Fine Art Collector | Autumn 2015

AUTUMN 2015 UK £3.00 US $5.50

CASTLEGALLERIES.COM

Editorial

ALEX ECHO // Contact your local gallery to find out more about this exclusive body of original work by globally collected abstract artist Alex Echo

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36 Pelé - Life through a lens 12 Your World, Our Art

56 Hamish Blakely Private View

66 New Horizons by Richard Rowan

52 Lost Alice is the new collection from Peter Smith

welcome

One of the great pleasures of bringing beautiful art into people’s lives is the feedback we receive from collectors across the world. It is always heartening to hear personal stories of the emotional connection a new painting or sculpture can evoke and we are delighted to share just a small selection in this issue (page 12).

If the stories inspire, you are sure to find a piece that engages you amongst the brand new art unveiled across these pages. We consider this to be a particularly heart-warming collection - prepare to feel your spirits soar!

© 2015 Washington Green (F.A.P.C) Ltd. Printed in England

Fine Art Collector is published by Washington Green (F.A.P.C.) Ltd and distributed by Castle Galleries. Email art@castlegalleries.com Website castlegalleries.com All the art featured in Fine Art Collector is available through Castle Galleries across Great Britain. Visit our website at castlegalleries.com to find your nearest gallery. The images contained within this literature are an artistic representation of the collection. To best experience our art, we recommend you contact your local gallery to arrange a viewing. Prices illustrated throughout this magazine are recommended retail prices and may vary between Partnership Galleries depending on styles of presentation.

Designed & Produced by Now Media. Contributors: Sally Rowland, Jayne Howarth, Stephanie Richman.

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Romero Britto Me Tender � Love Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 28” x 36” Framed Size 32” x 40” Framed £995

� Squeaki Enamel & iron sculpture

Edition of 1000 Size 8¾” x 6¾” x 4¼" £595

With his signature ‘Pop Art’ style, Brazilian artist Romero Britto brings a blast of bright colour and Latin energy to these shores this autumn. Britto's limited edition collection of prints and sculptures display an explosion of vibrant primary colours, and an optimistic outlook on life that is guaranteed to make you smile

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AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLe CToR 5Inc. Artwork © Britto Central,

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rt can make you look at something in an exciting and totally different way. It can give you the power to ‘fly,’” says the charismatic Romero Britto. “My art is about love, celebration, joy, happiness and creating a beautiful energy” he exclaims. A firm believer in the role of an artist as an agent for positive change, Britto’s work evokes happiness and hope using a visual language that is universal. A passionate believer that art should be available to all, the enthusiasm for his craft is infectious. “I get my inspiration from simple things in life – from beautiful things that happen in life, that make me happy and leave me inspired” he adds.

Self-taught from an early age, and with a vivid imagination and creative spirit, he painted on newspaper, cardboard or any scraps that he could find during what he calls a ‘modest’ childhood in Brazil, as one of eight siblings. "My humble beginnings serve as true inspiration for me. I know how it feels to not have anything” says Britto, whose artistic imagination was ignited by visiting Paris in the early 1980’s and seeing the work of Matisse and Picasso for the first time. Heavily

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influenced by other artists, from Da Vinci to Dali, he moved to Miami where Pop Art was flourishing at the time, and set up a studio open to the public, spending the next few years exhibiting and attracting art lovers’ attention, drawing comparisons with iconic Pop Art luminaries such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Roy Lichtenstein.

He also achieved recognition through commercially astute projects, working with Coca Cola, Audi, Bentley and Disney to name but a few. And earlier this year he was named Olympic Ambassador for the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he will be bringing his art to the biggest global audience of all, having undertaken similar work for the 2014 World Cup in his native Brazil.

The trademark crayon-like colours and his fusion of Cubist and Pop Art influences have won him global plaudits, and The New York Times recently concluded that his dynamic work exuded something the world is short on - “warmth, optimism and love.”

That upbeat message has won him an international audience of modern art collectors, including celebrities such as singer Gloria Estefan who says she loves his art because it is “colourful,

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innovative and distinctive,’ while chef Michel Roux admiringly suggests “Romero’s studio is like a kitchen and Romero is the grand chef!”

Given such accolades, Castle Galleries is delighted to offer a new collection from Britto, never before seen in the UK, comprising a series of hand-signed limited edition canvas prints and sculptures, which are a shot of pure aesthetic pleasure.

Seemingly simple detail is combined with riotous colour combinations and bold lines, which are designed to delight. “To me, bright colours evoke feelings of happiness, optimism and positive energy” says Britto.

“My favourite colour is yellow, the colour of the sun and life” he explains, and as a passionate believer that bright colours can not only improve mood, memory, confidence, but also mental and physical agility, he believes his craft offers a positive effect. “It’s great to believe that my works can have such a grand effect!” he laughs.

In the limited edition prints he uses silkscreen and digital printing techniques capturing the same colourful vibrancy as an original. The collection is ostensibly about love – between both children and parents, and couples. In the multi coloured Big Hug he is inspired by “the unique and pure love that children have for their parents and the world – the open arms being the most beautiful gesture of love and friendship" and in So Happy in Love it is the affirmation of what he says is "doing the right thing, thinking the right thing, saying the right »

Hug � Big Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 16" x 68" Framed Size 20” x 72” Framed £1,295

For You � Just Enamel & iron

sculpture Edition of 1000 Size 7⁴⁄₅” x 8” x 4¾" £595

“My art is about love, celebration, joy, happiness and creating a beautiful energy”

Hug � Big Enamel & iron

sculpture Edition of 1000 Size 11” x 12⅞” x 4¾" £750

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Butterfly � Garden Enamel & iron

sculpture Edition of 1000 Size 9½” x 12⅞” x 4¾" £750

Happy In Love � So Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 28” x 36” Framed Size 32” x 40” Framed £995

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Romero Britto thing to who we love, and feeling loved in return.”

The sculpture collection which was for him a natural progression from canvas is equally emotionally seductive.

Primarily constructed in enamel and iron, similar themes to the print collection are explored. In Big Hug the sculpture is a fun and light-hearted figure that offers a joyful embrace, while the visually stunning Garden Butterfly has a childlike quality, beautifully executed in a rainbow of colourways. Blue Dog and Squeaki are lovable cartoon-like characters, while Just for You conveys the emotion of true love with an orange and pink love heart turned on its side.

Employing a wide palette of bright and bold colours, these sculptures are stunning examples of the very best of Britto’s technique and style.

Creative expression and the wealth of positive feelings it offers, is something very close to his heart and he is well known for his philanthropic efforts as an activist engaging children in arts and literacy education. He currently serves as a benefactor, donating time, art and resources to over 250 charitable organisations. “With knowledge and education you can understand the world.” he says. “I don’t paint for my ‘village’, I paint for the world.” Committed to developing and supporting the powerful role art plays in world issues, he sums up his philosophy “Art is too important not to share," and it is that democratic and generous spirit that has made him the hugely popular and influential artist he is today.

Heart � Big Boxed canvas

Dog � Blue Enamel & iron sculpture

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“My favourite colour is yellow, the colour of the sun and life”

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Edition of 1000 Size 9” x 8½” x 4¾" Framed £595

Sweet Hug ��

Boxed canvas

GALLERY The new collection from Romero Britto is available now. View online at castlegalleries.com

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Edition of 95 Image Size 28” x 36” Framed Size 32” x 40” Framed £995

Edition of 95 Image Size 16” x 68” Framed Size 20” x 72” Framed £1,295

IN THE GALLERY

John Myatt Tide At Pourville � Low (In The Style Of

Claude Monet) Stretched Canvas Edition of 50 Image Size 31” x 32” Framed Size 40” x 41” Framed £1,950

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IN THE GALLERY

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Rush Hour � The Canvas edition of 95

Image Size 22” x 30” Framed Size 28” x 36” Framed £595

Sticks � Pooh Canvas edition of 95

Image Size 22” x 30” Framed Size 28” x 36” Framed £595

Summer Walks � Mid Canvas edition of 95

Image Size 14” x 14” Framed Size 20” x 20” Framed £295

� Sisters Canvas edition of 95

Image Size 14” x 14” Framed Size 20” x 20” Framed £295

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Emotional, nostalgic, and with depth, meaning the paintings aren’t always what they seem. �

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“This wonderful piece of art adds that 'wow' factor as visitors enter the dining room.” - Julie Ward

Selecting art for your home can be an exciting adventure and a source of enjoyment for many years. We asked our collectors to throw open their doors and share images of their favourite pieces on our social media pages. We hope they inspire you for your next visit to the gallery.

“I love Alex Ross' comic artwork, his work is so detailed and impactful. Some of the most iconic versions of superheroes. The Batman and Superman canvases are excellent centre pieces for my geek room.

