Christmas 2011 and the past year....

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 4^th October- 9^th October with a return to Yorkshire for October 22^nd, 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 12^th 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 11^th and the 14^th May, already the 14^th 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 1^st 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 70^th Year on October 20^th 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