A P R I L E D I T I O N

FINE ART PREVIEWCOLLECTABLE ARTWORK FOR A CONTEMPORARY LIFESTYLE

Welcome to the latest edition of Fine Art Previewwhich presents a spectacular celebration of contemporary art for April. All of these exclusive limited editions are available to pre-order online today, or can be viewed in the gallery after their release dates.

Featuring six of the most acclaimed artists on the contemporary scene, these collections whisk us from the vintage promenades of the Cote D’Azur to the wild meadows of Yorkshire in the company of flirtatious couples and magical creatures. Two major highlights are our inaugural collection of lyrical abstracts from the extraordinary Simon Kenny, and an inspirational series of ‘Reflections’ from the great Mackenzie Thorpe. And don’t be late for your Royal Appointment….

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Contact the gallery to discuss the opportunities of purchasing

BY YOUR FAVOURITE ARTIST

O R I G I N A L A R T W O R K

Original Painting by Emma Davis Title: A Fresh Start, Spring

ReflectionsMackenzie Thorpe

Famous Face in a CrowdCraig Alan

The Big TeaseJack Vettriano

SpellboundKerry Darlington

Wild and FreeGary Benfield

Infinite ImpressionsSimon Kenny

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2016 was an eventful year in the Thorpe household. As the months unfolded, Mackenzie celebrated his 60th birthday and the birth of his

first, and then his second, grandchild. But in the midst of so much joy came some darker moments when he found himself dealing with a diagnosis of cancer.

Following treatment, Mackenzie is now happily and gratefully in remission. After experiencing such major life-changing events, he found himself in a reflective mood, revisiting thoughts and memories reaching back into his own childhood.

With an energy and vision that is typical of him, he has used this well of experience to create a joyful and life affirming body of work, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his life.

So ask Mackenzie what his first releases of 2017 are about and he will answer with one word: ‘reflections’.

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“Fresh as the new dayIt may be cold on the outside

but togetheralways warm within”

MORNING SNOWEdition of 295Paper EditionSize 20” x 22”Framed £595

AFTER THE STORMEdition of 125Paper EditionSize 24” x 15”Framed £495

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“I love those who grow brave by reflection.”

Leonardo da Vinci

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After The Storm

The rain cameand wind spedacross the sky

Till I sawthe world anewAfter the Storm.

With the lightest of touches and the most glorious and vibrant of palettes Mackenzie has composed a series of works which embrace the broadest spectrum of human experience. Humour, nostalgia and tenderness sit side by side with his musings on love and life, happiness and joy, sorrow, pain and isolation – but the overall feeling is one of optimism and hope for the future.

In these personally selected new releases, we see thoughts from the child he once was: The Fastest Car in the World for instance, represents the splendid fantasy car that he always dreamed of owning as a little boy. Alongside these memories, we have more philosophical or visionary pieces, which explore the interior life of the artist, those things which can only be found in his heart, soul and imagination.

FASTEST CAR IN THE WORLDEdition of 75

Canvas on Board Size 42” x 27”

Framed £1,500

BIG REDEdition of 75

Canvas on Board Size 42” x 27”

Framed £1,500

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Big Red

A flash of redon a sky of blueit’s the largestand fastest,thing up there!

The Bringer of Love

When the world seems like a desertor filled by the oceans

Look into the eyes of a childand see

reflectionsof all the hope and love

you’ll ever need.

THE BRINGER OF LOVEEdition of 195

Cold Cast Porcelain Size 12” x 8”

£995

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IT’S ONLY A BEEEdition of 295Paper EditionSize 24” x 13”Framed £525

Mackenzie’s unique, highly memorable visual style has made him one of the most recognised and collected contemporary British artists across the world. Working as an artist since 1989, he has created one of the most loved and acclaimed oeuvres in contemporary art. His original paintings, published works and sculpture are held in private and corporate collections across the globe, from Japan to Australia, from the USA to New Zealand, as well as Europe and the UK. His collectors include famous names from the worlds of sport, music, film, politics and royalty. He has also undertaken many prestigious commissions for clients ranging from The Andre Agassi Foundation and the Elton John Aids Foundation to Princess Anne and William Hague.