My wife was right, the boxed canvases do look best framed. The team in Norwich are lovely and helpful. I'm looking forward to hearing from them when a collection of villains comes out... although I'll need to find more wall space!" – Matt Taylor

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Artful home "Art means a great deal to our household – our lounge and kitchen are full of art from Castle Galleries. I love the place and the people.” — Paul Reeve My Simon Claridge pieces mean the world to me!

I first saw Twiggy on display in the South Molton Street Gallery and fell in love, it was an impromptu purchase. I knew that I simply had to have Bridget Bardot too. I think they look nothing short of stunning. LOVE LOVE LOVE!” – Dawn Sandovi

“Just love the way in which Nic Joly's "Never Forgotten" piece (same birthdate as me!) sits perfectly with one of Paul Cummins ceramic poppies.“ - Ian Brister

“This piece by Emma Grzonkowski is so special to both myself and my daughter.

She spent a very long time in hospital this year and I bought this - her favourite

by Emma as her 14th birthday present.

I completely transformed her room in secret for her for when she was finally allowed home, and this piece finished it off perfectly.” – Joanne Jenkins

“We bought this Hamish Blakely and a Bob Barker piece at the Stratford Upon Avon gallery – I love them!”

– Danielle and Tom

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IN THE GALLERY

Emma Grzonkowski Unique 2 � Enchanted Boxed canvas

Framed Size 36¼" x 36¼" Framed £1,650

Be Torn Unique 4 � ToBoxed canvas

Framed Size 32¼" x 40" Framed £1,650

D'Amour � Assoiffee Unique 4

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Boxed canvas Framed Size 24¾" x 55½" Framed £1,650

ďż˝ Speaking to the soul, Emma's new collection evokes passion and deep emotion in the viewer. Each piece is diverse, with the choice of colour and freedom of brush strokes.

Adding depth and texture, the unique hand embellishment by the artist in the studio reveals a broad and confident approach

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Thames � Still Boxed canvas

Edition of 150 Image Size 28” x 48” £695

IN THE GALLERY

Paul Kenton �

Last Light � London's Boxed canvas

Edition of 150 Image Size 38” x 38” £750

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Towering Shard Boxed canvas Edition of 150 Image Size 24” x 60” £750 Path � Thames Boxed canvas

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Edition of 150 Image Size 32” x 54” £950

Elements of spontaneity help bring each scene to life and open up new ideas and thoughts for future pieces. ďż˝ AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR

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TEMPER Cover � Temper's Versions Graffiti Gang

Stretched canvas Edition of 33 Image Size 33” x 33” Framed Size 47½” x 47½” The Location£3,950 Temper Studio, 1212 Music Street. Graff Town 334578. The Date Tuesday November 04 2015 Framed

Giclée edition of 195 Image Size 12” x 12” Framed Size 22” x 23” Framed £395

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1 Drum ‘N’ Base Geezer 2 Brit Pop Guy 3 Soul Music Man 4 Heavy Metal Dude 5 Acid House Raver 6 Country Boy 7 Jazz 8 Death Metal Rocker 9 CV - Daves Star Quest (Character 1) 10 Punk Rock Girl 11 Rock ‘N’ Roller 12 80’s New Romantic 13 Rapper 14 70’s Disco 15 Ska Guy 16 Mod Fella 17 CV - Graffiti is Physical (Character 1) 18 Progressive Rock Boy 19 CV - Unusual Times (Character) 20 CV - Daves Star Quest (Character 2) 21 Reggae Man 22 CV - Scrawls New Peek (Character) 23 CV - Pink Gum (Character) 24 CV - Overshadowed Intro (Character) 25 60’s 26 Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 1)

Temper Insert 2.indd 1

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27 Techno Raver 28 Northern Souler 29-32 Graffiti Gang 33 Hip Hop 34 Madchester Rave 35 70’s Rocker 36 Trumpet 37 Buddha 38 Union Jack Flag 39 Plastic Toy Snake 40 Barcode 41 Big Drum 42 Cassette Tape 43 Golf Clubs 44 Vinyl 45 Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 2) 46 Spray Cans 47 Doll In Pushchair 48 Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 3) 49 Head Stones (R.I.P George Harrison & John Lennon) 50 Elephant 51 Apple Computer & Mouse 52 Samsung Tv & Apple iPhone 53 Tribal Hieroglyphic 54 Floral TEMPER Tag 55 Separated Human Sculpture (Male & Female) 56 Floral 'WOW'

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1. Drum ‘N’ Base Geezer 2. Brit Pop Guy 3. Soul Music Man 4. Heavy Metal Dude 5. Acid House Raver 6. Country Boy 7. Jazz 8. Death Metal Rocker 9. CV - Daves Star Quest (Character 1) 10. Punk Rock Girl 11. Rock ‘N’ Roller 12. 80’s New Romantic 13. Rapper 14. 70’s Disco 15. Ska Guy 16. Mod Fella 17. CV - Graffiti is Physical (Character 1) 18. Progressive Rock Boy 19. CV - Unusual Times (Character) 20. CV - Daves Star Quest (Character 2) 21. Reggae Man 22. CV - Scrawls New Peek (Character) 23. CV - Pink Gum (Character) 24. CV - Overshadowed Intro (Character) 25. 60’s 26. Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 1) 27. Techno Raver 28. Northern Souler 29. Graffiti Gang 30. Graffiti Gang 31. Graffiti Gang 32. Graffiti Gang 33. Hip Hop 34. Madchester Rave 35. 70’s Rocker 36. Trumpet 37. Buddha 38. Union Jack Flag 39. Plastic Toy Snake 40. Barcode 41. Big Drum 42. Cassette Tape 43. Golf Clubs 44. Vinyl 45. Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 2) 46. Spray Cans 47. Doll In Pushchair 48. Mini A B Boy Figure (A B Boy Road) (Character 3) 49. Head Stones (R.I.P George Harrison & John Lennon 50. Elephant 51. Apple Computer & Mouse 52. Samsung TV & Apple iPhone 53. Tribal Hieroglyphic 54. Floral TEMPER Tag 55. Separated Human Sculpture (Male & Female) 56. Floral ‘WOW’ *Painted out because he wanted money $ painted out due to being wrongly used Tem% also used by for realism *Sculpture (Buddha) from a bird house

10/08/2015 09:50

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The graffiti artist Temper (aka Arron Bird) first picked up a spray can at the age of 10 and hasn’t looked back! Following a critically acclaimed collection last year, his ambitious new creation reinterprets the famous Beatles album cover of the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band LP, designed by the artist Peter Blake. It’s an audacious move that works – exactly as you would expect from this Midlands boy made good

idely recognised as one of the most successful and talented graffiti artists of his generation, Temper’s inaugural ‘cover:versions’ collection for Castle Galleries caused a sensation in 2014, and now his latest work is making waves, hitting the galleries with his inimitable street style graffiti. Like his previous collection, he harnesses the iconography and graffiti reproduction of album cover art, (often regarded by modern art collectors as the ultimate example of classic late twentieth century artistic innovation in terms of style, inspiration and typography) and this time takes on the legendary 1967 Beatles album.

“Album covers were like an art gallery to me as a child, they had a magic about them that would transport me to another place. It provided me with a playground for my creativity and imagination,” explains Temper, whose gritty working class upbringing have given his graphic, edgy graffiti art an authentic urban realism. “When I was a child, my grandad used to carefully unfold cigarette packets and then flatten them out so that I could draw on them. That was the only time I ever got to draw as a kid” says Temper who never had any formal art education.

Obsessively studying sleeve artwork on vinyl records, he absorbed himself into the whole experience whilst listening to the music, then honing his aerosol skills from the age of ten, spraying tags, bubble letters and figurative images on disused railway lines and factory units. He would be the first to acknowledge that he has come a long way! » AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR

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Now, as the one of the most successful graffiti artists in the country, he has paved the way for a younger generation to take art off the street and into the galleries, having elevated it into a recognised art form that has progressed from the traditional stereotype of a hooded youth vandalising neighbourhoods with senseless abandon, to work that holds its place in a gallery on artistic merit. “If you put a knife in someone’s hand, one person might want to chop up onions with it, the other might want to attack you. There is not one mentality for all” says Temper, who sees his difficult formative years as the key to his later success. “I spent 11 years doing illegal graffiti but I was the first one to take my kind of work into a commercial gallery and I turned the whole lot upside down.”

Taking direct inspiration for this unique piece of art from the Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover, he will please his followers having drawn up a montage of previous characters from his other ‘cover:versions’ characters as well as new ones specially created from the musical inspiration of his youth - Punk, Ska and Rock, all crowded into the monochrome background.

