Visual Arts in Leicester and Leicestershire 2011

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Visual arts news

For news about forthcoming art exhibitions, see our Exhibitions Page

Exhibition of paintings at the Red Tent, preview launch 25th November

A walk on the dark side - we look at the work of Dan White

Art is often referred to as the pursuit of beauty. For many artists however, there is a darker side beckoning to be explored. In the 21st century, art has taken on a visually dramatic idiom, a kind of neo-gothic style, led by films to do with Zombies and the undead, computer gaming graphics and the imagery surrounding death metal in music. We talk to Leicester artist Dan White about his fascination with darker imagery.

Artsin: Dan, you're better known as a singer. What got you into doing graphical art works?

Dan: I've always been into artwork, since I was around 12. I used to draw people being crucified and things like that, blood and gore and what not. It's always interested me. I remember once I was showing my mum a drawing I had done - quite detailed - of a guy being crucified with this torso being ripped off ... I think I was about 13 ... and she said "why you drawing things like this? I don't like you drawing things like this".

I used to enjoy winding up her up like that. I started getting into graphics primarily when I was designing my album covers, for when I used to be a singer, songwriter in Leicester. Through this, I managed to gain contacts and then began studying a foundation course at North Warwickshire College in Nuneaton.

This qualified me for degree course at De Montfort University. However, my style of work didn't seem to go down well with the tutors. They said that my work was stupid, pathetic, and immature. After retaking year one twice, I decided that this was pointless. So, I decided to start my own business on the side and look into getting a full time job.

This is where I really associated myself with the death metal community in Leicester. I've always liked metal music - it is a great passion of mine - and I have always liked scary imagery.

So, it was perfect to me and a great genre to be within. I always believe that the more disturbing an image is, the more it sticks in your mind. So, with my artwork, I try to create a sense of unease and try to make the person looking at it, disturbed every single time they see the image.

Artsin: Where can people see examples of your work on line?

Dan: There are many places you can find my artwork. I have a deviantArt, a Facebook page and I did have a web site but unfortunately that's down because I can't afford to pay for a proper one. I'm mainly using the Facebook page [see links below.]

Artsin: What' s the main influence on your style of work?

Dan: I can' t really pick a main influence - there are so many. When I was younger I used to play resident evil; I think that influenced some of the gore lust that I had when I was younger. But before that ... I don't know why I was drawing things like I was. It wasn't until Silent Hill came out on the Play Station, that I started really enjoying the imagery and loving how disturbing something could be created by someone's mind. Vincent Locke was also a great influence to me. His work with cannibal corpses was incredible.

So, I guess, that the designers on Silent Hill would be one of my main influences. I was lucky enough to email the lead designer from Konami Entertainment. He did reply and gave me some advice on what I should do to become a successful horror designer. He was very nice. I also e-mailed a designer called Colin Marks who works on albums for artists such as Merciful God Creation. He replied with advice as well. He said that he really liked my work and I showed promising talent.

It is always nice to hear compliments from people so high up in the music industry. I guess the main influence throughout my entire life would be H R Giger. There are no other artists like him. From the moment I saw the film Alien, I was hooked. My girlfriend Helen bought me the Necromicon for my birthday, last year, and I am constantly looking at it, when there is a rainy day. The sexual imagery, mixed with the pure insanity, really attracts me.

But to be honest, anything that makes people shiver or want to turn away, makes me love it instantly. I know it sounds shallow, but the sicker and more brutal the better, as far as I'm concerned.

Artsin: Will you be doing more work next year? Do you have plans to exhibit?

Dan: I'm just going to keep rolling forward. Hopefully, I will begin to get more clients. Mainly I do this for fun and, because I enjoy doing it, I was planning an exhibition. However, it is expensive to print these works, as I'm using a mix of photography, black ink and Photo Shop. The printing costs would run into the hundreds. I really would like to do an exhibition. In my foundation course I did one and I really enjoyed seeing people's reaction to my work.

Hopefully, I can be doing that in the future. But there is that age-old paranoia of wondering if people would actually come. I guess sometimes I can be quite paranoid about that, due to my University experience. But I will get over that in time, I just need to gain confidence.

Dan White on Facebook | H R Giger's web site |

Chris Mear Unearths the beauty at Snibston Colliery, Leicestershire

Sophie Hunt reports

The creative possibilities of Snibston Colliery at Coalville are realised by young photographer, Chris Mear who has endeavoured to explore the unused potential of the Colliery.

Chris Mear plays with the concept of the ever changing natural world and the beauty it evokes. His work touches upon the pleasure of observing the altering environment; the decaying and reshaping of the surroundings.

