Artist Profiles
King Street Arts
Below are short statements and a few examples of each artists work:
Founders of King Street Arts:
Studio Holders:
Tabitha Simms
Lee Gascoyne
King Street Associate Artists:
Alice Evans - Alison Leith - Andreya Platia - Andrew Holland - Ann Kretzschmar - Anthony Heward - Barbara Holt
Bob Armitage - Ceris Jones - Catriona Stamp - Denise Keen-Junk - Diane Armstrong - Ehud Nir
Fritha Mount - Gill Aitken - Grace Owen - Helen McGinn - Helen Thompson - Hester Gilkes - Jane Shimmin - Janet Graves
Jean Harrison - Jennifer Ragnerson - Michael Hipkins - Milan Ivanic - Neil Jackson - Nicky Snell - Paul Gedge - Robert Lever - Rosa Mackinder - Rozz Cutler - Sarah Strachan - Sharon Grimes
Sue Marsden - Suzanne Claire - Teresa Toms - Trisha Spence - Val Gedge - Yuncia Wu
Kath McDonald:
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King Street Studios
I co-curate and co-ordinate King Street Arts.
My creative practice combines an interest in early history and the medium of ceramics using ancient hand-building techniques to connect with the past and bring it into the present. Through the creation of objects which are re-imagined memories of the past, I seek to engage the viewer in a dialogue of the past with the present.
As a workshop facilitator I seek to engage participants through the process of making in exploring their own creative potential and aspects of identity.
Roy Smith:
King Street Studios
As co-curator and coordinator at King Street Arts my role is split between planning and administration for our mix of exhibitions workshops and events. All though this is virtually a full time job I occasionally find time for my own art practice of
painting and drawing which for me provide a form, beyond words, for expressing my thoughts, feelings and observations of our world.
I also run workshops in drawing and painting, with a focus on skill development aimed at art as a self determining practice.
Helen Bretherick-Stewart:
Studio Artist
I like to paint, make prints and 3D assembled pieces. Inspiration can come from anywhere; e.g. nature, a discarded or found object, photo, experience or feeling. I may try to record and represent something, or a more abstract image can emerge. The surface I decide to paint, or the materials I play with, can sometimes spark an idea.
Sian Peters:
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Etsy
Instagram
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Studio Artist
I have drawn, designed and made things since I was a child. I studied painting and printmaking before training and working as a silversmith and jeweller for 15 years. I currently make work with vintage tins and other recycled materials
Hannah Robinson:
Studio Artist
I'm an artist and illustrator at the very start of my professional career, but really I've always been an artist. There's no better feeling than creating something new with a set of paints and pencils. Whether that's a new character for a children's picture book or a landscape inspired by the Lake District and surrounding area.
The thing that most inspired me to follow my art ambitions was winning CITV's Share a Story competition in 2015. aged 12, where they took my story (complete with a lovely illustrated storyboard) and transformed it into an animation. This was then shown across TV in front of my very own eyes! It really did motivate me to fully commit to pursuing art.
Now I do in fact work as an artist, selling a whole range of greeting cards, designing illustrated products, running workshops for children and adults, illustrating picture books and taking on new and exciting commissions.
Lee Gascoyne:
Studio Artist
My current studio practice is evident in the latest series of paintings I'm working on, titled 'Paint Is Not Light'.
Within this series I'm experimenting in combining very loose, abstracted elements, with more controlled figurative ones. These figurative objects are confined to a small alcove, which could appear anywhere in the painting and may, or may not relate to the main image. These two elements are then contained within a painted frame that serves both as mark of this series, but also as a device to suggest greater flatness of the abstracted painted area.
I would say that in the main, I tend to make paintings that reference the act of painting, of being in the studio and the decisions that arise as a result of engaging with this type of practice.
Alice Evans:
Associate Member
Alice Evans is a versatile artist who works across a range of media, driven by an unwavering fascination with the captivating interplay between different aspects of the environment. Her artistic practice revolves around unveiling the hidden connections, rhythms, and narratives that exist within these realms. It moves from politics, portraiture to mythology and the human form.
