Movable feast as art goes out to the people

Described as being "of no fixed abode", the gallery will be popping up at various unconventional venues.

"Ilkley is a tourist destination and we have a fantastic literature festival and summer arts festival every year, but I think it would be great if visual art in the town could be more widely represented."

Lorna, whose first degree was in Visual Arts and English, has had a varied and interesting career, including a spell as one half of a successful musical duo, but she says her first and enduring passion has always been for visual art.

While studying for a part-time MA in Creative Enterprise at Leeds Met University, Lorna came up with a novel way of exhibiting art pieces outside of traditional gallery space.

"There are lots of interesting 'outlets' for art in Ilkley, plenty of appealing bars and restaurants, what I call 'spaces of conviviality', where people like to go and have a good time," says Lorna.

"So I thought why not give them some exciting art to enjoy while they are there. My idea was to find the right space for the particular art or the right art for a particular space."

And so the pop-up Ilkley Gallery came in to being. Lorna worked closely with local artist Lucia Smith, who she says "has been very supportive and helped make the whole thing possible", and with non-gallery venues around the town who have embraced the concept enthusiastically.

The first exhibition was held at the recently refurbished Wheatley Arms hotel and restaurant, showing artworks by Ilkley-based artist Joy Godfrey, including watercolours, oils and silk-screen prints of local abstract landscapes. It ran through July and August.

Currently, the newly opened Martinez cellar wine bar is hosting a show of mixed-media work by Harrogate artist Sue Slocombe, who specialises in Moroccan and Tunisian scenes.

An exhibition of Lucia Smith's work will be opening on Monday at the Wheatley Hotel, in Ben Rhydding, and another unusual venue, the new branch of Ison Harrison Solicitors office, on The Grove in Ilkley, will also be showing some of Lucia's work.

Lorna is planning to hold future shows in the foyer and coffee bar area at Ilkley Playhouse, the delivery bay of Ilkley Brewery and up on the moor at White Wells – home of the famous spa water plunge pool.

"The feedback so far has been great," says Lorna. "People are really interested in the concept but also in the art. A lot of the comments in the 'visitors books' have been about a person's response to a particular artwork.

"The artists are happy because it means their work is being seen by people who might not otherwise have seen it – and they have sold some of their work."

Longer term, Lorna, who says she sees herself as an "arts facilitator", would like to create an art trail in Ilkley along the lines of the hugely successful North York Open Studios weekends or the annual Ripon art show.

"It could take place over the course of two weekends and involve artists from all over Yorkshire; it would be great to perhaps tie it in with the literature festival somehow."

Lorna believes that in the current economic climate, with the arts in a particularly vulnerable position, arts organisations need to

find new ways of reaching their audiences. "I really like the fact that the pop-up concept embraces the whole spirit of recycling – a kind of economy of use of space.

"I think that art shouldn't just be on white walls in a gallery – which some people find intimidating – it should also be in unusual buildings, industrial spaces and 'spaces of conviviality'. I hope that the Ilkley Gallery breaks down those barriers and brings art to the people."

n Sue Slocombe's art is at Martinez Wine Bar, Ilkley until October 20. Tel 01943 600000.

n From Monday, October 4 Lucia Smith's work is on display during office hours at the new branch of Ison Harrison Solicitors, 46 The Grove, Ilkley, and in the garden room of the

Wheatley Hotel, Wheatley Road, Ben Rhydding. Tel 01943 816496.

n For more information about the Ilkley Gallery, contact Lorna Bird on

07789 681862.