that the gallery is having to close. The good news is that Tim is continuing to make his wonderful and unique furniture. Farewell Audrey and Tim and thank you!

More News

I'm part of a touring exhibition, Concrete Castles: Britain's War Defences of 1940, showing at Monmouth Shire Hall until the autumn. A colour catalogue with essays is on sale at the exhibition.
Open 11-4 daily except Wed & Thu
Monmouth Shire Hall, Monmouth, NP25 3DY

h.Art (Herefordshire Art Week) is 2nd to 10th September this year, and I will be showing watercolours as part of an invited group show, Into and Out of the Woods, at a new venue in Little Logaston.

The Arborealists are busy with projects and shows too, more about that in the next newsletter.

Best wishes, 
Richard

Dead Fish - watercolour, 20 X 20m