New Ashgate Gallery champions the best of contemporary art and craft providing an unparalleled resource in Farnham, Surrey and beyond
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New season of exhibitions and events
Known for selecting art and craft of the highest quality, the gallery team has handpicked artists from across the UK. Our exhibitions present glass, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, print and painting.
We curate a programme of 25 annual exhibitions and events, working in partnership with local and national organisations. Visit us to view free exhibitions in the Pavilion, Balcony and Maker in Focus Galleries & enjoy the affordable Craft Collection, perfect for unique gifts.
Explore our curated online shop.
David Mayne, The Farnham Sculpture, detail
16 December 2020 to 16 December 2021
Craft Town Public Art Commission: David Mayne: The Farnham Sculpture
Visit us to see the Farnham Sculpture, the new public art commission in Waggon Yard, celebrating the World Craft Town Farnham.
Proposals were invited in 2019 for a public sculpture that is inspired by the heritage and tradition of crafts in Farnham practised in the area during the Roman period: the district was known as a pottery centre due to its supply of gault clay, oak woodland for fuel and good communication links. Kilns dating as far as AD 100 have been found in the area. Today, Farnham hosts a remarkable number of craft institutions and makers. The sculpture aims to enhance the public knowledge and understanding of the heritage while bringing pleasure to the community and visitors alike.
In early 2020, the local community voted to choose from three shortlisted proposals. David Mayne was awarded the Craft Town Public Art Commission. David's Farnham Sculpture received 58% of the public vote.
The Farnham Sculpture celebrates the oak tree - something which was abundant in the area while also links to the history and heritage of Farnham. It is fabricated from steel, bronze and oak and the bronze acorn was first modelled in clay. Imagery refers to the oak forests that surrounded Farnham.
The project involved working with local schools and the community in the design for a sense of shared ownership with the local community in the final artwork. There are 19 designs and messages in the Farnham Sculpture that were provided by local children and the schools in either the Zoom sessions with David Mayne or the Draw a Sculpture competition. This includes two prize winners which are carved into the surface of the oak.
David Mayne is a sculptor of national repute who produces work for galleries, public spaces and the domestic environment. His artwork has been commissioned throughout the country and can be found in town centres, rural locations, public buildings and private homes and gardens. Over the past 30 years, David has developed his work from raw assemblage with found objects to the much more refined pieces he now creates.
Community events and meet David Mayne:
Our related, free to attend community events are an informal opportunity to learn more about the Farnham Sculpture and the inspiration behind it.
Family Crafts: Create a Pinecone Bird Sculpture
Collect a Take-Away Pack from the Gallery and learn how to create your own mini bird sculpture! Local artist, Vikki Leedham, will show you how to create a wise Owl or Robin using foraged materials including acorns, pinecones and oak leaves.
Take home an activity pack is available from the gallery to try more birds with help from our step-by-step video and instructions.
Meet the Artist Talk, 30 January, 2-3pm, via Zoom - open to all. David Mayne will discuss his artwork and practice, including Q & A.
Meet the Artist Talk for Schools and Families, via Zoom: 9 February, 11am-12noon. There are 19 designs and messages in the Farnham Sculpture by local children and schools who worked with David Mayne during the project. This includes two prize winners which are carved into the surface of the oak.
The Farnham Sculpture is supported by Arts Council England and the related events are supported by the Farnham Town Council and South Street Trust.
We would like to thank Arts Council England, Farnham Town Council, our steering group, consisting of Charlotte Hall (Waverley Borough Council), Vikki Leedham (Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden), Sue Farrow (Farnham Public Art Trust), Sarah Carrington Hubbard (public art consultant) and Dr Outi Remes (New Ashgate Gallery). Also, many thanks to our craft town partners and the local community and schools for their interest and taking actively part in the project.
Click for further information and how to book for the community events
Anna Lambert, Grass Woods hazels, orange wide jug, 15 x 24 x 11cm
16 January to 6 March 2021
Maker in Focus: Anna Lambert: 40 Year of Ceramics
Anna Lambert makes slip-painted slab-built earthenware exploring narratives relating to land use, and the regeneration of woodland and orchards.
Anna's ideas reflect an interest in her locality exploring narratives relating to, amongst other things, climate change in her local landscape and the regeneration of orchards. Inspired by new nature writing, she engages with a common language beyond pastoral sentimentality, combining drawing with the abstract qualities of pots, their spaces, edges and surfaces.