Using his illustrative skills alongside a free-hand ‘traditional’ graffiti style, the detailed figurative work shows a characteristic dexterity and attention to detail. In Peter Blake’s original version the band was depicted posing in front of a tableau of celebrities and historical figures from Marlene Dietrich to Oscar Wilde. In Temper’s version he replaces the ‘Fab Four’ with his signature B-boy characters, complete with an urban attitude, in a similar colour palette to The Beatles original cover.

In the same way that the original Sgt Pepper album was considered as a template for the cultural typography of the 1960’s, so this dynamic and brave interpretation by Temper revitalises this iconic album cover to make it instantly relevant and modern. Made out of photocopy cut-outs, illustration, sketches, tissue paper, glue, poster paint, marker pens, and even the humble pencil, it was a risky move, but Temper succeeds in creating something truly different, with a graceful nod to the original’s unique place in rock history and album iconography.

GALLERY The new collection from Temper is available now. View online at castlegalleries.com

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Two layers of Gel Coat are painted into the mould tool – a specially designed material is blended to create the exact colour of vinyl giving the authentic look and feel of records for the frames.

2 3kg of resin with filler is spread over the painted area, and again left to dry.

3 A layer of fibreglass is inserted into the frame to give strength.

The Frame x

An exciting and innovative feature of this new work is the frame designed by Temper which is amazingly derived from original vinyl records! Reproducing this unique vinyl frame was a time consuming and labour intensive process, in order to provide an exact replica of Temper’s original in detail, colour and finish.

The original frame, which used 36 vinyl records, was used as a template for a series of mould tools designed to replicate exactly the surface finish of the original frame. Two layers of precisely blended gelcoat, the colour and texture of the original vinyl, were painted into the mould and left to dry, after which resin was spread over the painted area. Once dry, a layer of fibreglass was inserted into the frame to toughen it, followed by another thick layer of resin. Once removed from the mould, the front was buffed to the finish of an original vinyl record, complete with authentic scratches!

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A full clean and polish is then given to the front of the frame to give the authentic look and feel of vinyl records.

Once completely set the frame is taken out of the mould, and the back of the frame is cleaned.

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IN HIS OWN WORDS ACCLAIMED ARTIST LAWRENCE COULSON SHARES A PERSONAL VIEW OF HIS WORLD AND REVEALS HIS FEAR OF 'PAINTER'S BLOCK'

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Lawrence Coulson

Walk To Forever � Our Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 16¾” x 28” Framed Size 22” x 23” Framed £550

I find that walking in the countryside and getting some fresh air is a favourite way to relax, which sounds like a cliché but it’s true.

Just doing simple things like lying under the tree in the garden, or even washing the car.

f I could be 21 again I would tell myself to have some self belief and to be more confident. Also to lighten up and not worry about what I have no control over. All of the things I still tell myself at 53...

Current affairs and politics are something that I try to keep abreast of, even if it is just by watching the evening news, but I have never been a banner waver or any kind of radical. Whatever is going on in the world certainly has no effect on whatever is happening in the studio, once in there I am lost in the work.

There are two very good pieces of advice that I have received, firstly from my father who presented me with a copy of the book covering his artistic career. Inside the front cover were the words ‘Just keep trying’.

Secondly these words of wisdom from Halcyon Gallery’s Paul Green; ‘Just paint…’.

The best advice I would give to someone would be to give themselves time to breathe, be open minded, not to suffocate the ones you love and to be a good friend.

Again, probably things I am still trying to accomplish myself. To any aspiring artist I would say this; paint pictures twice as good as you are now, and be grateful to receive at least half of the money you were expecting to be paid for them. »

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Lawrence Coulson

Can Dream � We Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 22” x 22” Framed Size 28” x 28” Framed £550

I only once ever experienced ‘painter’s block’.

I have no idea why it happened but it was around 10 years ago and, for several days, every move I made was wrong. Colours, tones, everything. Every brushstroke took me deeper into despair, very frightening. Until one day all my abilities suddenly returned, like the needle on a record dropping into the groove, and I have been fine ever since.

If I could converse with any artist it would be J.M.W. Turner. I have only one question; "Please sir, could you teach me to paint?..."

If I hadn’t been lucky enough to become a professional painter I would have loved to have been a car designer. This was an ambition during my schooldays but academically was never going to happen. Half of the reason I failed most of my exams was probably down to a lack of concentration due to doodling some car or other.

When I am not working my main interest is cars, always has been. Not so much the exotic stuff like Ferraris or Lamborghinis but older cars, from the ‘60s to the ‘80s. I’m no mechanic by any means so my tinkering involves no more than cleaning and polishing. My wife and I attend classic car events in an old Mercedes that my father passed to me, but I am just as happy charging around in my ten year old Saab estate. I love music too, I can’t play anything (yet) but there is always something booming out in the studio, anything from Gary Numan to Beck to The Stranglers to Kate Bush.

I would always rather have a phone conversation to an e-mail. I prefer the personal touch.

I was always a dreadful pessimist, looking on the darker side of things, cup half empty, all of that.

These days I am a little more optimistic and clearer thinking. Sometimes things happen in your life that force a change for the better.

Treasure Of Life � The Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 14½” x 44” Framed Size 20” x 50” Framed £750

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"WHEN I AM NOT PAINTING MY MAIN INTEREST IS CARS, ALWAYS HAS BEEN."

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If I was given a plane ticket to anywhere at all it would be to California’s West coast, the Santa Monica area. I would love to experience that whole surfing, skateboarding, cool car culture whilst being immersed in constant sunshine.

Struck � Love Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 26” x 10½” Framed Size 31” x 16” Framed £395

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The technology that allows so much visual Wonder Canvas edition of 150 reference is like any new tech, it carries Image Size 16¾” x 28” advantages and disadvantages. In the case of the Framed Size 22” x 33” Framed £550 artist it allows instant sharing of new work to gain feedback, and is a valuable marketing tool. However it can prove to be a massive distraction and can probably be blamed for totally destroying the art of conversation.

My most recent collection ‘Through All Seasons’ contains two themes. Firstly I wanted to present a collection with as much variety as possible, to give as much interest to collectors both old and new. Secondly the ‘Seasons’ in the title may not be literal, but periods in ones life where one has to battle through the challenges thrown at them and it is only the love and support of those around you that can pull you through.

I would hope that by taking the time to look at my work the viewer is momentarily transported to a quieter place, maybe into a distant memory. I would also like to think that in this digital age they could appreciate the time and craftsmanship that is present. To reference my father, ‘There are only two things that matter, the skill of the artist and the beauty of the subject.’

A CHANCE TO SHINE

Editorial Feature Emerging artists step into the limelight through unique campaign to cultivate talent arlier this year Castle Galleries, fine art publisher Castle Galleries, launched a campaign to find the UK's newest emerging artistic talent and give them an opportunity to have their work publicly showcased.

Aiming to reach a nationwide audience, IN:SIGHT 2015 was an open call to all unsigned artists - from painters, street artists and sculptors to photographers and sketchers. With no style, genre or medium off limits, artists were invited to submit their portfolios for review by the publisher's creative team, for the chance to be selected to exhibit their work at an inaugural Summer Exhibition.

Glyn Washington, founder and creative director of Washington Green said: "With ongoing government cuts in arts funding, we feel that as the UK’s leading fine art publisher, we have a responsibility to give something back and invest in the future of the UK arts scene. Nurturing home grown talent and providing a stage for artists to express themselves and shine is vital, and setting up IN:SIGHT and the subsequent Summer Exhibition is our way of recognising this." Last year's success stories included Dan Lane aka Mechanica, Scarlett Raven and Frédéric Daty.

TALENT ON SHOW The response to IN:SIGHT was overwhelming, with over 400 submissions received. With so much talent to choose from, whittling them down to a final 20 artists for inclusion in Summer Exhibition 2015 was not an easy task.

Held at Castle Fine Art at Birmingham’s prestigious International Convention Centre, the 4-week long exhibition in August showcased an exceptional array of works and represented the diverse nature of contemporary art. Differing in age, methodology, subject matter and medium, the exhibitors ranged from painters, photographers and sculptors working in a myriad of materials - from pen and pastels to charcoal and oils.

Some had honed their skills by undertaking fine art degrees, whilst others were self-taught and had chosen a creative path after first having careers in fields as varied as healthcare, architecture, textiles and blacksmithing.

Their collective talents combined to take the viewer on a journey from the precision of pointillism portraiture to visual storytelling through photography, and from the intricate beauty of origami to striking landscapes, oil paintings of heroes from childhood literature and more. "We have great belief in the promise of this eclectic and talented group," said Glyn Washington "and we look forward to watching as their respective success stories unfold over the coming months and years."