Mear cleverly reinstates the context of these found shapes, transporting them away from their literal translation; for example, a puddle found in the grooves of corrugated iron to the unique and unusual echo of the leaf shape.

Photo © Chris Mear

This ability to recognize the shape we are seeing connects us to the piece as we can immediately relate to what we are seeing. In this world, we are constantly trying to synthesise what is in front of us, seeking the sense of familiarity.

Everybody is afraid and unsettled by the unknown. What does Chris think about all of this? I asked Chris about his work to try and gain some perspective about his practice. I asked him about his family and background; "Were your parents supportive towards your career decision? Do they also share your creativity?" I asked him.

Chris replied, "My parents are always supportive in any decision I make, I changed my career direction three times growing up and each time they supported me, whether it be helping me get a job at an animal sanctuary when I wanted to be a vet, letting me cook the dinner as I dreamt of being a chief or standing out in the garden as set about becoming a photographer."

There is a curious sense of purity surrounding the way Chris Mear captures his images, very ritually; he chooses remote environments especially due to their secluded tendencies to acquire solitude and a place of calm, away from the world.

I questioned Mear's link to the great outdoors and if nature informs his work, to which he replied, "I love them because they are quiet and secluded and I can get away from my inspirations for a while."

He felt that it is the peace and stillness you appreciate and value when you are alone in these places that then allows him to detach from outside influences and purely concentrate on being in the environment.

I hope to see more work being made from this intriguing and refreshingly honest young artist.

See the full set of photos by Chris Mear of the Snibston Colliery

17th October

Young artist reveals talent

Leicester artist Niall Alexander showed us some of his art work, which you can see on his web page. He works under the name Think, which is apt, because he recently performed at the SoundHouse where we heard some of his rap lyrics and were particularly impressed by them. The 29 year old graphic artist, musician and poet is currently in Brighton performing some of his work.

See our interview with Niall Alexander in our Weekend Supplement

Call for Visual Artists

Dr Magnus Gestsson writes: 'The Red Tent Gallery is a new exhibition venue in Leicester City centre's Pocklingtons Walk. We will open our inaugural exhibitioin late November 2011, exact date to be announced. This is a themed exhibition focusing on Christmas and how diverse artists experience this time of year. We welcome work that questions potted histories about Christmas as well as work that celebrates Christmas as a period of peace, caring and forgiveness.

'Please express interest by emailing 1 to 3 jpegs of your proposed work(s) together with an artist statement of 250 words maximum and contact details to redtent.gallery@live.co.uk . Deadline for proposing work for the exhibition is 15 November 2011. For further information and enquiries send an email to the above address.'

18th October

Leicester Peoples' Photo Gallery

A unique exhibition of Leicester photographs opened on Thursday 15th September. Artsin went to the old lending library in Belvoir Street to take a look and went back today to see how it has developed.

The Leicester Peoples Photographic Gallery is something unique. It provides space for over 20 local photographers and over 168 photos are on display. Photos cover a wide range of subects including people, landscapes, city scapes, sport, animals and there is a section of work by local school kids which is amazingly good.

Photo © Keith Cooper

Curated by Ian Davies, the show will provide space for individual photographers and community groups to put up examples of their work. Notable photographers include Keith Cooper, Craig Michael Camp, Beth Walsh and Michael Westmorland (from 16th November.) Some of the pictures come from Leicester Mercury photographers.

"Pictures shown are constantly changing", John Toye told us. He has been a volunteer with the Gallery since it started. "It's the second largest photo exhibition in the UK, outside of London, John said.

All the photos are printed and mounted, thanks to the support of local business John. E. Wright. The exhibition attracts around 50 people a day, more on Saturdays. Some of the photos in the exbition are available for purchase.

The opening hours are

Monday to Thursday 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Curator Ian Davies told us "This is making good use of an old building. The one-top lending library is owned by Leicester City Council and the Adult Education Institute." Ian told us that he had been given use of the upper floor of the building to house this innovative exhibition.

"We don't want to frighten people off, " Ian told us, "we want to bring them on." Ian has managed to put all this together in just six weeks. The show will include work by people of all ages, including those from local schools.

Local people can submit their work to the gallery through its page on Facebook.

There was a wide variety of exhibits on display.

Leicester peoples photogallery
Photo © Keith Cooper

The Leicester Peoples is in the old central library building, entrance in Belvior Street, opposite Fenwicks.

The Leicester Peoples Photographic Gallery on Facebook.