Each piece is unique. The work uses drawing in the landscape as a starting point. Most pieces are assembled from fine pliable sheets (slabs) of clay - white earthenware mixed with a rougher clay, Earthstone ES40 - which are then altered, cut and fettled. Some may have added sections of texture from carved or lino cut designs. When the form is finished, pieces are painted with multiple layers of coloured slips, often with darker underpainting, which may then be cut back to reveal the embossed pattern or drawn on with sgraffitto. Further layers may be added with the use of hand cut tissue paper stencils and masks. The pieces are bisque fired to 1100before being inlaid with contrasting slips in the sgraffitto areas and dipped or sprayed with a lead bisilicate glaze. The final firing is to 1105
Anna is a nationally recognised full time maker, a fellow and council member of the Craft Potters Association, exhibiting throughout the UK and Europe.
Pete Jackman, Vestjardavegur, pastel on paper
Peter Hayes, Disc with blue wave
16 January to 6 March 2021
Pete Jackman: Icelandic Horizons with Sculpture by Peter Hayes
Pete Jackman explores landscapes and objects within the landscape in a semi abstract form.
The Icelandic landscape has a pristine, raw and dynamic quality, looking brand new and ancient at the same time. It is physically and visually challenging and this informs Pete's mark making and colour palette.
Pete's recent work is concerned with the horizon. This is the dominant feature of the Icelandic landscape where the views to the horizon are not interrupted by small scale features such as trees and buildings; creating an impression that the landscape is unapproachable.
Pete reacts to particular places and forms within the landscape. It is developed from sketches, photographs and memories, which through stages of drawings and over drawing using layers or various media tend to become more abstract as the work evolves. Each work becomes its own reference, where the original source image may just be represented in the form of a particular shape, texture or colour.
The drawings are created with layers of graphite, soft pastels, and chalks, these layers may then be cut through to expose earlier marks, with further overdrawing and colouring to create a more complex surface, a similar process of layering is also involved in the paintings, but due to the medium the emphasis is on overpainting and glazes.
Pete's paintings are presented with master ceramist Peter Hayes, known for his timeless, distinctive style that stems from Raku firing and the way which he submerges his sculptures in the flowing river beside his studio, or sends them to Cornwall to be washed in the sea for months at a time. The water washes minerals such as copper and metal oxides into the basic white clay with which Hayes works, creating a characteristic green-blue "blush" in his sculptures along with random elements that make every piece unique. Hayes' work is finished by waxing and polishing.
Emma Leonard, Festival Hoops
16 January to 24 April 2021
Spring Craft Collection 2021: Craft with Local Heart
The Spring Craft Collection presents a range of unique, local craft that you won't find anywhere else. Treat yourself to something new for your home or buy gifts for your loved ones. Pop in, browse and shop away from the crowds. You'll be supporting a local gallery and small creative artist businesses if you do, as well as finding something special.
We are delighted present a new collection of ceramics by Rowena Gilbert, Ashley Howard, Alison Proctor and Bryony Rich and new jewellery by Christina Hirst, Emma Leonard and Rachael Plassard and many more.
Virginia Ray, Rough Moorland, 55x55cm
16 January to 6 March 2021
Virginia Ray: Moors and Reservoirs of Nidderdale, North Yorkshire
At the heart of Virginia Ray's artistic practice is a belief in the importance of landscape in reflecting the evolution of nature and an expression of cultural identity and self. Virginia's work ranges from vast landscapes to intimate studies using an extensive range of materials on canvas including mixed media, natural materials from the land, photographs and the written word.
Born and raised in Nidderdale, Yorkshire, where her family have lived and worked for generations, Virginia has developed a strong understanding of the history of landscape and its' particular rural and industrial stories.
During and since lockdown, Virginia has found re-assurance and emotional support revisiting the colours and moods of the Yorkshire landscape that she has always had a connection to.
Niamh Duddy, Winner of Rising Stars 2020 Award
13 March to 17 April 2021
Niamh Duddy: The Winner of the Rising Stars 2020 Award: One Year On
Niamh Duddy is a contempory jeweller from Derry, Northern Ireland. Niamh is intrigued by the relationship that jewellery shares with the body, unlike any other art form jewellery is worn and occupies an intimate space.