By embracing various media, Alice explores the possibilities they offer. Each medium becomes a unique portal through which she channels her distinctive perspectives and sensory experiences, whether it be the vibrant strokes of a paintbrush on canvas, the delicate lines and textures of a drawing, or the captivating movement captured in music or in a film. Through these varied artistic forms, Alice transcends traditional representations and communicates in a manner that reflects her unconventional ways of perceiving the world.
Alice's mind thrives on different patterns of thought, which contribute to her keen ability to perceive and appreciate the subtleties of her surroundings. Her heightened sensitivity adds a distinct energy to her work, enabling her to communicate in ways that go beyond the expected and offer a fresh perspective on landscapes and their inhabitants. She enjoys distilling complex subjects into their essential forms, while maintaining a sense of energy and emotion.
Through her multidimensional artistic practice, Alice seeks to foster dialogue, inspire action, and contribute to the urgent and necessary reimagining of our relationship with landscapes, flora, fauna, and the interconnected ecosystems that sustain us all.
Alison Leith:
Associate Member
My work is very much influenced by where I live. I paint contemporary, semi-abstract, rural landscapes in acrylic and mixed media or oils, inspired by the view from my studio which looks out over Beacon Fell, Parlick and the Ribble Valley. In many ways the valley is like an old friend. I feel that, after twenty years, I know her like the back of my hand but she retains the capacity to surprise or to show me a new side of her.
I love the ever changing nature of the view, the light and shadows on the hillside as the clouds pass over or just the colour of the landscape as it alters with the different seasons. No matter the time of year, the weather or my mood, it never fails to raise my spirits and it delights me when that connection is made by others and that joy is translated to the viewer.
Andrew Holland:
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Associate Member
BA (Hons) fine art
I have recently moved to Heysham from the Rossendale Valley.
I am looking forward to drawing and painting everything around me, especially the spectacular views of Morecambe Bay.
I have had a varied and rewarding artistic career: pub sign painter, art teacher, workshop leader and self employed artist.
Andreya Platia:
Associate Member
A graduate in Fine Art and holding a Masters’ degree in Art Psychotherapy Practice, I am a mixed media artist based in the Forest of Bowland and a Lancashire-wide community Health and Wellbeing educator and Art tutor.
I inherited a love of pattern and colour from my grandmother’s sewing box; a treasure trove of fabric scraps, buttons, scraps of notes, photographs and old jewellery. Weaving the memories of this ephemera into my visual practice during my travels abroad throughout my degree, for me, rich pattern and architectural details blend with layers of memory and subjective experience. Place becomes a meeting point of our inner and outer spaces.
I specialised in contemporary drawing during my undergraduate studies, and love to explore layering marks and lines within this broad theme of subjectivity and place. However, I am also a traditional watercolour portrait-orientated practitioner and have undertaken a number of commissions. And as I also teach Mindfulness, I thoroughly enjoy finding ways of incorporating this into my practice: I utilise photography to capture everyday “mindful moments” and still life painting as a discipline of coming home to the present.
Ann Kretzschmar:
Associate Member
After 60 years of believing I could not draw or paint, I was inspired by artist Emma Hunt from Egremont during lockdown who was offering free online classes in soft pastel. I started with my grandfather’s pastels which had been sitting unused in my loft for almost 50 years then discovered the wonderful Unison Pastels that are handmade in Northumberland and use almost pure pigment. My work is mainly landscapes often inspired by photographs of places that mean a lot to me and I take commissions for animal portraits. Last year I stepped outside my comfort zone and took part in the ‘Paint Garstang’ plein-air competition.
Most of my work to date has been in soft pastel but I have recently started experimenting with acrylic, ink and water colour and am working on developing a looser style. I admire the work of John Constable, JMW Turner and Wolf Khan as well as impressionists such as Monet and Degas, who were users of soft pastel.
Ann Kretzschmar
'Odin'
55 x 70cm
Barbara Holt:
Associate Member
I grew up in Manchester and have lived in Skerton for 25 years. As a city dweller I’m interested in a world that’s been shaped by ordinary human lives. I like informal footpaths, parks and green spaces, the transitional nature of building sites; much of my current work is based on things I walk past every day en route to my studio. I also spend time on the traditional discipline of life drawing. The human body will always be relevant to the making of art.