With the work on show throughout August, the exhibition gave a vast number of people the opportunity to view the remarkable portfolios. Visitors were also invited to choose their favourite artist, with the 'People's Choice Award' going to Glyn Davies.

One of the success stories of IN:SIGHT and the Summer Exhibition is Robert Oxley who has recently been signed

by Castle Galleries, with three newly published pieces unveiled here Manchester-based Oxley's work explores themes of loss of natural habitat and species extinction.

A completely selftaught artist, his love of nature and wildlife began in his childhood.

“As a kid I would make and paint dioramas for imaginary zoos and when I was about 12 years old, I became obsessed with birds and natural history. My grandad challenged me to draw every bird in his Illustrated Book of Birds, which I still have." »

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Cowslip � Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 36” x 36” £695

� Flood Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 36” x 36” £695

� Flux Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 36” x 36” £695

“I took a bunch of canvases and with no ideas, no references, and no vision of a finished painting I just painted and let it happen. I realised I wanted something loose and expressionist, yet was controlled and detailed."

Using acrylics on canvas, for many years his work was characterised by a photo-realistic style, drawing on diverse references and inspiration ranging from wildlife to American lowbrow pop surrealism. For his new body of work, however, he wanted to do something totally different. “With no ideas, no references and no vision of a finished painting I just painted and let it happen," he said. “As the paintings grew I realised that I wanted something loose and expressionistic yet also controlled and detailed – work that looks like it was done quickly but on inspection reveals that every brushstroke is considered and meticulously painted. Loose and free but in fact complex is what nature is all about.”

GALLERY The new collection from Robert Oxley is available now.

View online at castlegalleries.com

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�

IN THE GALLERY

Ronnie Wood

� Hendrix Giclée edition of 150

Image Size 30” x 20” Framed Size 44” x 34” Framed £1,450

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NEW ARTISTS � Velocity Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 38” x 48” £950

New

editions

AT CASTLE GALLERIES, WE ARE THRILLED WHEN NEW ARTISTS JOIN OUR RANKS AND WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO GROW OUR DIVERSE AND ENORMOUSLY TALENTED FAMILY. TWO OF OUR NEWEST ARTISTS ARE CARLY ASHDOWN AND LAURA TINALD, WHOSE STUNNING WORK OOZES UNIQUE MAGNETISM AND CHARM

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Ca rly Ashd ow n

F “I PAINT VERY INSTINCTIVELY AND I KNOW IN THE FIRST 10 TO 20 MINUTES IF I’M CREATING SOMETHING WITH MAGIC IN IT.”

or London-based Carly Ashdown, sketching has been part of her life from a very young age, however it wasn't until she turned 30 that she began painting. Before becoming a full time artist, she spent five years doing post-production work in television, including for the BBC and Channel 4. "I was happy in my job and my career was flourishing," she says "but I had such a powerful sense of wanting to paint that I decided to leave the television industry and follow my heart."

Although Carly had never stopped sketching, painting was a new medium for her. "I did an art and design degree at what was then Leeds Metropolitan University but my focus was film and photography, so when I started painting almost 10 years later it was all quite new to me. I’m pretty much self taught and I’m still learning."

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Surrender � Sweet Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 38” x 48” £950

Working in acrylic on canvas, her spirited figures are an exploration of the human experience and the indefinable sense of feeling alive. Self-understanding, interaction with the world and particularly personal transformation have long fascinated and inspired Carly. "Opening the heart, connecting to whom we really are, letting go and being open to

possibilities requires real bravery," she observes. "This is when energy flows and we positively sparkle."

STRUCTURE AND INSTINCT Strongly influenced by Jackson Pollock's working methods, creating a new piece is an intricate process that fuses structure, instinct, patience and high energy. "The process is very organic and it’s hard to say where the work is heading because the paintings lead me. When I take a break and return to the piece the next day or a few hours later, new paths and doorways often open and I see where to head next."

Carly starts with sketches of figures, which develop and evolve as she fine-tunes and changes elements to create more dynamic poses and bring them to life. She then paints a charcoal outline washed over with water on the canvas and begins dripping acrylic paint down it. "I paint very instinctively and I know in the first 10 to 20 minutes if I’m creating something with magic in it." Working with a small brush, she applies detailed shading to help the figure 'pop out'. She follows by dripping more paint then flicking it at the canvas to create the sense of vivid movement and exact look that she wants.

Flicking is normally done using forefinger and thumb but Carly will use anything to get the right look - even the flat end of paint tubes. When pieces are nearing completion, she paints in the white background and drips more paint onto the figure to further break it up. Once the canvas is dry, she might flick more paint and add final bits of shading.

"My aim is to create beautiful pieces that are expressive, dynamic and vibrant," she says. "Paintings that are a celebration of the human form, the beauty of movement and freedom from personal limitations - and most importantly, a celebration of life itself."

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Laura Tin ald

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W

ith her father's creative flair and passion for the arts, drawing and painting have been part of Laura Tinald's life since childhood. At a young age, she was fascinated by vintage Disney animation and, when her parents started taking her to art galleries, she became utterly captivated

by Pre-Raphaelite paintings, and in particular Dante Rossetti's Proserpine. "I spent hours drawing ladies with long flowing locks, trying to capture the textures as Rossetti did," she says.

After completing an art foundation course at Bournville Art College in Birmingham, Laura studied fashion promotion and illustration at the University for Creative Arts in Surrey, and she has refined much of her craft by endlessly drawing and painting whenever she has a free moment.

Applying stylised paint strokes and fine pencil lines, her hypnotic portraits of beautiful faces are akin to fashion illustrations but with a depth of character and emotion that transcends the genre.

To this day, she continues to be inspired by Rossetti.

"His ability to capture the curve of a woman’s lips or the shine in her hair remains unrivalled in my opinion. I also adore the work of fashion illustrator David Downton. He has a keen eye for detail and can capture the essence of a woman’s beauty so perfectly with so few lines."

HAPPY ACCIDENTS

“ALL OF THESE ACTRESSES ARE CLASSICALLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT THEY ARE ALSO STRONG WOMEN WITH VERY DISTINCT PERSONALITIES AND RICH AND INTERESTING STORIES, WHICH IS WHY I WAS DRAWN TO THEM. THEY ARE VERY MUCH ROLE MODELS.”

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Working on hot press watercolour paper, her favourite medium is Indian ink. "I love the rich, vivid colours that they achieve and how easily you can manipulate them - and with such striking results!"

Using the inks and pencil lines, her technique is a combination of precision and 'happy accidents'.

With the eyes always the focal point, the pencil lines are strategic but the ink splashes are completely spontaneous. "If I think a picture needs an extra something to give it more life, I'll add an impulsive splash. Indian ink has a life of its own, which gives a more natural, organic feel, and I hope that the haphazard quirks that it creates, and colour that is rarely kept within the lines, adds a certain magic to my work."

CLASSIC BEAUTY Laura's collection features four iconic movie stars, and she has deliberately limited the amount of colour to reflect the more muted look of movies in Greta, Lauren, Bette and Katharine’s heyday. "All of these actresses are classically beautiful," she says "but they are also strong women with very distinct personalities and rich and interesting stories, which is why I was drawn to them. They are very much role models."

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Landscapes NEW ARTISTS � Greta Giclée edition of 95

�

Image Size 15” x 12” Framed Size 26” x 23” Framed £295

� Bette Giclée edition of 95

Image Size 15” x 12” Framed Size 26” x 23” Framed £295

� Katharine Giclée edition of 95

Image Size 15” x 12” Framed Size 26” x 23” Framed £295

� Lauren Giclée edition of 95

Image Size 15” x 12” Framed Size 26” x 23” Framed £295

Screen Sirens Set of Four Giclée edition of 95 Image Size 15” x 12” Framed Size 26” x 23” Framed £995

Inevitably, Laura used photos as reference for the images, however she would love to draw a movie icon from life. "Capturing someone’s features in natural light whilst they sit for you is far more difficult than working from pictures, but so much more rewarding. It would be wonderful to be the artist chosen to capture a modern day screen siren’s beauty, and for the image to be remembered for many years to come."

GALLERY Both artists' collections are available in galleries across the country. View online at castlegalleries.com

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IN THE GALLERY

Bob Barker Sweet � Bitter Canvas edition of 195

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Image Size 24” x 24” Framed Size 31” x 31” Framed £575

Of The Mill � Run Canvas edition of 195

Image Size 24” x 24” Framed Size 31” x 31” Framed £575

Of The Day � Match (1914, Christmas Truce)

Bronze sculpture Edition of 95 Height 13” £1,950

In My Heart � Thunder Canvas edition of 195

Image Size 14” x 44” Framed Size 22” x 50” Framed £695

� �

I have to paint, there is a need to paint. I suppose you could say I am addicted. �

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Editorial

A LEGEND

THROUGH THE EYE OF A

LENS

A captivating photographic archive of the most celebrated football player in history and, perhaps, the most popular athlete the world has ever known charts the rise of global sports icon, Pelé 36 FINe ART CoLLeCToR

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e is a living footballing legend; a man who was named Football Player of the Century

by FIFA and who in 2014 was awarded the first FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur in recognition of his career. He is the most successful league goal scorer in the world, with 541 league goals under his belt, and a player who scored a total of 1,281 goals in 1,363 games in his career.

