The centre of the art world is in London. Those in the art world who operate in London often forget that there is an awful lot of high quality art also being produced here in the north.
So it is with the Royal Watercolour Society.
The Society normally exhibits at the Bankside Gallery in London, but it has on occasion ventured outside the M25. Only, however, as far as the Home Counties. Until now.
"It's the first time the socie
ty has ever exhibited north of Watford Gap," says Debbie Loane, owner of The Lund Gallery, near Easingwold in North Yorkshire. "So we are very proud to be hosting this annual exhibition."
That the society has ventured north is impressive. That it has gone so far north, to a gallery only three years old, built in an old dairy building, is extraordinary.
"It is a real feather in our cap," says Loane.
The gallery was opened in September 2005 by landscape artist Loane.
It quickly built a reputation among local artists for showing high quality art by painters, ceramicists and some craft artists who work with glass and photography.
"We don't get the same kind of numbers that you might see going into a
gallery on the high street of a main town or city," says Loane.
"But we have found that the people who come here have made an effort to see the work and are genuinely interested in seeing what
we have."
Finishing the hanging of the 100 plus paintings that make up the RWS exhibition, Loane expects the kudos of having the exhibition will further enhance the gallery's reputation and see the visitor numbers increase.
The RWS coup began with a chance conversation two years ago. Loane was at an opening and started talking to a Wakefield-based artist,
who it turned out was Neil Pittaway, an artist who trained at the Royal Academy and is a trustee of the RWS.
"He said the society was trying to extend its reach, and that I should make an approach to see if there was a possibility of having an exhibition here in Yorkshire," says Loane.
Fortunately the society's vice president is David Firmstone, a Middlesborough raised painter.
"He came to visit, loved the gallery and the space and said that he would love for us to host an exhibition," says Loane.
"I know the society was considering a couple of other galleries, but they told us they loved the space here which is why they decided to let us host the exhibition."
David Paskett, the current Vice President of the RWS said: "It is part of The Royal Watercolour Society mission at present to reach areas outside London. Last year we organized an exciting exchange visit and exhibition with India involving British and Indian painters.
"The RWS wants to show that watercolour painting, as represented by our members, is rich and varied in subject matter, style and approach and as relevant to today as it was in the days of Cotman and Turner."
Hanging the exhibition, Loane says the eclectic nature of the paintings explodes the myth that watercolour paintings have picked up for being
a traditional and quite staid medium in which to work.
She says that alongside architectural representations, some of the work is reminiscent of Jackson Pollock. "Hopefully this will be a big boost for both the society and for the gallery."
n The Royal Watercolour Society Show previews tomorrow and runs from Sunday Nov 16 to Dec 21.
For more information call 01347 824400 or visit www.lundgallery.co.uk http://www.lundgallery.co.uk. The Lund Gallery is at Alne Road, near Easingwold, North Yorkshire.
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