Peter Blakesley
28 April – 30 May 2025
Art is in us all; we just have to develop it, practice it, and nurture it. As children we all have that capability, but we don’t always follow the heart. Art is limitless, and this is perhaps why I continue to experiment with mediums, and not restrict myself to one type, or style, of painting. Light and suggestion have superseded realism in my paintings, and I continually strive to achieve this, and to reflect the natural beauty of the countryside.
HOLY MACKEREL
RHIAN WYN HARRISON & LEE POVER
2-14 June 2025
Two local artists return with another quirky mixed media exhibition, featuring coastal art inspired by Dartmouth and the surrounding South Devon coastline.
Lee Pover specialises in chunky, hand-built ceramics with a nautical theme.
Rhian Wyn Harrison repurposes vintage books and maps as background and inspiration for her witty illustrations. Drawn by hand and coloured with ink, gouache and pastel, the work features birds, fish and other sea creatures.
Dartmouth Academy GCSE Art & Design Students
23 Jun – 5 Jul
Dartmouth Academy are delighted to be showcasing the work of GCSE Art & Design and Photography students in our annual summer exhibition. Students have responded personally to individually chosen themes and are excited to show their work to a wider audience. Please support our young people by coming to the exhibition and writing in our visitors book. Any queries to be directed to Nic Perrott, Assistant Principal, nic.perrott@dartmouthacademy.org.uk
JULIE TALBOT-DUNN AND GAVIN MIDDLEWOOD THE ARTISTRY OF NATURE An Exhibition of Statement Wall Art - From the studios of South Hams Artists
18 August - 13 September 2025
This show offers intriguing individual perspectives, from two artists whose expressive visual language seeks to convey exciting elements of our awesome South Devon landscape.
Julie’s atmospheric work is composed with abstract vibrancy, while Gavin invites the viewer ever deeper into the detail, exploring pattern and celebrating colour. For both these painters, each statement piece signifies the beginning of a fresh exploration; an energy and vitality that shines through in the finished pieces.
PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS
River of Oaks, exhibition by Stewart Taylor :
Exhibition runs from Monday 14 October to Saturday 2 November
River of Oaks
"Stewart Taylor has just been awarded the Creativepool Artist of 2024 for his ongoing Tree Portraits series. Initially inspired by the street trees of his London neighbourhood some 5 years ago, these monoprints became a conversation about our lack of connectivity with the natural world. Since moving to Dartmouth he has been inspired by the arboreals of Gallants Bower and Brownstone, and through recent Woodland Trust tours of Avon Valley Woods and Bovey Valley Woods."
https://stewarttaylorprints.com/
https://www.instagram.com/stewarttaylorprints/
https://creativepool.com/annual/2024/winners/#art
The David Alexander Open Art Exhibition :
Monday 4 November – Saturday 30 November
The David Alexander Open Art Exhibition 2024
Monday 4 November 4pm – Saturday 30 November, 4pm
Submissions are invited for the 2024 Flavel Annual Open Art Exhibition on the theme of ‘COLOUR’
Prizes are generously sponsored by The David Alexander Open Art Exhibition Fund: the Winner's prize is £200 cash, and the runner up will receive a £50 Flavel gift voucher.
Up to two entries can be submitted along with completed application forms, to The Flavel by Monday 4 November between 9-11am.
For full details about entering, please download our information sheet HERE. INFO SHEET
And if you would like to submit an original drawing, painting, print, photograph, 3D work or textile for consideration, please download an application form HERE. APPLICATION FORM
Let your inspiration set you free!
Spirit of Japan
26 Aug – 7 Sep
A collection of art by a group of established and upcoming artists from across Japan. The exhibition will feature a range of artworks that incorporate traditional and modern styles to capture the spirit of Japan. This is a great opportunity to get a taste of Japan’s fascinating culture and experience something truly unique. We hope it will help to showcase Japanese artists and their work and promote cross-cultural communication between Dartmouth and Japan.
DAVID ALEXANDER (1935-2009)
Monday 15 April 2024 – Saturday 18 May 2024
All proceeds of this exhibition are to go to The Flavel, with grateful thanks to David’s brother Richard Alexander who has helped with its curation. This is the third exhibition that we have been lucky enough to have of David’s work here at The Flavel, and we hope that you enjoy it.
