Margaret Welsh and John Faulkner, partners in Tenby's Art Matters Gallery, will be showing an exhibition of their own paintings from this Saturday. "We show the work of about 60 artists here, and in addition we have organised 15 separate exhibitions so far this year, so it's both daunting and strange to hang our own work," admitted John. "We 'blew our own trumpet' with our first exhibition a couple of years ago, hence the title 'Second Trumpet' on this occasion." Both with backgrounds in education, the couple have been involved with art seriously for the last 12 years, and started the gallery in 2001. "Our own artistic development has been in fits and starts as time and energy permitted," said Margaret. "We greatly admire the work of our professional artists here and learn from them in an informal way. When we ran workshops here we were envious of the students' access to their tutor's skills and techniques as only rarely were we able to sneak in too!" Together the pair will show 40 paintings completed this year. Most of Margaret's are in acrylic, whereas John's include ink, mixed media and oils. The landscape pieces include local areas and high lands of north and mid-Wales where the pair enjoy walking. John has included several Tenby townscapes and winter views as well as his favourite abandoned and ruinous buildings, rock forms and flowers. In the Ridgeway Room at the same time is the work of Ruth Sargeant. As a complete contrast to the predominantly realistic painted work in the main gallery, Ruth's pieces are layered collages of burnt, melted and torn materials, producing images of extraordinary and delicate beauty. The two exhibitions will show from tomorrow (Saturday) to Friday, September 15, at Art Matters Gallery, in South Parade, Tenby (next to the Fire Station). The gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day except Wednesdays, and all work can be viewed on the website http://www.artmatters.org.uk">www.artmatters.org.uk. For further information, telephone 01834-843375, or email [email protected]">[email protected]
