Successful Special View at Leicester's Cank Street Gallery

What a fantastic evening we had at Cank Street Gallery on 15th of this month! The special view of the gallery's Open Exhibition for 2015 was wonderful and very different, with a wide variety of artworks by artists, sculptors & craftspeople from the Leicestershire area.

The range of work was genuinely fascinating, from tiny sculptures to large scale multi-media installations, still life, portraits, landscapes and abstracts available to purchase.

The evening was thoroughly enjoyed by the many people who attended, the friends, family & admirers of exhibitors, art buyers, local curators and the occasional celebrity.

Dayle Flude, the Gallery owner, was delighted with the turnout and with the friendly, positive atmosphere, which continued all evening. It was one of those parties where everyone was happy to be in attendance :)

Leicester's Cank Street Gallery's Open Exhibition remains open until the end of October.

A gratifying crowd at Cank Street Gallery special view on 15 October

Artist Lizzy Hewitt with gallery owner Dayle Flude 

With well known Leicester artist, Peter Welton

Lizzy with members of Cank Street Gallery staff

Lizzy Hewitt with fellow Leicester artist Louise Ellerington (2R)& friends

Lizzy and Max

Family resemblance? Lizzy Hewitt with mum
Christine Denoon

Lizzy's brother Mark & local jazz musician
Andrew Wood

Leicester hairdresser & art collector,
Indy, with Anetha & Lizzy Hewitt

Always admiring of Lizzy's artwork,
Glen & Jacqui Tillyard

Lizzy's friends Tim & Calvin demonstrate their support

Shaun the Sheep to follow Aardman's Gromit on major art trail!!

Shaun the Sheep

Aardman is at it again! Some time ago I blogged about the Bristol 'Gromit' trail and now, having just been voted the nation's favourite children's TV character, it's Shaun the Sheep's turn to shine!

The Gromit trail around Bristol was tremendously successful, visited by 
some 1.2 million people!

Shaun first appeared in Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave, in 1995. Such was his character and popularity that in 2007 he was given his own TV series. Now he's to appear across Bristol and London in his own major public arts trail to again raise funds for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Shaun the Sheep as we're more used to seeing him, from Aardman

It's anticipated that up to 120 giant sculptures of Shaun will appear across the two cities, decorated by artists and celebrities. Yesterday Aardman creator, Nick Park, launched the project, which looks FANTASTIC!!! 
Another element of Aardman's 'Grand Appeal' for the Children's Hospital, the project is called Shaun in the City and will be taking place across the two locations in 2015, London in the spring and Bristol in the summer. 
Following the Gromit Unleashed trail, the sale of Gromit sculptures raised £2.3m for the Children's Hospital and even greater things are hoped for the sale of the Shaun the Sheep models after Shaun in the City! 
Look out for lots more news and great pics of Shaun's flock in colourful action in the months to come!

The first Shaun the Sheep sculptures for Shaun in the City, launched yesterday, 8 August.