Town's new pop-up gallery in the frame

A collection of Edwardian drawings discovered in an attic, sea glass works and prints will be shown at a new pop-up art gallery opening in Tavistock.

The North Street Gallery will pop up regularly within the newly regenerated Printworks in the town centre. It will feature local artists, makers and printers, showcasing their work in a historic industrial setting.

The first exhibition (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 10-13) will feature two local artists who, in very different ways, use colour to dramatic effect.

Laure Bury, whose work can be found in public and private collections all over the world, creates vibrant landscapes, seascapes, and colour compositions with butterflies and birds. Laure, also a spiritual healer, said: “I channel healing energy into each painting which will then radiate Light, Joy and Love into your living space.”

John Dixon, who creates colourful patterns and abstract forms with plastic litter collected from South West beaches, has exhibited widely across the region in recent years. The waste includes packaging, abandoned fishing nets and lost toys.

John said: “Each piece is a by-product of our throwaway society. All collected, cleaned, sorted, stored then patiently waiting for that nugget of an idea to bring them back to life. But they shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”

Later in the month ‘Life in Print’ (Friday, September 25 to Saturday, October 3) will showcase a wide range of printmaking techniques and styles from South West professional and amateur artists led by Mary Gillett.

Mary formed Tamar Print Workshop in 1992 in a tiny calf shed on her family farm at Gulworthy, overlooking the Tamar Valley where she grew up. The workshop has become a hub of expertise, talent and support where lasting artistic partnerships flourish.

The third exhibition (Thursday-Saturday, October 22-25) will feature a remarkable collection of Edwardian drawings discovered in an attic. The works on display will include a beautiful portrait by Eleanor Grace Scarborough, first exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1905 and 1917. This collection will include Johanna Waldron’s contemporary prints, inspired by her great-great-great grandmother’s 19th century’s plant collection.

North Street Gallery will include demonstrations, talks and a full programme of art and crafting classes and workshops. One of the guiding principles of the gallery is that experiencing or participating in art is proven to be good for your health and wellbeing. The gallery will also feature young artists and those early in their creative journey, who maybe have not exhibited before.

The Printworks, a listed Arts and Crafts style former newspaper building, is run by a charity running a community arts centre featuring a range of music, theatre, film, art, wellbeing and social activities and events. As well as an arts venue it has a range of rooms available with a small occasional café and bar. The gallery is fully accessible.

The creation of the pop-up gallery is one element of the Printworks new ambition to become a welcoming, thriving community hub for all things creative. A programme of arts and creative workshops is being developed for all abilities and interests.