AVAILABLE FROM EARLY APRIL

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CRAIG ALAN FAMOUS FACE IN A CROWD FAMOUS FACE IN A CROWD CRAIG ALAN12 13

C R A I G A L A N

BY ROYAL APPOINTMENTEdition of 95Embellished Box CanvasSize 30” x 30” Framed £1,495

Life is not a snapshot. It might take a little time,

but eventually you’ll see the big picture.

FAMOUS FACE IN A CROWD

Looking at a painting by visionary artist and innovator Craig Alan is a unique experience. Seen at close quarters, it is an intricate pattern of human activity with a myriad small figures going about their day to day lives. Some may be harried commuters in their business suits, while others are friends passing the time of day with a relaxed chat.

None of them seems aware of the part they are playing in Craig’s skilfully directed production which is created exclusively for us, the outsider, the audience. Because when we take a step back, from the busy crowd something, or someone, begins to emerge; an iconic building, a New York landmark, or a familiar face perhaps.

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In the tradition of his ‘famous faces in a crowd’ series, this spring Craig has composed a strangely elegant image of the young Queen Elizabeth II.

Each tiny, perfectly drawn character is seemingly pursuing its own agenda, but as they make their way across the canvas, there is just a split second where they are arrested, mid-stride, to form the likeness of the most famous face in the world.

Originally, Craig was inspired by some photographs he had been taking from the sixth-floor balcony of his mother’s apartment in Alabama, observing the shifting shapes in the crowds below. In one shot, a group of people appeared to have formed an eye on the screen of his camera, and this started his creative wheels turning.

These complex and beautiful statement pieces combine technical skill, creativity, wit – and people. By using hundreds of intricately painted, exquisite figures Craig makes a fascinating philosophical statement. His paintings reflect his own highly recognisable take on life; it is the small details that work together to create the big picture, and individuals can work together to make something bigger and better than themselves.

Craig carefully plans and creates each tiny figure, all which have their own identity and personality which he has

thought through to the finest details. His cast of characters includes family members, friends and models, giving his work a uniquely personal touch.

He says: “I try to simulate human behaviour through each image, this simulation stems from my observations. For me, the people and how they interact with each other and what they come together to make is the most important aspect of each painting. We are all symbiotic beings, all part of something greater and lesser than ourselves.” He goes on: “Each piece will contain a range of 400 to 1,800 people depending on the type of work it is. I can spend anywhere from 50 to 150 working hours on one painting.”

AVAILABLE FROM LATE APRIL

JACK VETTRIANO THE BIG TEASE THE BIG TEASE JACK VETTRIANO16 17

The Big Tease

The Big Tease bears all the hallmarks that have built Jack Vettriano’s formidable reputation - an almost aggressive boldness of style tempered with nostalgic charm and, of course, compositional brilliance. It is also a powerful example of Jack’s great gift for dramatic suggestion as the enigmatic narrative detail gives us a sense that something is not quite

straightforward as the story unfolds in front of us.

THE BIG TEASEEdition of 100Paper EditionSize 13” x 15” Framed £650

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When he was 10, Jack moved with his family from Fife to Leven on the Firth of Forth coast which opened his eyes to the possibilities of what he called “romance in unexpected locations”. The popular holiday resort would erupt into colour and life in the summer and “women in their party frocks” says Jack, would promenade in the sun alongside sharp suited men and “things would happen”.