Niamhs collection 'Keeping The Piece' is inspired by her upbringing in Derry and her awareness of the divisions within surround communities. Working primarily in jesmonite, if the pieces were all forced into the frames in different directions, they would not stay in place and the piece would all fall apart. However, Niamh has created shapes that, when working together, find an equilibrium and work in unison to keep the 'peace' together.
For Niamh, making was a way of exploring her world, by developing an understanding, a meaning and a creative voice. This collection stemmed from questioning the relationship that jewellery shares with the body and how wearing the jewellery becomes almost a subconscious act.
Vicki Nigoumi, A Slice of Melon, gouache
13 March to 17 April 2021
Vicki Nigoumi: Conversations in Colour
Still life painting has enabled Vicki Nigoumi to pursue her interest in colour and drawing and to explore the relationship between objects. Vicki's still life work is celebrated for her skill and recognisable style.
Vicki studied printed textiles at Willesden School of Art and Central School of Art and Design (now Central St. Martins) in the early 60s. After this, she worked as a tutor in drawing at Khartoum School of Art, Sudan, and whilst in Khartoum, Vicki established a studio for screen printed textiles. Returning to England in 1967, Vicki worked as a printed textile designer and her clients have included fashion designers Gina Fratini, Roland Kline, Jean Muir and Jeff Banks. She also furnishing designs for Artizan, Warner & Sons and Lewis & Wood.
Since her first exhibition at the British Council in Khartoum in 1967 she has exhibited in a number of widely across the UK and is an active member of the Farnham Art Society and Guildford Art Society. Vicky also volunteers at an art group at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. In recent years Vicki has also been exhibiting her figurative ceramic pieces.
Niamh Duddy, Neckpiece Apart
13 March to 17 April 2021
Rising Stars 2021
Rising Stars is a curated, national platform to foster and champion new talent, early career makers, students and graduates from BA and MA crafts, design and applied arts programmes across the UK. Rising Stars offers new makers a first step into the market place, through a curated, selling exhibition. It is also an exciting collector opportunity for those wishing to support and collect work by future stars.
The programme will consist of the Rising Stars exhibition that enables new makers to access the market place and collectors; professional development including knowledge transfer on topics such as pricing guidance, advice on marketing your work and how to gain and manage new connections, and a catalogue to act as a promotional tool for the selected makers. The 2021 focus will be on supporting new makers in the post COVID-19 market place.
We are delighted to present a professional development award of £500 and a solo exhibition at New Ashgate in 2022 for one of the makers in the exhibition. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges that consists of the project partners, the New Ashgate Gallery, University for the Creative Arts and Dan Goode of Making Goode.
Rising Stars 2021 is organised by the New Ashgate Gallery in partnership with the University for the Creative Arts and Dan Goode of Making Goode. It is supported by Billmeir Charitable Trust.
#RisingStars2021
Laura McKinley, Imagine V, photo A. Cotterill
Bruce Marks, Yellow Grey Birds, photo: A. Cotterill
24 April to 5 June 2021
Glass Stars: Exceptional talent from the London Glassblowing Studios
The London Glassblowing studio has nurtured and produced some of the world's leading glass artists and continues to do so to this day. The exhibition presents sculpture by four of its star glass artists:
Bruce Marks' Birds have attracted an avid and enthusiastic public following. Bruce has achieved deceptively simple abstract forms, which allude to bird shapes. He says: I am a long-time admirer of the sculptor Brancusi. I envy his ability to capture the essence of his subject, creating a purity of form with minimal detail, whilst projecting profound presence. Bruce's response has been to strip back his forms to achieve an exquisite simplicity retaining a definite bird-like quality.
Laura McKinley's fascination for glass as a creative medium stems from its capacity to constantly alter her initial thoughts and expectations. The spontaneity of the hot material demands instant visual judgments that give rise to shifts in her ideas. These allow her to make tangible her explorations of volume, scale and the random interplay of forms. Serendipity and the unexpected often point the way to the next starting point for making. An element of her inspiration is the Italian technique Incalmo. This involves the hot joining of two separately blown glass bubbles of different colour to form one piece, the join then becoming invisible. Once cold, the fluidity of these objects is interrupted by cutting to expose voids which enable the viewer to see both the internal and exterior spaces. The varying thickness of glass and polished angled surfaces create ever-changing effects of light and shadow, a characteristic that is exploited to create an environment of illusion. Laura's work is an invitation to engage with the tranquil beauty of the incidental.
