IN 2012, St Mary’s Church in Sampford Spiney started to raise money to repair its leaky tower and early on it was pretty clear that the 100 souls living in the community would be unlikely to be able to raise the sums involved, however supportive and generous they were.

The only solution seemed to be to run a series of events that would attract the wider community to have some fun and raise money at the same time.   One idea was to run an art exhibition each year and, with no public space or parking available in Sampford Spiney, it was decided to use Gallery 26 at the Bedford Hotel

 

Now in its 4th year, An Exhibition of West Country Artists was inspired, at least in part, by Ken Howard, a former resident of Sampford Spiney and world renowned artist.

Ken exhibited at and opened the first exhibition in 2013 and from the outset the organisers wanted it to be an event which offered selected artists the opportunity to show their work at a high quality venue. 

As in previous years the exhibition this year on April 24 and 25 in the same venue will involve around 25 artists who will be offering four to five works each in a very wide variety of styles and mediums. 

 This year they have work on show from the former David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year, Karen Laurence Rowe; miniatures by Roz Pierson, president of the Royal Society of Miniature Artists and co-founder of the Hilliard Society; as well as work by Mary Gillett, Ley Roberts, Ian Pethers, John Dodson, Janet Brady and many others.