He is also the only football player to have won three World Cup tournaments. He is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known simply as Pelé.

�

From the age of 15, Pelé was being hailed as a great player. And as Brazil’s interest in this young footballer started to pique, his astonishing career was already being captured in black and white by fellow countryman, José Dias Herrera.

Herrera, a founder member of the São Paulo State Syndicate of Professional Journalists, noticed this precocious talent who was making a name for himself at Santos Futebol Clube when he was working for Diários Associados.

He took a keen interest in the teen and it was an association that was to last more than 20 years, with Herrera chronicling Pelé’s ascent from the promising player who joined Santos Futebol Clube in 1956 at the tender age of 15 to the man who reached the peak of global soccer fame.

Now photography and footballer lovers can reflect on this friendship and own their own piece of rare football history, as Castle Galleries presents Art Life Football: The Herrera Archive.

This new limited edition collection comprises eight of Herrera’s unique photographs and each giclée and silver gelatin print has been hand

�

�

Bicycle Kick Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 195 Paper Size 24” x 36” Framed Size 27” x 39” Framed £1,450

Paper Size 30” x 40” Framed Size 33” x 43” Framed £2,450 Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 75 Paper Size 60” x 40” Framed Size 63” x 43” Framed £4,950

Cup Winner � World (Herrera)

Signed Limited Edition Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495

FC (Herrera) � Santos Signed Limited Edition

�

Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495

signed by Pelé, giving the collection the ultimate seal of approval.

The photographs comprise key moments in the footballer’s career, including his call up for his country in 1957 and him proudly holding aloft the Jules Rimet Cup when Brazil won the World Cup tournament for a second consecutive time in 1962.

A further six hand-selected images show the maestro, who was also known as A Pérola Negra (The Black Pearl) and O Rei (The King), in action for Santos and his national team between the 1960s and 1970s.

These exceptional photographs blend art with sport, depicting in sharp focus Pelé as a man who exudes passion for his sport whether he is clutching the back of the net after a run up the field, taking a break on the pitch or demonstrating his header skills in the locker room.

They also show Herrera as a photographer of rare skill. Born in São Paulo in 1920 to Spanish immigrant parents, he moved to the industrial port city of Santos at the age of seven.

When he was just 14, he began to learn the art of photography in a studio AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR

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Room Skills � Locker (Herrera)

�

Signed Limited Edition Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495

(Herrera) � Pelé Signed Limited Edition

�

Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495 Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 150 Image Size 30” x 30” Framed £1,950

Image Size 40” x 40” Framed £2,950

Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 75 Image Size 60” x 60” Framed £3,950

Up (Herrera) � Warm Signed Limited Edition

Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495

Hard (Herrera) � Training Signed Limited Edition

�

�

“I WAS BORN TO PLAY FOOTBALL, JUST LIKE BEETHOVEN WAS BORN TO WRITE MUSIC AND MICHELANGELO WAS BORN TO PAINT.” laboratory. It was then that Herrera knew he had found his passion and he went on to document Santos through the eye of a camera lens.

In 1937, he began his professional photographic career when he joined the newsroom of the Gazette newspaper and he remained there until 1953, when he moved to the Tribuna de Santos, working as a photographer until 1980. After that, he went to the city’s Department of Communication.

But photography was more than just a way of life for Herrera. Despite his body of work, cap-

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turing the growing city of Santos, political developments in Brazil and the country’s famous figures, it is his unprecedented access to Pelé’s personal life for which he is now renowned.

Their association saw him document Pelé’s career, including the World Cups of 1958, 1962 and 1966, with Herrera producing iconic photographs that came to shape the footballer's reputation and image for decades to come.

In 2002, many of Herrera’s photographs were included in the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art exhibition 'Pelé, the Art of the King'. It was this exposition that revealed the extent of Herrera’s role in creating Pelé’s almost mythical status.

The Castle Galleries collection offers a small and fascinating snapshot into this incredible relationship between Pelé and Herrera, charting not only the rise of a global sports icon

Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495 Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 150 Image Size 30” x 30” Framed £1,950

Image Size 40” x 40” Framed £2,950

Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 75 Image Size 60” x 60” Framed £3,950

but also that of an incredibly talented photographer.

GALLERY Art Life Football: The Herrera Archive collection is available as a boxed set of eight limited edition giclée of 195. Four titles from the collection are also available as Silver Gelatin editions, which are available in three sizes: small (30” x 30”), medium (40” x 40”), and large (60” x 60”)

Edson Arantes do Nascimento was born on October 23, 1940, to Dondinho and Dona Celeste in Três Corações.

Pelé played for a number of amateur football teams as a child but it was when he joined Bauru that his talent was immediately spotted by coach, former Brazilian World Cup player, Waldemar de Brito.

De Brito took the young teen to Santos, a club team on the coast of Brazil, telling the club that the 15-year-old would be the greatest player in the world. The club were impressed by the footballer and signed him in June 1956. He was just 16 when he played his first official game for the club. Soon afterwards, he was called up to the Brazilian national team.

At 17, Pelé was selected to play for the Seleção at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, scoring the winning goal in the quarter finals and a hat trick in the semi finals. Brazil went on to win their first Jules Rimet trophy and the world saw a glimpse of the greatness that was to come from this young player Pelé.

He led Brazil to two more World Cup titles, 1962 in Chile and 1970 in Mexico, and also played in the 1966 tournament in England, where he became the first player to score in three successive World Cups.

Even today, Pelé is the only football player to have won three World Cup tournaments and he is the top scorer Brazil’s national team with 77 goals.

After 18 years with Santos FC, Pelé joined the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1975, playing his last game in October 1977.

Of The Net � Back (Herrera)

Signed Limited Edition Giclée of 195 Image Size 18” x 18” Framed £495 Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 150 Image Size 30” x 30” Framed £1,950

Image Size 40” x 40” Framed £2,950

Signed Limited Edition Silver Gelatin of 75 Image Size 60” x 60” Framed £3,950

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39

Editorial �

“Against the 1970 Brazil team, the nerves were incredible until the whistle blew, then the concentration and focus took over. Of all the greats I played against - Bobby Moore, George Best, Bobby Charlton - Pelé was the best."

Greatest Save � The Signed By Gordon Banks

and Pelé Giclée edition of 295 Paper Size 20½” x 53½” Framed £1,250

– Gordon Banks

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One & Only 10 � The 3-D Wall sculpture

Edition of195 Framed Size 24” x 24” Framed £1,450

The Summit � On 3-D Wall sculpture

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Edition of 195 Framed Size 25” x 25” Framed £1,450

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ART LIFE FOOTBALL In celebration of Pelé’s 75th Birthday and his lifetime of achievements, three of our acclaimed artists have created unique pieces to honour this legend; his creativity, his life and his incredible sporting career.

Stuart McAlpine Miller (above): "This painting suggests the extraordinary force that was Pelé.

Likened to that of a superhero he achieved a status far and beyond that of most mere mortals" Nic Joly (left): "I made the number 10 and name 'Pelé' as close to the exact lettering on Pelé's iconic shirt. Each figure in

the piece I have carved and made, using poses I found of him in action.

'On the Summit' shows Pelé on top of the world, having helped Brazil to its 3rd World Cup win reaching the pinnacle of skill, inspiring generations. But there is so much more to take from both sculptures that the viewer can interpret for themselves."

Keith Maiden (right) "I wanted to strip back the public mask of Pelé, and reveal the genuine, 'humble' guy beneath with a serious, honest and raw painting.

My composition avoids the 'bling' of football. Sadly the modern day game has sold its soul for money.'

� The Power Within � From Boxed canvas

Edition of 195 Image Size 40” x 26½” Framed £1,495 Edition of 75 Image Size 50” x 33” Framed £1,950

A Jack To A King � From Boxed canvas

Edition of 195 Image Size 36” x 21¾” Framed £995

Edition of 75 Image Size 48” x 29” Framed £1,450

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IN THE GALLERY

David Rees �

Dream � Harlequin Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 42” x 33” £695

From Corsica � Echoes Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 42” x 33” £695

The figure is given power and beauty by a raw approach to its construction, creating a narrative which is open to the viewer.

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I N TH E F R A M E

Mechanica Rising star, Dan Lane a.k.a.