Although The Big Tease shares this promenade and party frock idea, is also a response to his more recent experiences. The light which radiates from much of his later work actually originates in the South of France. Jack bought a beautiful Art Deco apartment in Nice in 2004, a far cry from the Firth of Forth, and the concept of romance and intrigue in this bright and glamorous setting has led to some of his most fascinating and successful paintings. Over the last few years he has been spending an increasing amount of time on the Riviera, and there has been a return of colour, sunshine, promenades and cafe society in his imagery, combined with an undercurrent of narrative that adds an extra layer of complexity.

A new release from Jack Vettriano is always rapturously received. With its exclusive edition size and alluring subject matter, The Big Tease is expected to sell out shortly, and we anticipate that they will hit the secondary market at a high price; we therefore strongly recommend that collectors take the opportunity to buy now at the initial release price.

The setting of The Big Tease implies vintage promenade, yet the characters’ expressions and body language could be drawn from any time. In the hands of a more conventional artist, a beautifully dressed man and woman staring into one another’s eyes against the backdrop of the ocean would suggest a love story, but these two stare each other out with an unabashed directness that strips the scene of any romantic implications.

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AVAILABLE FROM LATE APRIL

Kerry Darlington’s dazzling unique editions take us to the places we forgot when we left our childhoods behind.

KERRY DARLINGTON

But the enormous success and popularity of her work is evidence that many of us still hold a place in our hearts for fairy tales, and remember the joy of hearing those four precious words, “Once upon a time…..”

Kerry says: “Once I began to draw, stories and paintings were always intertwined, inseparable. I have always been a dreamer and not very good with words, so art is my way of translating the cosmic knowledge that is bound to my imagination. Ideas often come to me whilst I listen to a story, or a poem, or music. Or silence within a meditation. I learn from my paintings. As I paint them, they teach me.”

These mesmerising images pay homage to the beauty of the night, resonating with deep rich and vibrant hues, overlaid with moments of sheer radiance in response to the luminous power of the moonlight.

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Some of our most ancient folklore tells us that the faeries gather together on moonlight nights under the oldest of the trees, to sing, dance and drink flower nectar. The faerie kindred love to get together under the full moon, harnessing her energy to help protect and guard the plant kingdom. On such nights the trees are fiercely protected. If upon hearing the faery-song you are foolish enough to wander near to one of these trees, you may trip up, have your belongings hidden or find yourself pinched by little faerie fingers. Will O’ the Wisp, traditionally known as Ignis Fatuus, may also be present on these

nights; they appear as phosphorescent lights and may be seen lighting up the faerie lanterns. Legend has it that there are many different types of faerie. Some are real tricksters; these are the least likely to be seen by the human eye as they will shape-shift and make mischief with human folk. Others just want to sing, dance and play games. Sometimes you can just about make out their aura which looks something like a condensed cloud, best seen in twilight and under a full moon, particularly on Solstice nights. They can become invisible at will however you are unlikely to spot them.

“The greatest art in the world

is the art of storytelling.”

Cecil B. DeMille, Filmmaker

MOON SONGEdition of 195Mixed MediaSize 32” x 24” Framed £895

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When Kerry first decided to make limited editions of her work she wanted them, like her art, to be different from everything else. She came up with the idea of painting a composition but stopping before she was finished. This piece would then be

printed, creating a series of ‘unfinished’ prints. Kerry would then treat each of these as an original painting and finish it, slightly differently every time, rendering every individual artwork a ‘unique edition’. She creates her spellbinding narrative images with a range of materials including resin and metallics.

Through the accumulation of layers she achieves a unique, translucent texture which introduces both depth and light. These works are in huge demand and in 2012 and again in 2014 Kerry was named as the UK’s best-selling published artist for her extraordinary unique editions. Their haunting beauty grows from a unique combination of pattern, nature, energy and nostalgia, built around the theme of myths and legends, poetry and stories.

