THE current exhibition of paintings showing at Art Matters Gallery in Tenby, is the work of Andrew Faulkner, once a Tenby boy who attended Penally School then Greenhill. Now working at an architectural practice that specialises in conservation projects, after graduating from UWIC and the Welsh School of Architecture, Andrew nevertheless has always made time to paint and has exhibited in two Cardiff galleries recently. The paintings fall into four main groups: close up studies of beach details, pebbles and sand ripples; Tenby streets, colourful, cheerful and peopled scenes; moody Welsh landscapes of remote and high areas; and a group of large composite paintings inspired by the work of Graham Sutherland. Sutherland was the subject of special importance to Andrew when he was researching the area around Monk Haven for his final year architectural project. The paintings vary in terms of media and techniques used. The beach studies are spattered with the texture of sand, the mountainous scenes are rugged with thick slabs of paint. Mixed media is used for the Tenby townscapes, whereas the large pieces are thoughtful painted montages representing one area from a number of viewpoints. Alongside Andrew's paintings is exhibited the handbuilt ceramics of Teena Gould, who trained at Cardiff in the late 1960s and for much of her professional life has been involved with public art projects, often working on large scale ceramic murals with schools and other community groups. Teena's stoneware vessels are challenging and provocative, abstract and asymmetric, with forms that seem to overbalance and textures that contrast between grittily rough exteriors and smooth shininess within. The pieces may incorporate clays that dry and shrink at different rates, leaving ruptured surfaces, torn edges and uneven thicknesses. Natural forms, of rocks, sedimentary layers and volcanic upheavals, roots and hollows, are evoked in Teena's larger works, which are shown with a series of more delicate ceremonial tea bowls and vases. Teena is based in Llangrannog, Ceredigion and has exhibited around the world from Finland to Australia and Japan. She is a part-time lecturer in ceramics at Swansea Institute and was selected for the Welsh Artist of the Year exhibition this year. The first exhibition of Andrew Faulkner and the sculptural ceramics of Teena Gould may be seen at Art Matters Gallery, Tenby, from tomorrow (Saturday) until Thursday, August 9. The gallery, in South Parade (next to the fire station), is open from 10 am until 5 pm everyday except Wednesdays. For further information, telephone: 01834-843375, or e-mail: i or view the website: w. Both the artists will be in the gallery from 2 - 4 pm tomorrow to meet old friends and visitors alike. Everyone is welcome to make or renew acquaintance, enjoy wine, tea or coffee, and see the exhibitions.
