As
Christmas fast approaches Ashley Jackson and all the girls at the Gallery wish
to join in sending warm wishes for a peaceful Christmas and Healthy New Year. I
look back on the year between my last Christmas letter and wonder where the
time has gone… but then I consider everything that Ashley has squeezed in to
that time, below is a brief revisit.
October 2010 was the commencement of a full
year celebrating 70 years of Ashley Jackson with an exhibition at the Mall
Galleries, London 4th October- 9th
October with a return to Yorkshire for October
22nd, his actual birthday to Temple Newsam House where “Power and
the Passion” was hung for 6 months. This was a celebration not only of Ashley
Jackson’s Art and Life but his vision of Yorkshire.
We can share with you that not only was the exhibition a success in visitor
numbers, whilst over 700 children benefited from free demonstrations but also
in its provision of a donation to The Prince’s Trust Yorkshire and the Humber. Paintings from
“Power and the Passion” which were specifically chosen by Ashley from his
personal collection to preview, Yorkshire’s power and Ashley’s passion for his
Yorkshire mistress are now on show at the Gallery in Holmfirth so if you didn’t
get the opportunity to view these magnificent paintings in either exhibition
setting then please do visit the Gallery to share in the celebration.
March
12th 2011 launched “A Walk with Ashley” a brochure published by
Kirklees to encourage visitors to Holmfirth to look outside of the Town centre
and beyond Summer Wine to take in the beauty of the landscape within a short
distance from Holmfirth, you might have caught a glimpse of this on Calendar
News. Ashley was honoured to produce a walk that would take in the local
hamlets, winding roads and stunning moorland scenery that he captures in his
watercolours. The brochure contains three of Ashley’s prints and leads walkers
to these locations to compare the artist’s vision with their own. Kirklees have
been kind enough to supply us with a number of copies so should you visit
Holmfirth and wish to see something different, bring your walking shoes and we
can provide the map. http://www.ashley-jackson.co.uk/pages/take-a-walk-with-ashley
The
Paint Days in May were extremely successful with the new location and amenities
of a local mission providing a safe guard should the weather have been too unsuitable
to paint outside, it also allowed for more painting time as we no longer had to
travel to and from a lunch venue. A fantastic outside catering company provide
fine Yorkshire Fayre with enough to feed all students and more. Students past
and present wrote to us after their painting experience to express their
appreciation of Ashley’s tuition and to generally thank Ashley for such a
memorable day. We have two dates now released for next years Paint Days, the 11th
and the 14th May, already the 14th is proving extremely
popular. If you think this might be a suitable Christmas gift for yourself or
someone you know do contact the Gallery and we will be able to provide you with
further information and answer any questions you may have. http://www.ashley-jackson.co.uk/collections/paint-days
The
New Limited Edition “Coming Home before the rain” Brontë Moorland, the first release for two years was
unveiled on the 1st October and has seen popular interest from those who wish to build a collection of Ashley’s limited editions and
those who are new to Ashley but wished the opportunity to enjoy the view of the
limited edition on their wall. The Limited edition is of 250 copies, the first
50 are remarques which are purchased with a mounted pencil sketch taken from
the original drawings of the painting. Call me a romantic but there is a farm
house standing proud against the
moorland, with a path that leads up to it through an open gateway and so viewing the Limited Edition reminds me of
Scarlet O’Hara reaching Tara during the Civil War, it contains the atmosphere
of an emotional homecoming….. Should you wish the Limited edition is on preview
at the Gallery. http://www.ashley-jackson.co.uk/products/coming-home-before-the-rain
“Where
Counties Meet” an exhibition celebrating the friendship of Ashley and L.S.Lowry
is at present on display at Patchings, Nottingham.
The title was aptly given to signify the Yorkshire and Lancashire heritage of each artist, but a
little know fact is that L.S.Lowry first met Ashley at his Gallery in Barnsley
where he purchased a painting of his own choosing when turned over to display
its title “Where Counties meet” was unveiled…. This was to be the beginning of
a close friendship of which Ashley is honoured to contribute work to hang alongside his old mentor. The exhibition closde on the 20th November.
.Through
popular demand we have also launched a new Limited Edition Beaker, which
contains one of the most powerful paintings exhibited within “Power and the
Passion” – The Lion at Blakey. It captures everything that Ashley transcribes
so well, a warm autumnal foreground leading you to The Lion Public House with
your attention held there by the powerful overcast sky. Once again Dunoon have
finely displayed their attention to detail and replication of colour, which you
can compare against the original painting hung within the Gallery should you
choose. http://www.ashley-jackson.co.uk/products/the-lion-blakey-ridge
A final gift to Ashley
before the end of his 70th Year on October 20th was for
Grand Central Railway Company to provide Ashley with the accolade of not only
having a train named after him, “Ashley Jackson – The Yorkshire Artist” but to
assist in his life long philosophy of making art accessible to everyone by
placing reproductions of his paintings within the carriages. The train will run
between Bradford and London
three times a day so if you do get the opportunity travel on “Ashley Jackson –
The Yorkshire Artist” and let us know what you think via facebook or twitter
(photographs optional) http://www.ashley-jackson.co.uk/pages/train-naming
Unfortunately
due to phenomenal success we have no Christmas cards left this year, so I do
apologise if this has left any disappointed customers. It really was a warm
card depicting a community atmosphere looking from West Nab down to the village of Meltham. Please do email me if you wish
to be emailed with news on next years Christmas card when it becomes available.We have placed an alternative card on the website for those who may still wish to send an Ashley Jackson card this Christmas.
http://www.ashley-jackson.co.uk/products/alternative-christmas-card
Should
you should wish to have Ashley personalize a
Christmas gift please do contact
us before setting off so that we may confirm Ashley’s availability as we would
not wish to disappoint you after making the journey to the Gallery.
Just a
final reminder most items can be purchased through our website, all prints and
Limited edition will be mailed out without frame or glass to prevent damage and
we shall do our best to guarantee Christmas delivery on all goods ordered by 12
noon Monday 19th December for UK
delivery. All overseas orders can be placed by contacting claudia@ashley-jackson.co.uk
where we will be happy to quote postage charges and invoice you via
paypal.
We also know how many people prefer to speak
to someone at the end of a phone to discuss purchase or queries and so we are
also more than happy to arrange mail order items through this means, do contact
the Gallery on 01484 686460
The
Gallery will be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Bank Holiday Monday, New
Years Day and Bank Holiday Tuesday.
I
think that is everything, and all that is left is for me is to wish you
everything that I would wish myself, happiness and health.
Warm
wishes
Claudia
Ashley Jackson Galleries
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