24th August

Grand Prix fashion artist

Jo Cope is a leicester artist who recently completed a commision for Silverstone Racetrack, as part of the events programme at a Grand Prix. The exhibition was called Formula Fashion and included international and British artists. Jo's Aerodynamic dress was the key piece in the show, which was supported by the Arts Council and part of the olympiad Ignite Ambition Programme for 2012. The exbition was viewed by over 5,000 people over the weekend and will go on to tour throughout 2011 in regonal galleries.

dress by jo cope

Jo Cope's web site

22nd August

Sean Clark launches the Interact Gallary

Digital artist Sean Clark launched the new gallary at the Fabrika Arts Centre. The exhibits are devoted to interactive art forms. Read more.

11th August

Artist workshops for youngsters this summer

BUDDING artists will be able to take part in a series of workshops being run in Leicester this summer. The series of free sessions, which are led by professional artists, will take place from August 15 to 26, at New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, and the LCB Depotin Rutland Street.

Workshops are open to anyone under 17, with separate sessions for different age groups. The sessions are linked to two current exhibitions - 2Player, which focuses on art created by computer game designers, and 'I Will Talk to Anyone Who Will Talk To Me' which looks at the nature of conversations. The workshops are part of the contemporary visual arts programme by Leicester City Council's arts and museums service.

More information

29th July

New public photo gallery to form part of former library

A NEW photography gallery showcasing works from professional photographers and community groups will take up residence in part of Leicester's former lending library.

As part of the expansion of Leicester Adult Education College into the landmark Belvoir Street building, Leicester City Council is making the first floor available to a social enterprise to house the Leicester People's Photography Gallery.

The gallery - the first of its kind on the East Midlands to be part of a working college - will provide a mixture of space for large-scale exhibitions, permanent sponsored displays by professional photographers, and temporary spaces for works by community groups and schools.

The gallery will be launched in September 2011, at the start of the new academic year, and run by a local social enterprise. A Facebook page and online image site has already attracted the attention of local photographers. It is hoped the gallery will provide inspiration for adult students.

The college will also be expanding its photography courses in September to tie in with the new gallery. Leicester Assistant City Mayor with responsibility for economic development, culture and tourism, Councillor Ted Cassidy, said: "This is the first gallery of its kind in the East Midlands, and represents a unique opportunity for photographers to showcase their work in the city.

"It's a fantastic way to help encourage local creative talent, and the former library is a perfect venue both for artists and visitors to enjoy the exhibitions."

Further information is available from Ian Davies, who will run the gallery, via the Facebook site 'Leicester People's Photography Gallery.'

18th July

Two Local Artists 'Get a Taste' of the Brixton Urban Art Fair, London 2011

Two locally known artists (Bali Sangha-Jenkins and Steve Robinson) headed down to Brixton, London for the Urban Street Arts Fair to sell their artwork and to get a taste of how Brixton's Urban Art Event differs from Leicester's way of selling Art.

UrbanArts 2011 is London's largest annual open air contemporary arts event and it took place along the street railings of Josephine Avenue, London SW2, during the weekend of Saturday 16th July and Sunday 17th July from 10 am to 6 pm.

Around 2,000 pieces of work were on display outside from 150 artists. This was a great opportunity to buy direct from a wide range of artists including painters, printmakers, street artists and photographers. Bali Sangha-Jenkins exhibited her Abstract Nude Art, whilst Steve Robinson exhibited his Still Life Nude models.

Bali Sangha-Jenkins said "Getting a taste of different street artists work and meeting people of different walks of life was so rewarding. " The event attracted over 7,500 visitors.

4th July

Leicester Print Workshop and Embrace Arts are inviting expressions of interest for a joint exhibition to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Leicester Print Workshop and the 10th anniversary of Embrace's Sculpture in the Garden.

Bringing together both anniversaries this call out is looking for artists who use printmaking techniques to create three dimensional works. The intention is to create a dynamic exhibition that showcases printmaking through a variety of methods and media including origami, books, collages, sculpture, jewellery, textiles and collage.

All work will be available for sale with 50% of the sales price going to the artist; Embrace Arts hopes to have Own Art in place by the start of the exhibition. Work will be displayed on walls, shelves, plinths and in glass display cases. The exhibition will take place from 10 October to 9 December, with a preview night on 7 October

Find out more about this.

23rd June

BBC launches Your Painting on the web

A new web site called Your Paintings has been launched by the BBC. The Leicester Arts and Museums Service is working with the project. The website aims to show the entire UK national collection of oil paintings, the stories behind them and where to see them for real. It is made up of paintings from thousands of museums and other public institutions around the country.

The Museums Service comments that: ' The collection includes works by some of the greatest painters of the last 700 years, as well as paintings by thousands of lesser known artists. It offers a remarkable insight into the history, landscape and culture of the United Kingdom.' Visitors are able to tag works and 'Leicester' now has 40 tags. Visitors can also leave comments on particular paintings, adding their knowledge of what is shown in them.