Mechanica unveiled his stunning new collection ‘Every Piece of Me’ at a Private View earlier this summer. The intricate metalliclook sculptures are crafted from an eclectic mix of industrial machine parts, interesting and unusual shaped objects, home appliances, and items collected from everyday life. The eye-catching works of art reminiscent of ornate, Baroque style sculptures were enthusiastically received by the assembled guests.

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IN THE GALLERY

Caroline Shotton �

By Your Man � Stand Boxed canvas

Edition of 150 Image Size 30” x 40” £695

Of The Road � King Boxed canvas

Edition of 150 Image Size 26” x 42” £650

� Rawhide Boxed canvas

Edition of 150 Image Size 26” x 42” £650

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IN THE GALLERY

Craig Davison

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Resembled � Avengers Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 28” x 35” Framed Size 35” x 42” Framed £795

Boxed canvas Edition of 50 Image Size 35” x 44” Framed Size 38” x 48” Unframed £835

Framed £1,095

Everywhere I look images and ideas are lining up to be used.

Of A � Swords Thousand Men

Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 28” x 35” Framed Size 35” x 42” Framed £795

Boxed canvas Edition of 50 Image Size 35” x 44” Framed Size 38” x 48” Unframed £835

Framed £1,095

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IN THE GALLERY

Paul Horton

ďż˝

Despite being intrinsically personal it can be your world too, whatever you conceive that to be.

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Golden Tree � The Remarqued Edition

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Giclée edition of 195 Image Size 21” x 26” Framed Size 34” x 37” Framed £750

Of The Rainbow � Sign Giclée edition of 195

Image Size 17½” x 14½” Framed Size 30” x 25” Framed £395

In The Sun � Seasons Giclée edition of 195

Image Size 11” x 32” Framed Size 23” x 43” Framed £495

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49

IN THE GALLERY

Xue Wang

ďż˝

We cannot escape the past and our sweet yesterdays, whether imagined or real, they are my repository.

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�

Years Good Luck � Seven Canvas edition of 95

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Image Size 17” x 24” Framed Size 22” x 30” Framed £395

Glance � Fleeting Canvas edition of 95

Image Size 24” x 17” Framed Size 30” x 22” Framed £395

Mercies � Tender Canvas edition of 95

Image Size 24” x 17” Framed Size 30” x 22” Framed £395

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Alice � Queen Resin sculpture

Edition of 150 Height 10” £295

Most Curious Way To � AWonderland

Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 34” x 17” Framed Size 42” x 25” Framed £550

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Editorial Feature

“OH, YOU CAN’T HELP THAT,” SAID THE CAT. “WE’RE ALL MAD HERE.”

�

overs of the children’s classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland will recognise that line – and it’s something that artist Peter Smith can relate to only too well.

He and his wife Jayne, a fellow artist with whom he collaborates frequently, could not let the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s story go by without marking the milestone in the only way they know how: taking something familiar and transforming it into something original.

Anyone who is a fan of Smith’s art will know only too well that he and Jayne treat all creative projects as a real labour of love. And so it is with the latest Peter Smith collection for Castle Galleries, Lost Alice.

He began by thinking how he could move the story on and began to commit to paper a new novel about Alice and her adventures in Wonderland.

»

And what is the use of a book, thought Alice, without pictures or conversation?”

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� Place Of Uncommon � ANonsense

Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 22½” x 40” Framed Size 30” x 48” Framed £695

All Quite Mad � We're Here!

Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 28” x 15¼” Framed Size 36” x 23” Framed £450

As A Hatter � Mad Resin sculpture

Edition of 150 Height 14” £295

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In his 14-chapter story, Alice is now 50 years old.

One day she hears a knock on the door and when she opens it she finds a cigar box on the floor with a label that simply says “Alice”.

The box starts to talk to her and inside she finds a key that fits the grandfather clock in her house.

When she unlocks the door she sees a tiny fleck of light at the bottom but when she peers inside she is suddenly grabbed and she finds herself falling down a long hole.

She’s back in Wonderland again, but something has changed: not only is she is back to her young self half of her is now the Red Queen. As Smith’s story unfolded, with Alice meeting characters from other children’s fairy tales and stories, he and Jayne combined their creative talents to begin their new art collection.

It took nine months to complete – 36kg of clay, six eight foot sets, 36 maquettes, and more than 5,000 individually made objects. And each of the items was painstakingly staged and placed over days, sometimes weeks, in his studio so that he could commit the scene to canvas.

�

� For Two, And Two � Tea For Tea

“Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.

The result, however, is a different kind of Wonderland from that imagined by Carroll. Think more Tim Burton – it’s darker, more eccentric, and slightly macabre. But with a wicked sense of humour.

The Lost Alice collection comprises six magnificent paintings, each of which depicts a part of the reimagined story. It is, Smith says, a wonderland that is twisted and crafted around classic literature mixed with fairy tales – all through the eyes of a very different Alice.

The devil, as always with Smith’s work, is in the detail. Each painting is packed with symbolism and even the smallest objects have hidden meaning. A Place of Uncommon Nonsense, a painting that is reminiscent of the last supper, was created using a four feet long table upon which he

Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 19¾” x 26” Framed Size 28” x 34” Framed £495

Mirror On The � Mirror, Wall, Who's The Fairest

Of Them All Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 24” x 14¾” Framed Size 32” x 23” Framed £375

Who Are You? � And Resin sculpture

Edition of 150 Height 11” £295

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Editorial Do And � Tweedle Tweedle Don't

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Canvas edition of 150 Image Size 20” x 20” Framed Size 28” x 28” Framed £395

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Late, I'm Late! � I'm Resin sculpture

Edition of 150 Height 9” £295

To � Welcome Wonderland

Mixed Media Original Image Size 27½” x27½” £1,950

Image Size 31½” x31½” £2,250 Tomorrow And Jam � Jam Yesterday, But Never

Jam Today Mixed Media Original Image Size 27½” x27½” £1,950

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GALLERY The new collection from Peter Smith is available now. View online at castlegalleries.com

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designed an intricate tableau comprising hundreds of hand-made objects. Among the visual treasures are 20 locks and 20 keyholes, and quirky detail such as the Owl and the Pussycat who are seen floating in their beautiful peagreen boat along a river of tea that is being poured from a teapot. It’s little wonder that this painting took four months to complete, from creating the models to the final brushstroke.

With every viewing of A Most Curious Way to Wonderland, We’re All Quite Mad Here!, Tweedle Do and Tweedle Don’t and the other paintings in the collection, you’ll find new and different idiosyncratic characteristics and tiny repeated themes.

It was important to Smith that the Tim Burton-esque style of the characters reflected the quirky nature of the book that accompanies the collection.

“When I used to read as a child, I didn’t like it if the illustrations didn’t reflect the book; it was if the illustrator hasn’t read it,” he said. “I wanted to make sure you aren’t let down when you read the story.”

The oil on board paintings are prepared meticulously. After spending days or weeks staging the objects and setting up the lighting, and photographing each and every aspect, Smith draws the outline on the board, making sure that every detail is perfect.

Only once he is happy does he seal the board with varnish to create a smooth surface on which to work on. Then he carefully fills his canvas with colour before repeating the process to get the detail just right. “It’s a hard slog,” he admits. “The techniques I use are really quite old fashioned.”

While Smith might consider his painting methods “old school”, there’s certainly nothing staid or ordinary in the magical worlds he creates on canvas.

AUTUMN 2015

IN THE GALLERY

Perfect Afternoon � The Boxed canvas

Edition of 95 Image Size 20” x 60” Framed Size 24” x 64” Framed £950

Alex Echo

In essence I seek to create beautiful original, totally unique artwork that is driven by a desire to be green and conscientious.

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Hamish Blakely

I N TH E F R A M E

Hamish Blakely Acclaimed painter Hamish Blakely brought his heavenly creatures down to Earth in his highly anticipated collection ‘Out Of Work Angels’ with the artist in attendance at the exclusive private view.

The exhibition voices moral questions about religion and its place in modern society, and prompted much thoughtprovoking discussion amongst the guests.

“Each bravura piece in the collection exemplifies this very contemporary and relevant project. We are very excited to be showcasing his unique talent through the ground breaking body of work,” commented Glyn Washington, creative director of Washington Green.

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Editorial

IN THE FRAME

Frédéric Daty A new collection of original wall sculptures from innovative French artist Frédéric Daty was launched at Castle Fine Art, South Molton Street on Thursday 23rd July, 6-8pm. Specially invited guests enjoyed a private viewing of pieces from Daty’s first UK solo show, ‘Trinity’ featuring iconic London city scenes depicted in metal – from Westminster and Big Ben, to Piccadilly Circus and stations across the capital, such as Borough, and Canary Wharf.

