Basking in the bright, seasonal delights of summer, we send our warmest greetings to you all. Anticipated exhibition openings, ongoing preparations for upcoming events and a sea of new faces have brought a burst of thrilling energy to the gallery. But even in the midst of such excitement, we relish the opportunity to sink into the oasis of familiar delights within our collection. Ever eager to share, we invite you to sit back, relax and savour the slow, simple pleasures of fine art as we share our latest updates with you all.

Yorkshire artist Clare Haley’s annual show has opened to a flying start, with the first few pieces already snapped up by eager collectors. But if you have not yet had the chance to view the collection or make your selection, fear not. A wealth of Clare’s signature paintings remain, including the spectacular showpiece ‘Yorkshire Dreaming’. Dynamic, invigorating and spellbinding in equal measure, this is truly a collection that needs to be seen to be believed.

On a different note, it is with tremendous sadness that we share the news of figurative artist Dianne Flynn’s recent passing. A uniquely sensitive painter, Dianne’s scenes of children at play are both timeless and achingly nostalgic. Imbued with romance, impressionistic verve and an uncommon eye for the effects and fluidity of natural light, Dianne’s paintings gathered a multitude of collectors and admirers over the course of her long career. Teacher, published author and celebrated artist for nearly fifty years, Dianne’s legacy will continue to flourish through those who knew and loved her, and through the depth and span of her wonderful body of work.

But even amogst sadness, there remains joy to be found. In just a few short weeks, we will be welcoming contemporary artist Amanda Jackson to our beautiful city of York for an afternoon of plein air painting and demonstrating. From cuddly teddy bears to tender moments of childhood, Amanda will be bringing her paintings spectacularly to life before our very eyes, each brushstroke thoughtfully executed amongst the thrum of York’s bustling streets. The perfect opportunity to meet Amanda and ask questions about her work, her process and her life as an artist, this will be an event for the books for collectors old and new alike. For those unable to make a visit, we will be documenting the day on Instagram to ensure as many people as possible can be a part of this special day.

In addition to the collection of new paintings received for Clare Haley’s annual exhibition, the gallery has also received work from collectible favourites including Daniel Van der Putten, Sean Durkin, Raymond Campbell, Amanda Jackson, Alan Smith, Louise Hepworth-Wood and Terence Clarke. With a wide range of styles, subjects and price points, there is a masterpiece to be found for every collector. Visit our Recently Acquired page to discover the depths and delights of our most recent additions.

We hope you will enjoy our August newsletter. As ever, we thank you for your patronage and look forward to welcoming you to the gallery soon.