Vezzini & Chen's work is defined by the artful marriage of hand carved ceramics and blown glass. The collections tread a fine line between functional and conceptual, with the design duo creating sculptural hand crafted lighting, glassware, interior accessories and installation pieces.
24 April to 5 June 2021
Peter Layton: Maker in Focus
Artist, pioneer, mentor, Peter Layton is one of the founding fathers of British studio glass. He discovered the art while teaching ceramics in the US in the 1960s, and has played a major part in elevating glass from an industrial medium to a highly collectable art form. Most importantly, he gave it a home in the UK.
The London Glassblowing studio has nurtured and produced some of the world's leading glass artists and continues to do so to this day. This is thanks to an open door policy extending to artists, collectors and the curious public who wander into the Bermondsey Street gallery and studio. Here they will find the energetic octogenarian in jeans and trainers bouncing between his family of resident artists, advising, collaborating and teaching, while producing his own unmistakable work.
Peter started with a small glass studio in the Highlands of Scotland while relying on pottery to ensure a living. However, the big city called, as did glass - it needed more dedicated champions. In 1976 he opened the London Glassblowing Workshop in an old towage works on the Thames at Rotherhithe. Here he used to dangle his feet over the flood wall and take inspiration from the flowing river.
Glassblowing is an expensive business, new equipment, materials and energy bills required working with other artists. He was joined by Charles Ramsay, drawing in names such as Norman Stuart Clarke and Siddy Langley. This created not just financial returns but a collaborative space for the exchange of ideas, the incubation of artists, and the development of new techniques. This ethos has endured through two relocations along London's Southbank to the workshop's current premises on Bermondsey Street.
Peter takes inspiration from his environment, natural or manmade: a stone wall on a snowy day, the London skyline, or works by great painters. From a mere detail, a flash of a Klimt orange or a slick of oil on the Thames, he creates painterly works with a masterly use of colour. Throughout his career, he has been courted by major art institutions, commercial buyers and private collectors. His work is held in various museums in the UK, Europe and America, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London and the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK.
Elizabeth Campbell
12 to 26 June 2021
Elements Redefined 2020: A curated exhibition showcasing the work of members of The Surrey Guild of Craftsmen
The exhibition is rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note the new dates.
This exhibition will showcase the excellent design and craftsmanship that is the trademark of the work of members of The Surrey Guild of Craftsmen. Guild members are selected professional designer makers of contemporary and traditional applied arts. Their work is distinguished by fine craftsmanship and innovative design.
The Guild aims to raise public awareness of the quality and diversity of the work created by local designer makers through a programme of exhibitions and craft events at venues around the county and beyond. The members also run the Surrey Guild Craft Gallery in Milford, Surrey, where a wide variety of individual members' work can be seen and purchased.
Work will encompass many of the media employed by members including glass, ceramics, textiles, mixed media, leather, jewellery and enamelling
Further information and images:
Mavis Walker, Guild Treasurer & Exhibition Organiser for Elements, 01276 471124 | Nancy Shafee, Chairman, 01483 282471.
The Surrey Guild of Craftsmen
Paula Reason, machine embroidery on quilted silk background
7 August to 18 September 2021
Paula Reason: A Love Letter to My Father
Paula Reason's quilted sculptural installation is a portrait of her father's room at a scale of 1:5. It is an investigation into how the personalities become embedded into our surrounding in the selection of artefacts that the artist and her father use and how they take comfort from this. Paula's quilting technique figuratively wraps her father in his familiar surroundings when he was in hospital.
Paula's experience as an architect forms the foundations for her artistic practice. She works with textiles and paint. The specific qualities of this medium provides an almost unlimited way to explore and express the relationships that we have with the built environment.
Paula's bespoke work was featured in Collect 2020 with a large sculptural silk panels provided an insight into the relationship that three established craftspeople have with their studio spaces.
Paula is also accepting commissions for small to large-scale site-specific artwork for the home, commercial spaces and museum and gallery exhibits. She also offers architectural and interior design services. Contact the gallery for further information.