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AVAILABLE FROM MID APRIL

THE MESSENGERSEdition of 195Mixed MediaSize 24” x 24” Framed £795

Sometimes a Messenger appears in your life so forcefully that you cannot ignore them. They may come to you in any disguise and say or do something which makes you question your old ideas of reality. They may carry layers of ancient knowledge and lore that you had long forgotten. Knowledge that radiates from the earth, from nature and from the beings that are truly in tune with it.

We often see animals as inferior to ourselves, when in fact they are so connected to the truth and the world around us that they can be our wisest teachers when we let them. This piece was painted in solitude following a period of sketching in nature. The colours are bright as the seasons change and nature begins to come alive again with colour and energy. I painted it in layers, the first being coats of colour to set the scene, the next being the resin which created the organic shapes within the roots and earth.

I designed the editions to have three dimensional sections to both echo the background but also to have a unique flow of their own. Using the philosophy of ‘as above, so below,’ the leaves on the tree and the organic shapes formed within the roots create a beautiful flow which you can see when the light catches the painting. The editions then have a layer of resin with colour, metallics and gold leaf embellishing to unite all of these elements.

Kerry’s inspirational

imagination comes into play

throughout the collection

- “I paint all that I can’t see and a little of

what I can.”

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Kerry Darlington’s Highly Anticipated New Release - Available in May

Twenty six years ago Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, a simple tale about gradually discovering inner beauty, was the first animated film ever to be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. This year’s blockbuster version of the legendis a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience.

This Spring Kerry Darlington has also interpreted the original version of this ageless faerie tale in her own inimitable style, with the beast representing the dark animal nature connected to our survival instincts and fears. “Because it is so big and powerful we tend to keep this part of ourselves in the shadows”, says Kerry. “We refuse to look at it or

show it outwardly to the world. Only when we confront our beast will we understand the strength and treasure held within it.”

Beauty demonstrates to us that looks can be deceiving. She discovers that the beast, fearful though he looks, possesses true inner beauty and this is the moral of the tale.

In Kerry’s Unique Edition, the rose symbolises transformation; Beauty asked for the Rose out of love, and the beast had to transform himself through love. The story tells us that when you ask for something truly from the heart, you will receive the wisdom that you need; although you may not be aware of the price that must be paid for it until later…

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BEAUTY AND THE BEASTEdition of 150Mixed MediaSize 30” x 30” Framed £995

Click here to reserve Beauty and the Beast by Kerry Darlington

Gary Benfield is famous for creating contemporary classics that combine aesthetic beauty with great

technical panache.

Gary’s paintings demonstrate his rare ability to understand and communicate the essence of his subject – a trait which has charmed animal lovers and art-lovers alike. He says: “painting from life has allowed me to build up a strong and affectionate relationship with the wonderful animals I portray.”

Living and working in a beautiful area of Yorkshire, Gary has a very different life from most of us; he has an unusually close relationship with the surrounding countryside and his work has grown from a great love and respect for the natural world. His wildlife imagery is profoundly influenced by his interest in folklore and mythology, but whether he is painting wild hares in their natural habit or more formal equestrian portraits, Gary always works initially from life, and this is the key both to his creative process and his success.

MOONLIGHTEdition of 195

Canvas on BoardSize 17” x 21”Framed £475

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Here in the UK we are of course a nation of animal lovers, and we have a long tradition of horses in art, most famously with George Stubbs in the 18th century then Sir Alfred Munnings in the 20th century. Gary is their natural successor and his celebrated paintings have brought equestrian art back to the forefront of the public mind. Gary says: “Horses must be the most beautiful, elegant and powerful creatures but they are also hugely challenging to draw or paint. Working

in oil paint gives me the ability to push and manoeuvre the paint once it is on the surface. Because I am ambidextrous I often work with a pencil in one hand and a brush in the other and this allows me to create, mould and modify my lines as I go, giving these images an energy and fluidity that I hope reflects or captures the movement of the subjects. For me it is all about the emotional response to what I’m painting rather than creating a static representation of it.”

