PHOTO: ELLI DEAN
Karen Neale
With the support of her parents and art teacher, who agreed that taking art A-level was just as important as maths and physics, Karen qualified as an architect in the mid 90s. Having practiced in London until 2004, she made the leap of faith from being an employed architect to a self employed artist and illustrator. “Since leaving school my passion has been sketching and painting the world around me in my annotated, sketchbook diaries. Standing in situ I draw with a black biro as much as I can of what is going on around me, adding colour with my small field box of water colours. The notes I’ve made around the perimeter are of observations made whilst sketching. That is my ‘trademark’ style and many of my paintings and prints derive from these sketchbooks. I also create bespoke illustrations.” Originally from Spalding, Karen has been living in Stamford since 2010 with her husband and six year old son. “Everything I’ve learnt through architecture influences my work now. In 2001 I was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship and undertook a journey inspired by World Heritage Cities and sites from London to Kathmandu recording it all in my sketchbooks.” Since then she has been ‘artist in residence’ at the Houses of Parliament, along Hadrian’s Wall, with the British Council in Havana, Cuba, at the Athenaeum and at Lord’s Cricket Ground as MCC Young Cricket Artist 2004-05. “Here in Stamford I’ve been involved in wonderful local projects, working with Burghley Horse Trials, Stamford School, Stamford Civic Society and Rutland Cycling to name a few.” Karen will be having her own ‘Open Studio’ and a few other events later on in the year and information on these will be on her website. Encouraged by her inspirational art tutor and a desire to escape algebra, René went on to study fine art in Durban and Cape Town, South Africa. From that a successful career in advertising design was born until 2002 when she abandoned London and moved to Cambridgeshire for a quieter life and to embrace her role as a mother. She has two adorable children. “Unable to control the need to create, I established “Murals and More” in 2003. I completed many projects for private clients, schools, hospitals and small businesses which included spectacular mural art for children as well as interior design projects locally and further a field. In 2004 I joined Peterborough Artists Open Studios as an exhibitor. I was swiftly co-opted onto the committee and produced the first (in 2006) and subsequent professional artist directories for the group until stepping down in 2012.” Open Studios is a highlight on the arts calendar. “It is always such fun and pleasure to welcome visitors into a relaxed environment where they can appreciate the art, enjoy homemade cake, chat to fellow artists and learn about our inspirations and techniques.” An exceptional and stylish Artist, René concentrates on paintings and ceramics. Her paintings tend to involve acrylic on canvas with added texture using sea sand pebbles sourced from the environment which inspires her work. “Ceramics developed from the use of texture in my paintings. I wanted to develop the tactile quality of my work. Manipulating clay into organic sculptural forms seemed a natural progression.”
PHOTO: ELLI DEAN
René Viner
Robert Fogell Gallery
Artist and Sculptor Robert Fogell, with his wife and business partner Diane opened The Robert Fogell Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Stamford in 2006. Robert’s early career as an apprentice to sculptor and sculpture conservator Paul Guidici at his studio in Geddington near Kettering, Northamptonshire taught him the interesting facets of sculpture conservation alongside art history and studio practice working with and for some of the premier collections of classical and modern sculpture and other objects of art in Britain, including Chatsworth House, Government Art collection National Trust/English Heritage, numerous museums and private clients. Since 1996 Robert has produced his own ideas carving primarily in stone and wood, whilst teaching at Northampton College and Leicester University. After curating a series of exhibitions over several years, it seemed a logical progression for them to open their own dedicated space to champion interesting, emerging modern and contemporary artists locally and nationally. They now have more than 50 artists who exhibit in the Gallery. Diane runs the day-to-day organisation, which allows Robert to continue developing his own artistic career as a sculptor in his studio at Burghley House.
CONTACTS Katie Cardew Web; wwww.kcillustrations.co.uk, Fb; www.facebook.com/katiecardewillustrations, Email: info@kcillustrations.co.uk. Tel; 07825333136 Gillian Durno Web; www.gilliandurno.co.uk, Tel; 07961 608172, email; gillian.durno@gmail.com, Fb; Gillian Durno Paintings Karen Neale Web; www.karenneale.co.uk, Tel; 07710 406 967 René Viner Web; www.reneviner.co.uk Rob Fogell Art Gallery Web; www.robfogell.co.uk Tel; 01780 762099. Robert Fogell Gallery is celebrating 10 years with a summer exhibition on Friday 12th August with Artists who they have represented over the past 10 years ; 23 High Street St Martin, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2LF Stamford Fine Art www.stamfordfineart.co.uk. A fabulous selection of 20th century art, based in a local village. Call Jeff Stone on 07949 861753 to arrange a viewing. STAMFORD LIVING JULY 2016
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