HOW TO BUY ART include the sublime work of Peter Davis, both beautiful and affordable; in the field of abstract photography, I’d highly recommend Mark Welland’s beguiling images of trees. Which of your artists have proved to be the most popular with Bristol customers? Jess: The Cornish painters – John Piper, Michael Praed and Steve Slimm – and the edgy Bristol cityscapes of Tom White. Angela Melkis has been one of our most popular artists of late, her glowing tree paintings often selling the same day she delivers them to the gallery. Who are the most exciting artists living and working in Bristol right now? Jess: Rowdy and Alex Lucas. Their murals have decorated outdoor walls for years, but their smaller scale work is equally inspiring. Choose just one picture to take home . . . Tom: I just visited John Piper’s studio in Cornwall to collect new work and his painting Penwith Blue may not make it on to the gallery wall . . . What is the most incredible piece you’ve sold over the last year or so? Tom: Thoughts of You by Charlie O’Sullivan. It’s hard to describe Charlie’s work; a visit to our website to see it is worth a thousand words.
COLDHARBOUR GALLERY
Hazel Burville’s Westbury Park gallery sells affordable art and crafts, mostly by artists from Bristol and the South West. What do you look for in your artists? Someone with a distinct style of their own, who can add something different to the mix, and whose work is accessible and affordable. Sculptor Christine Baxter fits the bill perfectly.
Which of your artists have proved to be the most popular with Bristol customers? Abigail McDougall – Bristolians can’t seem to get enough of her cityscapes with their vibrant watercolours and fluid style. Bristol prints by Cath Read and Jenny Urquhart are also popular. Choose just one picture to take home . . . Merlyn Chesterman’s Turning Tide, a woodblock print of the Atlantic off north Devon.
We asked our gallery owners what they’d buy this week if we gave them £500 (Also, some handy URLs...) A pair of stoneware rooks by Stephanie Cunningham that have actually just flown the gallery! Sarah Brown, Clifton Contemporary www.cliftoncontemporaryart.co.uk
What’s the most incredible piece you’ve sold over the last year or so? One of John Stroomer’s pots – he’s an absolute master at crystalline glazes, and there is a definite Asian influence in the forms he uses.
A watercolour by Bristol Artist Lucy Austin RWA from her ‘Duologues’ series.
HIDDEN GALLERY
Delta by Kate Wickham. This work has a map-like quality to it, almost as if it’s been painted from the air
Tucked away in Clifton Arcade, this small gallery packs in an astonishing range of treasures. It’s run by Susie Michelson; partner Chris runs Hidden Rare, right next door Tell us about some exciting new artists We are now showing some beautifully elaborate botanical, animal and cartographic limited editions by Kristjana Williams. She has had work on display in the V&A, and was commissioned to do a series of work at the Rio Olympics. Which artists are most popular with your Bristol customers? Huw Richards Evans; he paints the most wonderfully atmospheric Bristol scenes and seascapes set beneath dramatic skies. Customers find it easy to relate to his work; over the past 18 months we have sold more than 130 pieces. Choose just one picture to take home . . . Head in the Clouds by Cornwall’s Siobhan Purdy, It’s a narrative piece with a childlike quality but also has real depth. I just can’t stop looking at it.
Ruth Piper, Centrespace www.centrespacegallery.com
Tom White, Clifton Fine Art
Lilia Umaña-Clarke’s Small Seated Hare. It is small, graceful and has a wistful quality, as her sculpture always does Jessie Borlase, Clifton Fine Art wwwcliftonfineart.com
Christine Baxter’s iron resin March Hare. Hazel Burville, Coldharbour wwwcoldharbourgallery.co.uk
A hand-gilded limited-edition print Matters of the Heart by Gemma Compton – Susie Michelson, Hidden
I’d probably put the money towards a sculpture by Bristol artist Lucianne Lassalle Chris Kendall, Hidden www.myhiddenworld.co.uk
A Wave and Moon bowl by Helen Evans Sarah Thorp, Room212 www.room212.co.uk
A small painting by Marla Allison from our last exhibition that I have had my eye on. Joanne Prince, Rainmaker www.rainmakerart.co.uk
Eelus’ latest print Queen of the Castle – the perfect example of urban art and technically a challenging print to produce Steve Hayles, Upfest www.upfest.co.uk
Left: My Dog Sighs is one of many Bristol street artists whose work is available at Upfest 30 I BRISTOL LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk