An art gallery in Nantwich is preparing to show a two-week exhibition of works by local artists Amanda Challoner.
The exhibition at Love Art Gallery on Pillory Street will run from May 9 to 23.
Gallery owners Gaynor and Mark Gee (pictured) opened the venue in December 2014, opposite their Art of Framing shop.
And it is the first exhibition of a local artist’s work – which they hope will lead to a new artist each month exhibiting for two weeks.
Amanda (pictured, below) has been selling commissioned paintings and illustrations since she was 15.
Her work centres on rural, horse and animal themes.
In 1998, Amanda was chosen to paint in Tuscany as a sixth form student on a Cheshire County Council art trip.
She went on to study BA Illustration degree at Edinburgh College of Art, and then a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Secondary Education to qualify as an art teacher.
In 2005, Amanda was commissioned to complete six paintings for Aintree Racecourse to depict scenes of the 2005 Grand National festival, including the racecourse paddock, the winner’s enclosure, weighing room complex, and the Victorian stable yard.
Her paintings mark the last scenes of the historic Aintree Racecourse before the course underwent a major re-development in 2006.
“The commission was a huge honour, being able to depict a part of history for the Grand National, the world’s most famous National Hunt racecourse,” she said.
“I grew up on a dairy farm in Cheshire, surrounded by animals and my own ponies.
“Horses and ponies have played a huge and fun role in my life, from competing locally, being in the Cheshire South Pony Club, watching family and friends compete in point-to-points.
“Being so involved in equine sports helps me to keep seeing and understanding first-hand the speed and power horses possess plus their physical beauty and uniquely individual personalities.
“I have also enjoyed creating a series of bird paintings.
“They are such beautiful creatures and have been a pleasure to paint.
“Painting for me is highly powerful and emotionally stimulating.
“I find great excitement in working out expressive ways to portray an image through a mixture of techniques.
“The challenges painting throws at me, challenges about how the image should be constructed, what colours should be used, what perspectives, how loosely depicted and so on are intriguing.”
Visit www.loveartgallery.co.uk for more details.
Hi I am a local artist, I wondered if you would look at my work.