ReEL
Welcome to ReEL Recording Eden Lives, a project brought to you by the Eden Valley Artistic Network. The Project The project runs from 1st October 2025 to 31st March 2026 and aims to create a digital archive of 50 Eden … Continued
Out of Ink Exhibition Original prints exhibition by Cumbria Printmakers Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth October 17th – 19th, 10am – 4pm Preview: October 16th, 6pm – 8pm We are pleased to present an exciting exhibition showcasing examples of contemporary and traditional … Continued
Interview with Tom G H Adams by Caroline Lamb – Abstract Mixed Media Artist – over the phone – 22nd August 2025 It certainly wasn’t the perfect run-up to my first ever experience interviewing a member of the Eden Valley … Continued
Open Studios and Art Trail 6-21 September 2025 Fifty four artists will open their studios or create a pop-up exhibition as part of this free event which combines the opportunity to visit artists’ studios, buy their work, and experience breath-taking … Continued
Interview with Kate Lavender by Polly Marix Evans – Stained Glass artist – at Rheged – 19 May 2025 I’ve never met Kate before, usually I’ve at least bumped into my victims (!) before I interview them, and, rather poorly, … Continued
My first self published book. My name is Stuart James Fraser, although, confusingly, I paint under my childhood nickname of Fraz (see my website for more info https://www.frazart.co.uk), a hangover from my early illustration days. “This is a delightful book … Continued
Picturing Penrith Is Back! Our ever popular competition took place as part of the May Day celebrations on Monday 5th May 2025. Artists were invited to produce an artwork depicting Penrith in any medium, in a day. The entries … Continued
Oscar Fenner – painter and mixed media artist – February 2025. Oscar holds the title of “youngest member” at EVAN and, aged 25, he’s one to watch. Born in Nunhead, London, Oscar’s family moved to Cumbria when he was four. … Continued
Gallery Northwest is honoured to be hosting a truly unique and captivating exhibition, which will feature ten amazing and extremely successful female artists from Cumbria and South West Scotland. This event presents a fabulous opportunity to witness and appreciate such … Continued
Interview with Margaret Shaw by Polly Marix Evans – 6 December 2024 There was so much going on in the run-up to Christmas that Margaret and I couldn’t find a time to meet up in person, which is a pity … Continued
Interview with Martin Reid, at The EVAN Gallery in Penrith, by Polly Marix Evans – some time towards the end of August 2024. Oof, this was always going to be a tricky one as I think Marty is really quite … Continued
Whats on: Basic Argentine Tango Classes A structured 4 week course of Argentine tango for absolute beginners. Monday evenings 6.00-7.30pm 2nd/9th/16th/23rd September 2024 plus 30th September (social evening). Follow on classes throughout. November and December with Christmas social event. Eaglesfield … Continued
Interview with Wendy Ann Stanger – Fibre Artist – by Polly Marix Evans This was supposed to be an in-person interview with me going to see Wendy Ann at The EVAN Gallery in Penrith but, due to me recovering from … Continued
‘Window on Art’ supported by EVAN (Eden Valley Artistic Network) and linked to Cockermouth Live Festival. An event for visual artists to turn the town centre of Cockermouth into a gallery, through exhibiting their work in local shop windows. This … Continued
Interview with Pam Roelich at The EVAN Gallery in Penrith – March 2024 – by Polly Marix Evans I’m on duty at The EVAN Gallery for quite a few days in March, so Pam comes to chat to me there. … Continued
Up-coming Exhibitions ‘First Meeting 2’ sold from the Wiliamson Art Gallery during the first leg of the Exhibition’s tour. New Light Prize Exhibition judges selected the sister painting ‘First Meeting 1’ as replacement. If you happen to be in London … Continued
Interview with Lou Windle ‘The Curious Zebra’ by Polly Marix Evans – December 2023 I’ve been angling for an invitation to Lou’s house ever since I discovered where abouts she was moving to in Penrith. Lou and I sat and … Continued
Interview with Kim Tillyer, AKA Witchmountain, at her studio near Braithwaite – September 2023 by Polly Marix Evans This was always going to be a fun day out, I’ve known Kim for quite a few years now and count her … Continued
Open Studios and Art Trail 7-22 September 2024 Forty six artists will open their studios or create a pop-up exhibition as part of this free event which combines the opportunity to visit artists’ studios, buy their work, and experience breath-taking … Continued
Interview with Julia Neubauer – by Polly Marix Evans – 30 May 2023 There are some people in this world who are simply lovely through and through, like a stick of seaside rock with ‘lovely’ stamped right through to the … Continued
Book now available from the EVAN Gallery, Penrith. “We Brits specialise in eccentrics; and they don’t come much more eccentric than Kenneth Wilson. Who on earth would voluntarily (or involuntarily) cycle around Europe with a cello? But Mr Wilson does … Continued
Interview with Mike Turnbull, musician – March 2023 – by Polly Marix Evans Well, this is a new one for me, I have never interviewed a musician before, unless we count Gwen Bainbridge but she’s a ceramicist too and a … Continued
UNSEEN BARRY PHOTOGRAPHS – Trevor Grimshaw’s Unseen Archive Written by Frank Dixon, John Keith and Martin Dobson In 1977 Trevor Grimshaw published “Stilled Life”, a book of 36 black and white photographs of some of the redundant British Rail steam … Continued
Proximity – Lockdown and beyond: Friday, 1 May – Thursday, 1 June 2023 Gallery North West 24 Front Street, Brampton CA8 1NG “There is no place more delightful than one’s own fireplace. “ Cicero: Cicero was a lawyer, philosopher, and … Continued
