Artists prepare for the greatest show in the region

It is one of the North’s great art shows, in a great venue and already artists are gearing up for next month’s biggest art show in the region.

The Great North Art Show, held annually in the grand surroundings of Ripon Cathedral, will be showing the work of artists from across the North during September.

Opening on the first of the month and running until September 23, the Great North Art Show features over 250 pieces of work in a wealth of different styles and media. Artists with varying experience are also invited to show at the exhibition.

Artists include Claire Milner, who creates glittering portraits from thousands of tiny Swarovski crystals. Her recent celebrity commissions include a portrait for David Beckham and a large portrait of Marilyn Monroe for R&B star Rihanna, created by using 65,000 Swarovski crystals.

Milner will be exhibiting a Swarovski crystal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, created in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee, as well as other pieces of work in the Cathedral.

Other artists range from Malcolm Scott, now in his seventies, who has been a painter all of his life and has paintings in the Saatchi collection, to Ed Kluz, printmaker, illustrator, painter and designer who was raised in the Yorkshire Dales and has recently completed commissions for the V&A, Faber and John Murray publishers to newer talents such as Nat Quinn, winner of the first ever New Lights Art Prize for Northern painters in 2011.

Wendy Orme is one of the three trustees of the Great North Art Show, which is a registered charity. Along with Patrick Henry, Juliet Jowitt, and a management team of volunteers, the show has long been a major success in the art world in and around Yorkshire.

Orme says the management is delighted at the quality of artists taking part in this year’s exhibition, which incorporates other events around the main exhibition in the cathedral.

She said: “The exhibition and art trail, with its photography, etchings and prints, aims to create an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate a superb selection of high quality art in a fantastic setting.

“We have a new management committee for this year’s show, with plenty of enthusiasm and new ideas, which we hope will be reflected in this year’s event.”

The range of artists taking part in this year’s event is reflected not just in the type of work they have produced, but the range of experience they will be bringing to the exhibition.

Yorkshire painter Emerson Mayes is beginning to see his reputation grow, with work that is firmly rooted in the tradition of British landscape artists.

His paintings have recently been bought by the House of Lords for its collection – the Great North Art Show gives local audiences the opportunity to see his work for themselves.

PHOTOGRAPHERS ALSO INCLUDED

The exhibition also includes work from an exciting trio of world class photographers.


Michael Dunne, former apprentice to Cecil Beaton. 


Paul Berriff, known for his iconic shots of the Beatles.


Documentary photographer Paul Harris.


Artists range from Malcolm Scott, to Ed Kluz, printmaker, illustrator, painter and designer and new talent Nat Quinn, winner of the first New Lights Art Prize.


Great North Art Show, Sept 1 to 23. www.greatnorthartshow.co.uk