I currently work in paint, charcoal and pastel. I am primarily a colourist and move between ‘abstract’ and ‘figurative’ interpretations of my subject matter according to what best captures the sensations I am looking for.
Someone once described my work as ‘a cross between Bonnard and Auerbach,’ and that remains the highest compliment I’ve ever had about my art. I’m still trying to live up to it.
Barbara Holt
'Life Drawing'
Charcoal on paper
80cm x 60cm
Bob Armitage:
Associate Member
I have been Working in the arts since going to Art School in the 60's
I usually have several projects current which I come back to.
The Lune Valley From Kirkby Lonsdale to the Estuary. Musicians, Dancers, Flowers, Faces or whatever is on the kitchen table.
About 5 years ago I started working on a tablet (Samsung Galaxy S) and accumulated
hundreds of drawings.
I have recently gone back to proper drawing and painting but find that digitizing what starts on paper is fascinating.
Catriona Stamp:
Associate Member
I spent many years making art and exploring different techniques and
materials; pastel, print, artistsbooks, coffin painting, lunar calendar
illustration, botanical illustration, pottery, paper sculpture. I
finally took an MA in Fine Art (Site and Archive) at UCLan in 2010.
I am currently working on semi-abstract landscapes, 3D nature-based art
in boxes, and sculptures using foraged materials. I hope to convey my
love of nature to others.
Ceris Jones:
Associate Member
I make drawings and paintings which explore the figure preparing for, and being actively involved, in human adventure and activity.
In my work, I aim to represent the psychological preparation involved, as well as the highly visual physical transformation that takes place when, for example, a caver is moving underground: a climber, cat-like, scales the rock; a diver takes on an almost animal-like appearance when breathing apparatus is added...
I work from observation, in sketchbooks, using pencil and charcoal, to quickly portray the “moments” I have seen. Sometimes, drawings are developed into monotypes, collages, and occasionally into 3D.
As a figurative artist, I constantly work with the life model, a practice which I have learned to be vital to the understanding of the human figure.
Diane Armstrong:
Associate Member
Lancaster based I enjoy encouraging others in their creativity as much as making my own art.
Usually working three dimensionally, I make books and small sculptures.
In 2012 I began The Making Place which is a thriving community of makers who meet weekly. Primarily working on individual projects as well as regularly exhibiting our work publicly. I co facilitate a weekly reflective art group at The Cornerstone. Most recently Barton Road commissioned me to found Memory Makers, a creative space for those living with dementia.
Denise Keen-Junk:
Associate Member
My training started at a young age as an artist via colouring books and a box of crayons, must admit I still use crayons. At this young age we try to keep within the lines when we get older and experiment the lines disappear and the world is literature an open book. It is up to us where we go and what direction we take. My direction took me on a road of discovering printmaking especially etchings I love the idea of drawing onto a metal plate, acid baths and inking up wiping off pressing and the anticipation of peeling back the paper which was lovingly watered, placed over the plate, pressed and hoping it does not stick creating a finished image. I also create drypoint, collagraphs plates as well As I can’t semi control the outcome of my prints I can control my paintings. I like to work with acrylics, oils, inks, wax, and other mixed mediums on paper and canvas. Sometimes using wooden indian blocks to create abstract or semi realist images. My inspirations come from patterns, colour and nature. As you can see from my profile I am a beekeeper and like a busy bee I am always foraging under the undergrowth for inspiration.
Ehud Nir:
Associate Member
My name is Ehud Nir and I’m from Israel. I moved to England in 1992. I have a BA in Graphic Design from Camberwell College of Art and an MA in Fine Art from the University of Central Lancashire.
Day to day, I work for the NHS in community therapy rehab services.
In the past, I have worked with different forms of art, such as, printmaking, pottery and painting. However, more recently I find my imagination is triggered by collecting manmade or natural objects, such as broken lightbulbs, pieces of metal and driftwood, and making sculptures out of them. This started during the Covid-19 lockdown when I was looking for materials which I could use to create imaginary landscapes. Some of these represent the passage of time and others just feel joyful to make
Fritha Mount:
Associate Member
I have always been interested in nature, especially insects and enjoy recreating these tiny creatures in different mediums. I like to try my hand at lots of different creative processes but have a real passion for needlework and textiles. I was born and bred in the lune valley which is always a constant source of inspiration for me.