Launched on 23rd May, the project aims to put the entire collection of the nation's oil paintings on line and 63,000 of them are on the site now. We searched the site to see if Leicester was represented and found a painting called 'Leicester City Centre' by Normal Ellis, completed in 1952. Another Ellis painting, from 1970, shows a view of Wharf Street.

Well worth a visit if you have an interest in British painting generally or in what artists from Leicester have done, the site is a valuable contribution to the work of British painters and artists.

There is a fine painting of the Theatre Royal, by Frank Leslie Cramphorn, painted around 1957. Leicester's Theatre Royal was built in 1836, although not officially called by that name until 1851), it had its main entrance in Horsefair Street.

See the Your Paintings web site | Find out more on the Council's web site.

12th May

Hinckley: Young artists open exhibition

The work of young artists from Hinckley was on view at the Atkins Gallery and a young band played music for the guests. Artsin was there to see it.

The Atkins is an impressive building. Opened in August of last year, the new arts centre was converted from a hosiery mill and some of the people we met can remember being in the same room when it was full of knitting machines. The transformation to a large bright and airy room with a cafe at one end and the gallery at the other, has been remarkable. On an adjoining plot, the new Hinckley Arts College is still under construction and is due to open later this year.

The entrance to the cafe and gallery of the Atkins with the new arts college on the left.

The exhibition was an open entry project in which young people could submit their work, whether they were still at school or just doing some painting in their spare time. The standards were impressive.

Chairmen of Creative Hinckley, John Brightmore, told me that the project was funded from a national grant scheme, in which Leicestershire was one of only ten areas to be successful in their application. Apart from the Cafe and Gallery, the building also includes a performance area, studios and work spaces for artists.

John Brightmore of Creative Hinckley

Creative Hinckley is a membership organisation which supports artists and mounts workshops and events. The organisation promotes art in the community and fosters regeneration of the town by providing cultural opportunities that will draw people into the area.

Living Mystery performing their songs at the exhibition

A young band from the nearby area of Earl Shilton put on a set of their songs and some well known covers. Living Mystery has played several times in Leicester and tonight's performance delighted the assembled audience, appealing to people of all ages.

In June (Saturday 18th to Sunday 19th), the Atkins is to host a summer craft fair called 'Crafted' which will feature the work of local crafts people. A national event, in October, called 'The Big Draw', allows members of the public to submit their drawings and sketches for an exhibition. The Atkins plans to be part of this.

Today's exhibition had two categories: 11 to 15 year olds and 16 to 19 year olds. Prizes were presented to four winners, two in each category.

The 11 to 15 first prize was awarded to Georgie French and the first prize for the 16 to 19 years olds went to Hannah Dickinson who walked away with a cheque for £400 for her winning entry.

'Dreamer' by Hannah Dickinson, acrylic on canvass, winner of the 16 - 19 category.

'Killing Time' by George Orril, 16 to 19 category.

'Shadows in the Waves' by Guy Hargreaves, Acrylic on canvass, 16 to 19 category.

'Galatia' by Bryony Neal, collage, 11 to 15 years category.

Find out about the Atkins | Hear songs by Living Mystery | Find out more about Creative Hinckley | Creative Hinckley events

6th May

Art for Change celebrates the work of fine art students

Students from De Montfort University's Fine Arts course gathered at the Malcolm Arcade, in Leicester's city centre, to exhibit their work at one of the Art for Change events.

students from DMU at the art for change exhibition

Alex Mason, Pippa Sanger, Harriet Horne, Lindsey Wortley

The group of second year students were among those who work was exhibited at the open evening, held at the Art for Change gallery in the Malcolm Arcade.

The Chemgram by Lindsey Wortley. Chemgrams are an experimental and unpredictable analog tehnicque. Using the chemicals involved in deveoping photos, these remarkable shapes emerge from the process.

Pippa Sanger explores the thematic ideas of woodland enchantment, portraiture and silhouettes through digital and analogue photography. This leads into sketching, collage and mixed medium composition.

Inks and paints allowed Alex Mason to experiment with the creation of images. His work explored the extent to which the artist should be in control of the process of creating a work of art.

sculpture by Hadjipetrou

This sculpture is by Liam Hadjipetrou.

abstract painting

Read more about Art for Change

21st April

Local jewellery maker receives award

Local contemporary jeweller Anna Calvert has recently set up her own business and is now winning awards. Anna studied at Loughborough University and gained her degree in 2006 and has since been working on her jewellery part time.

