Artists gear up for third Ilkley Art Trail with exhibitions (From Wharfedale Observer)

Artists gear up for third Ilkley Art Trail with exhibitions

8:00am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in Local news

Pop-up enterprise The Ilkley Gallery is working with Ilkley Art Trail to celebrate its third anniversary this year.

Last year, 4,000 visitors enjoyed the trail and artists’ sales from the event totalled £20,000.

Organisers have been spurred on by the fact that nearly all the visitor questionnaires said it was a better experience than other more-established art trails.

They are now poised to put on another cultural event in Ilkley, Addingham and surrounding areas this October, and are welcoming submissions.

In the run-up to the 2013 event, businesses will be joining in, opening their doors for a series of public shows of regional artists’ work through the year in Ilkley, with originals and prints available to buy now.

Patrons Ison Harrison Solicitors on The Grove have a reception and meeting room gallery space now showing a new collection by Ilkley’s own Lucia Smith, who works in soft pastels.

This collection, called An Ordinary Day in Yorkshire, offers images of pattern, colour and a sense of connection with the land that is anything but ordinary.

Wells Practice Osteopaths on Wells Promenade have an exhibition in its reception, two rooms and an entrance hall by Harrogate artist Anita Bowerman.

Her exhibition includes her intricate paper-cut takes on Ilkley and a collection of her ‘in situ’ paintings.

Other Ilkley Art Trail artists will be showing their work later in the year in the run-up to the trail in October.

Work can be seen at Ison Harrison between 9am and 5pm on weekdays and viewing times vary at The Wells Practice. Call (01943) 880100 to see pieces in treatment rooms.

Visit ilkleyarttrail.org.uk for more information.