John sets framework in place for picture gallery

Nov 28 2008 by Sarah Bull, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

John sets framework in place for picture gallery

PICTURE framer John Laycock had already decided to add an art gallery to his premises when he won a competition which helped his plans.

He won a shop doctor competition run by picture frame material suppliers Arqadia. The prize brought valuable advice as well as £500 towards the cost of refurbishment and £250 of Arqadia products.

“This seemed to be confirmation that I was going in the right direction”, he says.

He now has a gallery upstairs at his premises in Grove Road, Huddersfield, while the front room on the ground floor has also become a gallery.

He changed the name from Driftwood Picture Framing to Frames and Galleries, and has mounted an exhibition which runs to January.

Upstairs, works by Caro Ward, who specialises in horse paintings, make an immediate impression, particularly her life-size diptych, The English Thoroughbred. Caro enjoyed a trip to Vienna last year to see the famous Lippizaner horses there, and this inspired the paintings on view.

Art teacher Richard Booth is the other main exhibitor and has successfully chosen a freely-painted style for his paintings of the Northumberland and Berwickshire coasts.

In different vein, his mixed media industrial views of Elland, mainly on Saddleworth Road, are full of intrigue. In some caseshe has incorporated into the paintings old factory invoices, picked up at Huddersfield second market.

Guest works by local artist Darren Baker include a female nude, Morning Rest, in pastel and Frank Sinatra in oils.

Grove Road is off Leeds Road, next to PC World, and Frames and Galleries is open 9.30am to 5pm (except Wednesdays and Sundays).

RETIRED art teacher Geof Hickey has been busy with works on show in varied locations.

In the foyer of the Lawrence Batley Theatre, his pictures included a piece 9ft tall.

“This work is an analysis of landscape, but with the added elements of geographical, geological and pre-historic influences,” he says.

Geof also has paintings on view at the Number Eleven restaurant and gallery, Holmfirth, in Kirkheaton Library and the George pub in Kirkburton.

Also in the foyer of the LBT, Netherton-based artist Barbara Hellowell is showing her iconic textural sculptures in the window spaces.

The materials used include plaster and paper, cement, cement fondue and concrete.

In the Lower Bar, Jo Hodinott is exhibiting One Stitch at a Time, described as “kinetic knitting.

In the Upper Bar is Bonita Coe’s photographic exhibition, Serenity.

The exhibitions run until Sunday.