Gill Aitken:
Associate Member
I divide my time between two art practices: painting and mosaics. I've been a professional mosaic artist for over 10 years, working to create fine art pieces as well as decorative mosaic art commissions for both indoors and outdoors. I recently created a Victorian style shop front step for Lancaster City Council with heritage funding. I'm attracted to the colour and vibrancy of mosaic tiles, and by the fact that mosaic-making is a labour intensive and enduring art-form with ancient roots. I enjoy the sheer physicality of the process, and the magic that happens every time the grout is removed, revealing the final work for the first time. Whenever the work calls for it, I love to make use of recycled materials. My painting style is constantly developing, but I'm drawn to a loose, layered approach with visible brush strokes. I move between figurative and semi-abstract, always motivated first and foremost by colour. I spend most of my time with acrylics but every now and then, I venture into other mediums.
Grace Owen:
Associate Member
Through creating mixed-media drawings I explore the subconscious, emotions, and fantasy. Never one to commit to a single medium; each artwork that I create involves a variety of techniques combining abstract mark-making and figurative, traditional drawing.
Within each drawing there is a narrative. By using an illustrative aesthetic, I encourage the viewer to read into the image and continue the story - it's interesting how another perspective can change the narrative entirely.
From drawing on conventional paper, to rolls of wallpaper, wood, and even musical instruments, I never want to feel constrained in my practice. The act of drawing to me is explorative, personal and an incredible form of communication.
Helen McGinn:
Associate Member
An oil painting artist working from historical Lancaster, using old-master atelier techniques as a foundation to create dark and dramatic, alternative realistic oil paintings, ranging from landscapes, portraits, architectural subjects and still life, with a unique sublime feel. Love of Punk and alternative music/culture also inspires sumptuous high definition graphite pencil drawings, portraits and graphics. From a rich history of family craftsmen and artist makers. Elaborate details in these high contrast oil paintings evoke an emotional response and encapsulate the essence of a memory or an experience. Not one to take the conventional route, working small or large, exhibiting in roving galleries in The Lake district and art exhibitions around the north.
Helen Thompson:
Associate Member
I have always loved to paint and draw, and went on to study for BA(Hons) in Art at Lancaster university.
I enjoy celebrating nature through my art. I’m particularly inspired by the organic forms and colours of flowers. I like to create work in various media include pastel, watercolour, and oil.
I also have a strong interest in figure art and life drawing.
Hester Gilkes:
Associate Member
My paintings begin life as images in the mind’s eye - ideas that emerge from something seen; a memory, a dream, a place, that then work their way from thought onto canvas or paper via a process of multiple drawn sketches.
I trained as a theatre designer, which gave me the opportunity to experience myriad art materials and ways of working. That background has influenced my own art practice and practical approach to it.
Jane Shimmin:
Associate Member
I live in the village of Wray in the Lune Valley with my husband and two dogs. We have three grown up children.
I retired from district nursing several years ago which has given me more time to focus on my painting which I have always pursued in my spare time.
I love to walk. I spend hours and cover many miles in the local landscape, especially the Yorkshire Dales nearby.
I take my sketchbook along but my work outside is becoming increasingly quick, only taking down some rough shapes and colours for information. . I prefer to spend time looking and absorbing as much as possible what I see. The paintings I then work on at home may contain elements from many different places. They are about my experience and feelings about being outside and the beauty of the colours and shapes both close by and in the distance.
I normally work on paper but am recently enjoying painting on wood in a more abstract way which allows me to create more textures and layers. Even then I find that the landscape elements manage to creep in amongst the shapes.
Janet Graves:
Associate Member
Emotional responses combined with references to the environment are the mainstay of my mixed media paintings. I use studio based media but it is also essential for me to gather objects on site to use for mark making and also making charcoal to use in my work. These become a fixed part of the finished work and give it a sense of place.