In 2009, upon gaining a place at Design Space (a business incubation scheme for jewellers in the Jewellery Quarter Birmingham) Anna took the bold step of leaving her job at Northampton Council to pursue her career in jewellery.

From here her business went from strength to strength and recently she took part in her first trade fair. Anna Calvert Jewellery was exhibiting at the British Craft Trade Fair 3rd to 5th April and was awarded the Best Newcomers Award sponsored by Craft & Design Magazine.

Anna said "it was a fantastic recognition from the industry, to win this award. I am really proud of what I have achieved so far. I am just so over whelmed by the positive response I have had to my work".

Anna's jewellery is made from silver using traditional techniques but she incorporates a modern twist by introducing soft leather into her pieces. It was this that caught the judges eye along with the craftsmanship of the work and her overall presentation. Anna is now busy working from her workshop in Harborough, on orders received at the show and is looking forward to her next local show Makers Mart on the 23rd April at the LCB Depot in Leicester.

For further information visit Anna at www.annacalvert.co.uk

8th March

We take a look at the Arts for Change exhibition in the Malcolm Aracde, on our exhibitions page.

Phoenix Square celebrates the diversity of the World's Cultures

In collaboration with De Montfort University and "Cultural Exchanges", Phoenix Square: Film & Digital Media present Let's Celebrate 365, an UNESCO Award-winning photographic collection from photo-journalist Jeremy Hunter.

This compelling digital exhibition of photographs visually explores the DNA of the World's Cultures through their Festivals and Celebrations and addresses the issues of cultural traditions, rituals and festivals, diversity of beliefs and the astounding variety of human society.

The photos taken in this exhibition are the result of more than three decades of Jeremy Hunter's travels to 60 countries across five continents. The collection also features work taken at various festivals in Leicester including the city's Diwali celebrations. 'These photographs provide an unrivalled insight into the extraordinary diversity of humanity, with many of the cultures and faiths included being represented here in the UK and Leicester' says Jeremy Hunter.

'And with the approach of London 2012, the collection also reflects Baron de Coubertin's Olympics vision of promoting "friendly understanding among nations for the good of humanity."

It is this message that lies at the heart of Let's Celebrate 365 - Jeremy Hunter. The exhibition covers 30 years of his work and represents multiculturalism, as seen through the lens of the festivals and celebrations of many peoples from around the world.

The exhibition was opened by Sir Peter Soulsby MP at a reception give at the Phoenix Digital Media Centre, where a distinguished group of people had gathered.

"Multiculturalism is a hot topic both for both the national government and for people in Leicester", Jeremy Hunter told us. He explained that the photographs he had taken of people from all parts of the world, opens up their culture and commands our respect. His images of festivals, pilgrimages and celebrations from several continents helps us to understand what a richly diverse planet we live on and this encourages our respect.

The award-winning photographer has documented the world's cultures and many of the images we saw tonight were stunning, if not breathtaking.

Addressing the gathering at the reception, Jeremy Hunter explained that, whilst the exhibition will be based at Phoenix Square, it can also be seen in "other public spaces", including the big screen in Humberstone Gate.

"Looking at a people's festivals and celebrations is a way of observing them and understanding their way of life. This helps us to appreciate the fragility of their culture", he said. "By going to India and other far eastern countries, we can better understand the celebrations of people here in Leicester", Jeremy explained.

"This places this exhibition at the centre of Leicester's life and it is fitting that it is launched tonight from the heart of the Cultural Quarter", he said.

MP Sir Peter Soulsby (pictured with Jeremy Hunter) declared the exhibition open and in doing so drew attention to the role played by Leicester City Council in bringing the Cultural Quarter and the new Phoenix Centre into existence. "We like to think that we do celebrations well in Leicester ", he said. Sir Peter made reference to some of the great festivals of the city's annual calendar, such as the Diwali Celebrations and the Caribbean Carnival. He paid tribute to the great skill of Jeremy Hunter in capturing the colour and excitement of the people he was observing and the activities in which they were engaged.

The exhibition will also be accompanied by an Artist's Talk with Jeremy Hunter on Mon 14 Mar, 6.30pm but we were told this has "sold out". However, he is also speaking at De Montfort University on Wednesday 2nd March at 6 p.m.

The gatheringof people from the world of the arts enjoyed a buffet of food supplied by the Lanna Thai restaurant, which has recently opened in the cultural quarter, adjacent to CURVE theatre.

people celebrating the festival of a goddess

Find out more about this event | See Jeremy Hunter's web site.

See our festivals page for information about Leicester's calendar of events.

Other pages you might like

Our section on the historic buildings of Leicester/shire.

If you are an artist, ask us feature your work on this page.