Sunday, April 27, sees the start of Warren Heaton's exhibition in the 'Small Gallery' at Colby Woodland Gardens. A native of Pembroke, Warren attended the Bush School, where he was taught art by well known local artist, Arthur Lewis. Warren recalls that, whilst still a schoolboy, he joined the Pembroke Art Group and exhibited in their annual show in Pembroke Town Hall. You could say his career began then and there with the sale of his first painting - an occurrence which was to be repeated annually thereafter. Following school, Warren enrolled at Carmarthenshire College of Technology and Art, gaining an HND in Illustration, Art and Design. Then it was back to Pembroke where, in 1994, he opened his own gallery, 'The Picture Shop'. Since then, Warren's career has gone from strength to strength. He has exhibited widely throughout South Wales and has had solo exhibitions at the Torch Theatre. The Stackpole Centre, Milford Dockside Gallery and the Eastback Gallery. Now, having given up running his own gallery, Warren has more time to devote to being 'out in the field', literally, in his endeavours to catch in oils in all lights and weather, "...something noticed or glimpsed... the many lonely environs of Pembrokeshire... to seek an understanding of nature, the direction and focus for my art." Married and living in Pembroke, much of Warren's work is inspired by the area nearest his own doorstep. Viewers will see Stackpole and Bosherston cropping up regularly on his canvasses, which chimes well with an exhibition located on a National Trust property. At Colby, Warren's prices for an original oil range from £180 to £300... that is unless you go for one of his charcoal portrait sketches. These astonishingly accurate likenesses cost around £25 in money and around 35 minutes in time. "Something I tried doing at Pembroke Festival last year," explained Warren, "they seem to have taken off..." Warren will be painting in the gardens (weather permitting) on the three Thursdays throughout his exhibition, May 1, 8 and 15, and also on Tuesday, May 15, when he will be happy to chat to visitors about his work, or to undertake portraits if required. The exhibition runs until Saturday, May 17. The Main Gallery continues to show, as usual, a display of work by over 30 local artists and craftsmen, and is open daily from 10 am - 5 pm, along with the Woodland Gardens, the National Trust Shop and the Bothy Tearoom. For further enquiries regarding this and future exhibitions, please ring 814200. .