My inspiration comes from being in contact with the environment and memories of environments in the past which shaped me. My paintings represent my love of nature and all its diversity and dynamism. Nature will always ground me and give me hope.
Jean Harrison:
Associate Member
I’ve spent a lifetime in education, one facet of which was art education, and now I enjoy making art for myself.
I’ve been a sketcher and doodler for as long as I can remember. Pencil, charcoal, pen and ink were my materials and black and white were my colours. Since retiring I’ve forced myself to look at, and use, colour I started by applying colour to my pen and ink drawings uploaded to the computer. From there I went onto acrylics, until, finally, I’ve taken up watercolours. The interaction of layers of colour and the ways of applying colour hold an endless fascination for me.
I am also ‘a regular’ at Iron Press, the print workshop in the Storey Institute, Lancaster, where I attend courses and particularly enjoy lino printing.
Also at the Storey I attend the weekly life drawing classes.
Lidia Ranns
:
Associate Member
Lidia’s passion lies in creating art that reflects the vibrant spirit of her local area, working in a variety of different mediums which often dictates the style and mood of her work. Her interests in people, their stories, architecture and the local landscapes all reflect in her work. Sometimes its serene landscapes, sometimes its vibrant and graphic.
Her professional journey began at Blackburn College studying graphic design, where she specialised in illustration and brand identity. On graduating she earned the Agnes Eccles Art Charity Award for outstanding achievement.
Over the past 25 years, Lidia has honed her skills bridging the gap between design and art into a unique, narrative flat art style. Much of which is reminiscent of the illustrative posters of the early twentieth century. Balancing motherhood and her artistic aspirations, she’s established herself as a versatile artist, capturing the essence of the landscapes and imagination of Lancaster, Morecambe and further afield in Lancashire.
Milan Ivanič
:
Associate Member
I was born and brought up in Czechoslovakia. I studied at the Hollar School of Art and the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, where the emphasis was on drawing in the Central European tradition. I came to the UK to get married at the age of 22 in 1970. Here I worked in isolation for 30 years, bringing up our two children while my wife Roz went to work, drawing and painting when I could.
In 1986 we moved to Lancaster permanently, and since then I have immersed myself in the landscape of Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria. I’ve travelled a lot, but the places and people that I see again and again are my main subjects.
My aim is to make pictures rather than to paint views. While I am working I focus on tensions and harmonies: between wildness, cultivation and habitation; between perspective and flatness; between different kinds of marks; between representation and abstraction; between form and content.
I want to make pictures that people will look at again and again,
and see something different every time
Neil Jackson:
Associate Member
After completing his degree Neil pursued different career paths but art has always been his passion. He is now in the the enviable position of having a studio in his garden and as his children are growing up it has given him more time to be creative.
Neil as always been drawn to the American painters of the 1950's and 60's especially the abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock. Neil has no control over the way the thrown paint will land on the canvas, he may get a straight or a curved line or the paint may break up causing spotting. Neil then uses the way the paint has landed to guide the composition as much as possible.
Neil's other love, apart from his wonderful wife and knows the flowers he brings home a unlikely hers is gardening. Wherever possible Neil uses flowers from his garden or ones grown wild within his paintings.
Nicky Snell:
Associate Member
I did a foundation art course and and followed this with a combined art and music degree. I then trained as an art therapist. This was a long time ago. Working and bringing up children then left me little time or space to develop my own art work. I now have a studio and have time as I have retired and my children have grown up. So, as far as art is concerned, I feel that I am at the beginning rather than the end of my career, despite my age.
I have been trying a few different things in the last couple of years. The main thing that is consistent in my work is the use of colour. Otherwise it is fairly representational. "
I have attached examples. They are i) The Travellers ii) The Cellist iii) Jug and Teapot on a Table and iv) Protesters
Paul Gedge:
Associate Member
Multi-media artist. Dabbler in digital art and other media.
Robert Lever:
Associate Member
Based in Morecambe. I’m mainly self taught but, early on, supplemented this with occasional academic realism classes. Cubism is my single biggest inspiration but I prefer each piece of work to speak for itself!
Rosa Mackinder:
Associate Member
An idea, a place, a feeling, a word, an experience, an object or simply “stuff” can fire me up.