As a master of equestrian art, horses are one of Gary’s favourite subjects and he has created a collection of extraordinary beauty and grace.

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This latest collection of equestrian and wildlife images is typically spontaneous, with rapidly drawn lines and sudden dashes of colour. Despite the sometimes casual appearance of his compositions all his imagery is highly organised, and after long observations one finds the hidden symmetry and beauty beneath the layers.

The formation of layers is key to the creation of Gary’s stunning images. The backgrounds of his paintings are often soft and reminiscent of Leonardo

da Vinci’s sketches and sepia tones. Most of it is defined only with pencil, with flashes of implied colouration and considered saturation and hue. The seemingly unstructured nature of the brushwork adds to a sense of movement, as his figures seem about to start running across the canvas.

The movement implied through the strokes which create the backgrounds are often essential to the overall sense of motion of the subject in the composition. Many of the backgrounds in Gary’s work are muted and appear monochrome at first glance. However, lose yourself in the brushstrokes that can be both multifaceted in their transparency and dense in their saturation, and the tones of brown which are seemly simple are in fact heavily interspersed with tones of green and lilac, pink and blue.

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LIGHTNINGEdition of 195Canvas on BoardSize 31” x 21” Framed £650

MIDNIGHT Edition of 195Canvas on BoardSize 17” x 21”Framed £475

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The hare, painted in its natural habitat, is a classic image of rural life – it is a symbol both of the untamed beauty of the British countryside and of the changing seasons. Gary uses it to portray an enchanting world of freedom and spaciousness within the countryside and his highly personal portrayal of these creatures has a touching background. We’ll let Gary’s wife Karen take up the story: Our old garden was one of the few flat, open areas around where we lived so we were regularly treated to seeing the hares grazing or running around after each other.

However, one sunny April day, things became a whole lot more personal. Gary heard a terrible screaming in the field next to the house and saw a stoat attacking a leveret (baby hare) which was not more than a few days old. We didn’t hold out much hope of being able to help it, but we went online and found as much information on hares as we possibly could and then drove to the vets and bought puppy milk. Within a couple of days our little visitor had transformed from a small helpless creature into a miniature tornado, capable of wreaking havoc! Continued >>

When Gary came to the rescue of an injured leveret behind his house it threw his domestic life into chaos, but it also changed the way he painted one of our most engaging wild creatures for ever.

BLITHE SPIRIT Edition of 195Paper on BoardSize 14” x 19”Framed £325

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BRIEF ENCOUNTEREdition of 195Paper on BoardSize 19” x 15” Framed £325

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After he bit Gary’s nose in the night, we moved him (the hare!) into his own ensuite bedroom across the hall, which was transformed into a living jungle of boxes of vegetation dug from the garden and platforms of differing heights for the youngster to run around and over for exercise. We soon got used to feeding time and I had only to wave the bottle in his general direction and he would come bounding over. Weighing him was more troublesome. Keeping this small bundle of energy in one place long enough to measure it was problematic

All of this meant though that Gary had the most fantastic chance to study and work from our beautiful visitor, which has resulted in images like The Curious Hare, which is a portrait of ‘our’ hare. Over time we went from housing a small furry bundle to, well, a much larger furry bundle, which was still causing havoc and endearing itself even more to its human caretakers. But at the right size and weight we had to make the heart-breaking decision to let him go. I still cry at this! For Gary this was an invaluable experience which has influenced all his paintings of hares.

AVAILABLE FROM MID APRIL

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We are immensely proud to present our premiere collection from Simon Kenny, a multi-award winning artist who is renowned internationally for his dynamic and expressive paintings.

Simon’s fascination with the world around him clearly manifests itself through his work, yet no piece is ever site specific and his style is best described as ‘lyrical abstraction’. His aim is for the viewer to connect personally with each composition – to be reminded of a place they once knew, or visited by an unexpected moment of emotion.