Gallery opening- launch and preview evening: Friday, 24 March 2023 18:00-20:00 Gallery North West 24 Front Street, Brampton CA8 1NG We are holding an opening Launch evening at the new gallery on March 24th during the following times: 6.00 -7.00 … Continued
28th January 2023 10.00am Rheged Ideal for beginners, this class starts with a brief introduction to the cyanotype process, its origins and the ways artists have used it to generate artwork. The image of the animal which you have … Continued
Interview with Emma Scott – Jeweller – December 2022 – By Polly Marix Evans You have no idea how excited I’ve been about interviewing Emma. I had this idea that I’d go swooshing off to her fairy-tale Rapunzelesque tower of … Continued
Music and Nature – The Clifford Movement and Riverwoods Come along to a fantastic night of local music and the first showing of Riverwoods in Cumbria. Friday 4th November 2022 7pm – 10pm Penrith Town Hall, Corney Square, Penrith, … Continued
‘CREATING A MONOCHROME OIL STUDY USING A ‘WIPE-OFF’ APPROACH’ Penrith Art Club One-day Workshop – Open to Non-members (£55) Saturday 5th November 10-4pm at Stainton Village Hall, Stainton, Penrith Tutor: Joan Prickett Working in monochrome removes the bewildering … Continued
Interview with Simon Howlett, at the EVAN Gallery in Penrith, 27th August 2022. By Polly Marix Evans Well, this was a new one for me. I think, until now, I’ve actually known all the people EVAN has asked me to … Continued
Open Studios and Art Trail 3-18 September 2022 Fifty one artists will open their studios or create a pop-up exhibition as part of this free event which combines the opportunity to visit artists’ studios, buy their work, and experience breath-taking … Continued
Interview with Elizabeth Acland – June 2022 – by Polly Marix Evans I’ve been so excited about doing this interview, partly because I get to visit Lizzie at her home in Penrith (in the very street I dream about living … Continued
THE LIVING MOUNTAIN The Living Mountain is a solo audio-visual performance inspired by Nan Shepherd’s celebrated book of the same name. The project explores Nan’s writing, the Cairngorm mountain range and human connections with the wild through lyrical, melodic and … Continued
Interview with Gwen Bainbridge – March 2022 – by Polly Marix Evans Gwen describes herself as a ceramic designer/maker and an acquired taste, ‘Like Marmite, you either love my work or you don’t like it at all.’ When I first … Continued
Exhibition by Cumbrian Textile Makers 6th to 30th April 2022 At Gallery 4a Corney Place, Penrith CA11 7PX Open Wednesday to Saturday and Easter Monday 10am to 4pm
Gallery 4a, a brand new gallery officially opens it’s doors on Tuesday 1st of March. The gallery is located next door to the EVAN Gallery, Corney Place, Penrith and will hold a variety of exhibitions throughout the year, featuring artists … Continued
“There’s nothing quite like the meeting of two printmakers to get the chat flowing, though not always just about printmaking.” Interview by Polly Marix Evans Kirsten Gilder is a screen printer, based in North Cumbria, creating hand-crafted textiles and original … Continued
“I usually like to meet face to face so I can see the work of the person I’m interviewing, it makes it easier to understand the way they work, and the processes involved, but on this occasion, we are conducting … Continued
‘I couldn’t draw at all. A friend of mine keeps an early picture I did of her dog, and you can’t even tell it’s a dog! Everything I do I have learnt, and I believe one hundred percent that anyone … Continued
A beautiful pictorial guide to the best Lakeland views, an illustrated account of the history of the English Lake District by EVAN member Colin Hindle. Available now from the EVAN Gallery, priced just £18 This hardback book is … Continued
Polly Marix Evans has always loved drawing, colouring and making. Throughout her 1970’s childhood, she and her elder sister would spend hours producing endless drawings on reams of ‘computer printout’ their father brought back from work. For her 6th birthday … Continued
This interview couldn’t be conducted in the usual way, due to lockdown and tier restrictions, so as a result, I feel I am just going to scratch the surface of this mixed media artist who views and depicts the world … Continued
On sale now! Beneath the Beacon Song Project CD recorded at St Mary’s Church, Wreay. Performed by Dawn Hurton, Juliet Fossey, Peter Michael Rowan, June Swift, Gwen Bainbridge, Rich Evans, Thomas Corda-Stanley and Pete Moran. Mixed and mastered by Peter … Continued
Sarah is primarily a pastel artist. Her fabulous jewel-like pictures, often depicting incredible sunsets and wet beaches with intensity of colour and atmosphere, are to be seen in her studio in Eden Valley Artistic Network Gallery, other galleries and venues … Continued
In our latest interview, Simon Whalley spoke to our lovely Karen McSkimming. Unable to interview her in person they used ‘Face Time’ while enjoying a cup of coffee. Karen says she loves painting with a passion, especially animals. Karen is … Continued
I interviewed Ray Ogden in his studio in the EVAN Gallery where he produces beautiful and fascinating limited-edition prints. He exhibits in the Gallery and a variety of other venues when exhibition opportunities arise. Ray did his first degree in … Continued
This month I am focusing on Elizabeth Acland; the profits of whose art work go to fund the education of two girls in Uganda. I visited Elizabeth in her studio on Arthur Street, which you can also visit in June … Continued
‘Dogged Determination’ – An interview with Mary Chappelhow of Interlude Ceramics by Sarah Hiscoke. I interviewed Mary Chappelhow of Interlude Ceramics on a beautiful sunny day sitting in the grounds of Brougham Hall while we both drank delicious coffees from … Continued
Maggi Toner-Edgar, the daughter of a dressmaker and granddaughter of a lace maker, was always going to be involved in textiles and fashion. She first started working with her hands and yarn when she was three years old. Maggi was … Continued