The only thing in common to every piece of work I embark on is that I look at it as a series of problems to solve, aesthetically and practically. This is my methodology.
I adopt whatever medium suits the job, often combining different materials and media.
It could be painting, a drawing, a textile, a three-dimensional object, an installation or a site-specific piece.
You could call me an” Eclectic Butterfly”!
Rozz Cutler:
Associate Member
I moved back to Lancaster 8 years ago and discovered the Iron Press where I became addicted to print making. I have been involved in some sort of art form most of my life and attended Colchester Art College back in the 1960’s.
I love yoga, anything to do with the arts, travel and the great outdoors.
Sarah Strachan:
Associate Member
I’m a self-taught abstract artist originally from Bradford now living in sunny Morecambe with my husband, toddler and fur babies. I mainly work with acrylics and mixed media on canvas.
My work is emotional, metaphorical, tactile and an extension of who I am as a human, a woman, a mum, a wife and an artist. Every piece produced is truly unique. From the mixture of emotions felt whilst creating the work to the combination of paints and textures used to express them.
Sharon Grimes:
Associate Member
I have recently taken early retirement to concentrate on my own art practise. Previously I was Head of Art at a local high school for over 20 years, gaining my students consistently outstanding results at GCSE and A Level. I also have an award for ‘Inspirational Teaching’ and have spent time advising other Art departments throughout Lancashire.
I now spend my time experimenting with texture, layering and tonal contrasts. I work in batik where my work is usually very painterly and textured. I also enjoy printing, using relief, intaglio and collagraph. Both these disciplines involve layering up of imagery and have a real element of surprise as you are never sure how each piece is going to turn out. I have found that I have also adopted the use of many layers when I paint.
Sue Marsden:
Associate Member
I regularly take my camera for a walk. We explore, discover, capture and record, then go home and create. Influenced by a fine art background (I studied Fine Art at UCLAN) I’m searching for colour, composition, texture or just simply subjects that make me smile. My hunting ground is mainly the North West between the Ribble Valley and the South Lakes
I feel like a treasure hunter and the rewards are often unexpected and surprising. Wildlife encounters , changing light or patterns in nature all bring me joy
Developing, drawing, painting, printing and sharing the story with others is all part of the process.
Suzanne Claire:
Associate Member
I have a compulsive need to paint, fuelled by my vivid imagination. I am fascinated by human behaviour. Inner turmoil, emotional entanglements, adversity and resilience… all become themes for my work. Each painting tells its own story.
I rarely plan my work, instead allowing my subconscious to lead me. I play with composition, over exaggerating in places to amplify importance. My work is heavy with symbolism, often using nature as a substitute for humanity.
I have a love of colour and enjoy creating bold and vibrant pieces that express my inner thoughts. I paint with acrylic as I like the versatility it offers and the ability to add texture to my paintings.
Teresa Toms:
Associate Member
My diverse and eclectic art practice covers a wide range of media, ideas and investigations.
The series shown below is about FLIGHT. I love birds and they continually appear in drawings. I would like to fly myself…...
Trish Spence:
Associate Member
I am an abstract artist using acrylic and mixed media. My art is a connected process that allows the art to lead the way as images form through the layers of paint and a variety of other media. It’s a process of creating using my intuition that is heart centred and not head based.
I love exploring new materials, tools and techniques. I love colour and texture and bringing bits of the hidden colour, texture and objects in the base beginning of the painting, to the fore. I paint what’s in my world, my interests, my feelings and spirituality. I began my painting journey at the age of 50 as I didn’t want one of my ‘rocking chair moments’ to be regret that I had allowed the limiting belief that I’m rubbish at art, to rule my life.
My art is about how it makes you feel? Does it stir a memory or your curiosity or something else?
Val Gedge:
Associate Member
I retired from District nursing 4 years ago and have started a BA in Fine Art I am in my second year and thoroughly enjoying it. My work seems to be split into two areas painting mainly animals and landscapes and installations which include print. My print and installations are about the Anthropocene era which is a suggested term for the era we are now in where man is the main cause of change in the world. I try to communicate this in my work with the notion of starting the conversation.