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IN THE FAR AWAYEdition of 195Glazed Box CanvasSize 40” x 28”Framed £1,100

Through its extraordinary beauty and radiance, Simon’s work encourages us to embrace abstract art. Abstracts are of course all about communicating with the individual and taking the viewer on their own very personal journey. There are no right or wrong answers when describing what we see in these paintings; Simon gives us clues with his poetic titles for each work, but it is the emotional reaction of the individual viewer to each individual work that sets up that all important dialogue and turns a painting into a conversation.

Sometimes characterised as a ‘radical impressionist’, Simon has attracted significant attention for his growing collection of colour burst oil paintings. He has a host of admirers and is widely collected but perhaps the greatest accolade of his career came when the world’s most celebrated theoretical physicist and cosmologist, Stephen Hawking, saw his work and commented, “It looks like everything about space I cannot explain.” High praise indeed.

Dramatic, atmospheric and totally captivating, Simon’s dynamic abstracts are widely collected by both private and corporate clients, located around the globe, and have appeared in many prestigious exhibitions and galleries.

“There is no abstract art. You

must always start with something.

Afterward you can remove all traces

of reality.” Pablo Picasso

BEYOND THE SILENCEEdition of 195Glazed Box CanvasSize 30” x 30” Framed £895

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What interests you most about painting?

I could answer this differently every day, but it’s all about the texture at the moment. I’m focusing on adding a heavily sculptured element to the work so I start out placing large amounts of medium down to dictate the direction I work in with the paint..

Has anything changed in your life recently as we think your new work has been incredibly powerful?

We moved house about a year ago and with the fabulous location being so close to the sea we get amazing vistas of sunrise and sunset. We also watch storms roll in and the sea becoming totally wild, so there’s inspiration right on my doorstep.

Does your subject matter reflect your mood?

Absolutely. Every day my work is a direct reflection of my mood, from the colours I choose to the method I apply the paint with. It really ebbs and flows, feverish to calm, so I try to use music to focus my mind and create some harmony. Continued >>

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Abstract art often raises more questions

than answers, so we invited some fans of

Simon’s work to send in any questions they might have about his

recent paintings. Here are just five of our

favourites:

What is your preferred medium and why?

I’d say at the moment it’s oil due to the way the paint moves around the canvas but that could easily change tomorrow. I’m also into using inks and liquid acrylics in small amounts and am currently exploring ways in which I can use texture to alter the perception of the piece when it is viewed from different angles.

I know a lot of people including me have a strong emotional reaction to your work. Do you?

Yes definitely. Because my personality is a big part of what I paint, I do become incredibly emotionally connected to my work, almost treating it as though it’s a living thing.

“My mood plays a part in the colours I choose, or the way

I use my brushes, and it can certainly affect the direction

of my work.”

THE EDGE OF ALL THINGS Edition of 195Glazed Box CanvasSize 24” x 24”Framed £595

INFINITE DREAMSCAPEEdition of 195Glazed Box CanvasSize 24” x 24”Framed £595

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THE NEW COLLECTION.

Celebrating the delights of British summertime with his much-loved classic characters,

‘Wish You Were Here’ brings together a trio of captivating limited editions,

alongside two highly anticipated sculptures.

COMING SOON

“It looks like everything about space I cannot explain.”

Professor Stephen Hawking,commenting on Simon’s artwork.

THINGS TO COMEEdition of 195

Glazed Box CanvasSize 30” x 30” Framed £895

fAVAILABLE FROM LATE APRIL

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...Whether you’re getting married, celebrating a big birthday or any major milestone,

our gift registry service, enables your family & friends to contribute towards a gift of real

emotional value, whether this is one piece of artwork that means something special to you, or

even the means to start building an art collection.

Call us for further details or pop into the gallery for a glass of Prosecco

to talk through your wishes.

THE RIGHT PAINTINGS FOR THE RIGHT OCCASIONS...

Brindis Con Rose - Fabian Perez