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IN THE GALLERY

Neil Dawson �

Reflections � Piccadilly Boxed canvas

Edition of 50 Image Size 30” x 30” Framed Size 34” x 34” Framed £695 Unframed £495

Cab Ride � Soho Boxed canvas

I am trying to capture a sense of the excitement and life of the city at night.

Edition of 50 Image Size 30” x 30” Framed Size 34” x 34” Framed £695 Unframed £495

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IN THE GALLERY

Jeff Rowland �

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The Last Minute � Until Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 19” x 24” Framed Size 26½” x 31” Framed £495

Almost There � We're Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 19” x 24” Framed Size 26½” x 31” Framed £495

Kissed In The Rain � We Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 19” x 24” Framed Size 26½” x 31” Framed £495

I have always tried to portray my work as a piece of cinema, maybe the end of a movie or the high point. �

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IN THE GALLERY

John Wilson

� On The � Hanging Telephone

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3-D edition of 150 Image Size 19” x 39” Framed Size 22” x 42” Framed £850

Kick Off � Late 3-D edition of 150

Image Size 19” x 28” Framed Size 22” x 31” Framed £650

IN THE GALLERY

Richard Blunt �

Sands � Sunset Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 17¾” x 36” Framed Size 24” x 42” Framed £595

Girl In The Sequin � The Dress

Canvas edition of 95 Image Size 23½” x 23½” Framed Size 29” x 29” Framed £495

Oil is kind of alluring in a way. The richness of colour, the texture and smell can feel almost edible at times.

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new horizons Richard Rowan's powerful new collection pays spellbinding homage to the glory of nature

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Richard Rowan

rom glowing sunsets and dramatic bolts of lightning through a brooding mist to luminous cloud formations reminiscent of the Northern Lights, the 'New Horizons' collection brilliantly captures nature in all her majesty.

Drawing on his travels from the Lake District to Hanoi, the powerful and evocative collection was also inspired by Richard's children, in particular 'Enlightenment'. “My children were scared of thunderstorms and I wanted to help them turn their fear into an appreciation of nature – to help them see the beauty that I see. So we started chasing storms, photographing them and then painting them.”

Using his signature 'back to front' technique of painting in oils on glass, the precise and painstaking work includes an incredible amount of fine detail, such as applying 2500 stars with the tip of a scalpel to 'Aurora'. Paradoxically, Richard likes his patience to all but go unnoticed. “The better the piece, the less people notice the level of detail - their eye is taken with the complete picture.”

� The detailing in the pieces also includes flights of birds, which are Richard's loving tribute to his family and friends. Two bigger birds and two smaller birds depict Richard, his wife and their two children as a strong family unit. One bigger bird with smaller ones convey that his family are in his thoughts when work takes him away from them, and a flock of birds symbolises happy moments in the company of friends and family.

The pieces have a hypnotic effect, enticing viewers in and taking them on their own journey through nature's splendour. “These scenes transport me to places of beauty when I’m working on them," said Richard "and I hope they do the same for those viewing them.”

� Aurora Glass edition of 95

Image Size 13” x 29” Framed Size 25” x 39” Framed £695

Hope II � Endless Glass edition of 95

Image Size 13” x 27½” Framed Size 25” x 39” Framed £695

SEE HOW RICHARD'S WORK IS REPRODUCED

»

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printing made perfect

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Reproducing Richard's stunning work as limited edition prints on glass takes specialist skill, creative thinking and cutting edge technology. The process starts with scanning the original piece at a very high resolution then retouching on a computer to remove any dust particles, ensure absolute colour accuracy and resize if needed. A proof copy is then printed onto glass, which is carefully checked by Castle Galleries for colour quality and fidelity. Once approved, preparation and printing begins.

“It's fantastic working with such exceptional original art and it's very rewarding to devise solutions to technological challenges so that we can guarantee a top quality reproduction."

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Richard Rowan � Enlightenment Glass edition of 95

Image Size 25” x 25” Framed Size 38” x 38” Framed £950

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Using toughened 4 mm glass, each piece is sized precisely to match Richard's original. Printing is done directly onto the back of the glass using a new state-of-the-art specialist printer that builds the colours in layers, with the ink cured

by UV light. This type of curing keys the colours into the surface, and as they dry, they harden, ensuring permanence and durability. The next stage is to layer white ink carefully over the colours. When the image is then viewed from the front, the white acts as a 'solid' background for the colours, creating a depth and vibrancy that perfectly emulates Richard's original piece.

3

Each piece takes a considerable amount of time to print, as the printer is deliberately operated at its slowest setting. This ensures the highest quality print resolution and enables double the normal amount of white ink to be layered on, making the colour as intense as possible.

GALLERY Each of the three pieces in the New Horizons collection is available in a limited edition of 95.

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IN THE GALLERY

Nic Joly

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As a child the process of watching my father create things from nothing seemed like a kind of Alchemy, and the joy of making and sculpting has never left me.

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I Come Down Now � Can Dad?

�

Wall sculpture Edition of 90 Framed Size 17” x 17” Framed £695

A Hard Life � It's Wall sculpture

Edition of 90 Framed Size 14” x 14” Framed £495

Not? � Why Wall sculpture

Edition of 90 Framed Size 15” x 35” Framed £995

�

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IN THE GALLERY

Paul Corfield

�

At Middle Beach � Sunset Canvas edition of 150

I’m interested in using the best methods and materials so that the owners of my paintings will get something that will last their own lifetime and hopefully many generations after that.

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Image Size 21” x 42” Framed Size 27” x 48” Framed £750

The Edge Of A Forest � On Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 21” x 42” Framed Size 27” x 48” Framed £750

� Sunburst Canvas edition of 150

Image Size 21” x 42” Framed Size 27” x 48” Framed £750

�

�

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IN THE GALLERY

Keith Maiden �

I Were The Devil � IfBoxed canvas

Edition of 150 Image Size 42” x 28” Framed Size 46” x 32” Framed £850 Unframed £595

Up And Smell � Wake The Corruption

Boxed canvas Edition of 150 Image Size 42” x 28” Framed Size 46” x 32” Framed £850 Unframed £595

The prophetic words of ‘If I were the Devil’ by Paul Harvey proved inspirational in this collection. A form of social criticism, it’s a transcript that postulates what steps the Devil might take in order to corrupt society.

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Edition of 150 Image Size 25” x 50” Framed Size 29” x 54” Framed £950 Unframed £675

To A Noose � Halo Boxed canvas

AUTUMN 2015

Editorial

ALEX ECHO // Contact your local gallery to find out more about this exclusive body of original work by globally collected abstract artist Alex Echo

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from the country’s finest artistic talent.

CH MISH RIS AC BLAK HES ELY ON

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© 2015 Washington Green (F.A.P.C) Ltd. Printed in England

FAC65 Castle Back.indd 1

30/09/2015 11:25

Castle Galleries 20 Years of Excellence

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Castle Galleries Company History

In 1995, Castle Galleries opened its first retail outlet in Stratford-upon-Avon. Its owner, Ian Weatherby-Blythe, aspired to run a successful gallery that provided a welcoming, comfortable environment to enjoy art. His vision was to make fine art more accessible to the ordinary man.

20 years on, that business has grown from one independent gallery, into a national brand, with over 30 galleries throughout the UK and avid collectors all over the world. Specialising in original and hand signed limited edition works from today’s finest contemporary artists, Castle Galleries is now the UK’s leading group of retail art galleries.

After two decades in the business, Castle Galleries continues to value its heritage, and the first gallery’s doors in Stratfordupon-Avon remain open.

The key to that success? Passion.

We believe it’s our staff’s passion and commitment to excellence that sets Castle Galleries apart. Underlying everything we do is a drive to excel and an unrivalled passion for the art we sell. Too often great art is confined to the private homes of collectors, destined never to be enjoyed by the public. Our aim is to break down those barriers and make art accessible to all – no exclusion, no restrictions – just beautiful art which everyone can enjoy.

“The thing that sets Castle Galleries apart is our passion – we are passionate about our artists, passionate about our work

and passionate about our clients. And we love art – our 150 gallery staff throughout the UK have a huge amount of knowledge about the industry and are committed to sharing this with each and every person that steps into one of our galleries.” Ian Weatherby-Blythe, Managing Director, Castle Galleries Castle Galleries is proud to supply artwork from Washington Green, the UK’s leading fine art publisher, across its nationwide network. Since its launch in 1986, Washington Green has specialised in bringing new talent from around the world to the contemporary art market.

Located in the heart of the Midlands in Birmingham, over 2000 works of art are printed, mounted and framed for Castle Galleries each month. But don’t let the quantity fool you – quality is still our first priority and is never compromised. During the process of creating a mount and a frame, the artwork will be worked on by up to seven highly skilled craftsmen. With over 400 wood frames and 40 different mounts designs at our disposal, our craftsmen put time and thought into presenting each piece of art in the best possible manner.

Only when each piece is completed to the highest standard does the final assembler sign the quality label.

maintains its pristine, as-new quality.

It’s the attention to detail that make our frames stand out. You only have to see the skills of our craftsmen and the care they put into their work to appreciate that.”

Tim Goodwin, Operations Director, Castle Galleries Across our network of retail galleries, we ensure a warm, welcoming and inspiring experience, with a touch of luxury. In the weeks to come we will be expanding our retail offering with a brand new flagship gallery in Birmingham’s premiere lifestyle and shopping destination, The Mailbox, and will be refreshing our brand by beginning our transition to Castle Fine Art, reflecting our high quality product offering.

This year, Castle Galleries celebrates 20 years of delivering style, creativity and quality to its clients – join us in store for special events, artist appearances and special offers.

“When selecting a frame for an artwork, quality of material is crucial and only the best available is used. All materials that come into contact with the artwork are natural, with conservation grade mounts and paper used, so that the art work AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR

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34 GALLERIES

FOR 20 20 facts to celebrate Castle Galleries’ 20th anniversary

1

Castle Galleries has stocked work in its from over 20 year history, including Stuart McAlpine Miller, Romero Britto and Raphael Mazzucco

100 artists

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4

As the UK’s leading art retailer, Castle Galleries currently boasts 34 galleries around the UK – soon to be 35 when Castle Fine Art opens at Birmingham’s Mailbox later this month

2,000

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Every month, over 2000 paintings and prints are expertly hand mounted and framed by a team of talented craftsmen for Castle Galleries

3

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20 is the magic number – exactly 72 people have bought exactly 20 pieces from us to date!

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Castle Galleries sells fine art from cultural icons including Bob Dylan, Ronnie Wood and Billy Connolly

Castle Galleries founder Ian Weatherby-Blythe was a born retailer, managing his own business from age 16

The Castle Galleries website receives over 5 million page views each year

6

Castle Galleries is home to work from over 60 of the UK’s leading contemporary artists

Castle Galleries holds approximately 250 events every year, giving people the opportunity to meet the UK’s leading artists

20 Facts

225 PEOPLE

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The business, along with its fine art publisher, employs 225 people – approximately 1oo of which are art consultants selling work across the Castle Galleries network

The fastest selling collection in Castle Galleries’ 20 year history saw one edition sell out in a record five minutes!

Work from artists specialising in a wide range of genres including Photorealism to Pop Art and photography to sculpture can be found in Castle Galleries’ retail outlets

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Work from artists harking from all corners of the globe including the USA, New Zealand, France, China and Italy adorn Castle Galleries’ walls

30 Y E A RS

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Castle Galleries’ fine art publisher Washington Green Fine Art will celebrate 30 years in business next year after launching in 1986

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Castle Galleries’ first outlet opened in Stratford-uponAvon in 1995. It can still be found in the same street

17

Every piece of Castle Galleries art is framed bespoke – the final design is picked from a selection of 400 wood frames and 40 different mounts

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Every single limited edition and original work sold

by Castle Galleries will be signed by the artist

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rtists of all ages – A ranging from age 27 at the youngest and 92 at the oldest – can be found in Castle Galleries’ portfolio of artists

19 Supporting new artists is important to the business – as part of its Autumn Collection 2015 Castle Galleries introduced artists Carly Ashdown, Laura Tinald and Bob Oxley to the fine art market

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Since its launch in 1995, Castle Galleries has delivered quality, creativity and style to its clients for the past 20 years AUTUMN 2015 FINe ART CoLLeCToR

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Castle Galleries 20 Years of Excellence

Interview with

Ian Weatherby-Blythe Managing Director for Castle Galleries

This October, Castle Galleries celebrates 20 years of delivering style, quality and creativity to its clients. What made you decide to go into the fine art trade?

The impetus behind Castle Galleries was that I felt there was nowhere in the UK for ordinary people to buy high quality art from. As a born retailer, managing my own business from the age of 16, I identified a gap in the market and vowed to make fine art accessible to the masses. Today, Castle Galleries’ ethos to provide a welcoming, comfortable environment to enjoy art is encapsulated in its motto: ‘Your World, Our Art’.

Castle Galleries can be found in cities and town centres across the UK. Where did you get the inspiration to open galleries in easily accessible, high street locations?

Prior to 1995 when Castle Galleries first opened, there was nowhere that ordinary people could get access to great, affordable art. I decided to open an art gallery that I personally would feel comfortable buying art from. Starting with just one gallery based on Bards Walk in Stratford-upon-Avon, this model has proved extremely successful for Castle Galleries and we are now soon to open our 35th gallery in Birmingham’s luxury retail outlet, the Mailbox. Our galleries are all located in high footfall retail destinations, helping us reach as many people as possible with our life-enriching product.

Castle Galleries is operating in an increasingly competitive marketplace. What is the key to the brand’s success?

The thing that sets Castle Galleries apart is our passion – we are passionate about our artists, passionate about our work and passionate about our clients. And we love art – our 150 gallery staff throughout the UK have a huge amount of knowledge about the industry and are committed to sharing this with each and every person that steps into one of our galleries.

From one gallery in Stratford-upon-Avon, Castle Galleries now has over 30 galleries nationwide. What do you consider to be its biggest success over the past 20 years?

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AUTUMN 2015

decades – I am extremely proud that we have played a pivotal role in making great art much more accessible to average people in this country. Before Castle Galleries existed, I believe the art world was much more ostentatious and unapproachable. We have worked hard to make art approachable and friendly in everything that we do – from our welcoming sales approach to the way we describe artworks in our marketing materials.

The financial crash of 2008 saw consumer shopping habits change dramatically. What effect did this have on Castle Galleries?

During the recession, when people had less disposable income to spend, we noticed that clients tended to favour quality over quantity. So although people weren’t buying as many pieces, what they did purchase was of a higher value – therefore we saw a slight decrease in our limited edition sales, but an increase in original sales. And this trend seems to be continuing…years ago people would buy lots of smaller pictures for the house, now they tend to buy one or two statement pieces from a reputable artist.

You can boast two decades of success in the fine art market. In your experience, how has the market changed in the last 20 years?

The biggest change has to be, quite simply, that far more people collect art than ever before; collecting art is no longer just seen as an elitist thing to do. We’ve seen our customer profile become increasingly diverse as people’s shopping habits have changed – particularly with the advent of online shopping. The internet has made art accessible to more people than ever before – and people can even buy our art today without setting foot in a gallery thanks to our online retail offering. We have also seen an increase in enquiries from China, as the Chinese market continues to fuel growth in the fine art trade.

In recent years, the global art market has hugely increased in value, leading some to see art as investment. But buying art is a very personal thing – you should always buy art because you love it, because it speaks to your soul.

Styles and fashions are constantly changing. Have you seen a change in the type of products people are buying

from Castle Galleries over the years?

When Castle Galleries was born 20 years ago, the majority of prints we sold were behind glass due to them being largely paper products. Now the majority of what we sell doesn’t use glass, but instead might come in the form of something more durable, like canvas on board. Responding to demand, our original works are now mainly oil or acrylic, as opposed to pastel and watercolour.

In general, the works we sell our now much bolder, stronger and contemporary than those 20 years ago.

Representation is a powerful tool for artists trying to make their name. What can being stocked on Castle Galleries’ shelves across the UK mean for an artist?

Representation can be key to an artist’s success – unfortunately, there are still far too many artists that have an amazing talent but will never really be appreciated in their lifetime due to a lack of representation. When an artist is signed to provide artwork for Castle Galleries, they all of a sudden have 150 gallery staff talking about their work day in and day out.

When I started Castle Galleries I decided we would only stock art work from Washington Green, the UK’s leading fine art publisher, and in this way the work that we stock and the artists we

represent can be seen as a barometer for the whole of the arts industry.

20 years is a significant milestone in the brand’s history.

What’s on the horizon for Castle?

We are constantly looking to improve our offering so we will be continuing to refurbish our galleries nationwide, and looking for opportunities to expand into new markets. 20 years in the business also marks the transition for our brand from Castle Galleries to Castle Fine Art. When Castle Galleries first opened it was mainly a print based business, but now we sell as many originals as we do limited editions – one of many developments that has occurred during our history as a business. We feel Castle Fine Art reflects our high quality product, and who we are today as a brand.

Art is not a necessity. Why should people continue to buy art?

As the late actress Stella Adler said: “Life beats down and crushes one’s soul but art reminds us that we still have one”. In other words, everyone needs art in their life. Whether they realise it or not, the world would be such a poor place if art wasn’t in our lives.

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Thank you for being part of our story.

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