David Alexander was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire. His early artistic talent was recognised by The Royal Drawing Society who awarded him with a certificate at the age of 5.
His fine-art training began at Chesterfield College of Art, and continued at Central School of Arts and Crafts in London following the award of an A level distinction in Art and a County Major scholarship. His studies were interrupted by National Service in the Army. On returning to civilian life he completed his artistic studies at Hammersmith College of Art.
He exhibited paintings from the age of 18 in the UK, including The Kaleidoscope Gallery, Kilburn, and in the USA with one-man exhibitions in Florida, Nantucket (MAS) and Doylestown (PA). His work is in private collections in Australia, France, Russia, the United States and Great Britain (including a watercolour ‘HMS Bristol in Dartmouth’ at Britannia Royal Naval College). Most recently two of his paintings of Dartmouth appeared in Joslin Fiennes book ‘Dartmouth: An Enchanted Place’. His greatest influence was the impressionists, and his greatest love was landscape painting.
With a varied professional life, his career was split between painting, TV work, and feature films.
Including theatre design for the Birmingham Rep, he was responsible for the story board design for the feature film ‘Battle of Britain’; property design for the feature film of ‘Dad’s Army’; location manager for ‘The 39 Steps’ (the Robert Powell version); LP record sleeve design (including photography); book illustrations and cover designs.
David died in December 2009.
Becky Nuttall and Laura Page are two artists who live in South Devon.
Monday 20 May - Saturday 1 June
Becky is a fine artist and poet.
Her daughter Laura is a freelance illustrator.
‘Our Generation’ brings together their work from the 1970s into the present. It shows the symbolic influences of mother and daughter and their positions in recording their inspirations. This exhibition includes Becky’s love of 1970s fashion, rock music and popular culture and Laura’s love of graphic line work, vintage print techniques and folklore.
AMERICAN ARTIST TOM CLIFFORD:
Monday 3 June - Saturday 15 June
Lustrous oil paintings in the tradition of classical Europe and the Renaissance.
4th-14th of June 2024
This exhibitions showcases a variety of American scenes, portraits , land and seascapes as well as a few inspired by the British ….
Tom received his formal art education in London, England.
With a scholarship from the Heatherley Art Foundation, London, he was able to study sculpture and drawing in the classical discipline.
Now that I have reached 80 + years young I still find inspiration and pleasure from this creative world
…the people I meet , the artwork I have seen old and new.
Having spent many years on both sides of the “Pond” my wife Rita and I now make our home here in Dartmouth.
Rita, also an artist will, I am pleased to say be adding to this exhibition with a few of her own works.
Please come along if you can … we would love to meet… and wish you joy in perusing the paintings on display.
D’Artspirations by Aiden James
Mon 1 July – Saturday 20 July 2024
I am a local born artist and growing up in this area I have always loved drawing and painting. I am also a keen amateur photographer, taking pictures of the local scenery, which i produce into watercolour art. My inspiration for my current artwork comes from working as a skipper on the River Dart where the beautiful sights and scenery are ever changing. I paint from my own sketches and photography, Creating a unique picture in my own style. I love to paint along to music, it’s very motivational.
I am lucky to have such wonderful scenery on my doorstep. As well as my love for painting I also dabble in model building and am a volunteer for the local coastal watch institution in Dartmouth. I have a great family who are very supportive of my love for painting.
Flavel Fundraising Art Exhibition : Monday 22 July to Saturday 3 August 2024 in The Flavel Gallery.
The Flavel is holding a Fundraising Art Exhibition, thanks to the generous donations from the following artists:
Peter Blakesley
Helena Clews
Simon Drew
Anna Koska
Jan Treverrow
Sue Tweed
Linda Tudor
All artworks will be priced and available to buy. This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a unique work of art from a local artist, whilst supporting The Flavel to continue its work as the only arts hub in the heart of Dartmouth.
U3A ART GROUP
29 January – 2 March 2024
Come and enjoy a selection of the lovely works produced by members of the U3A art group. A lively bunch of inspired artists who enjoy having the time to explore a variety of artistic mediums and styles. We meet every other Monday morning at Townstal Community Hall and enjoy set challenges to further develop our skills and creativity. It’s never too late to learn!
Jessica Westerman: What happens when my children are sleeping?
4-16 March 2024
Jessica Westerman is a working mother of two and Dartmouth resident. She has created art since she was a child but it was in the first lockdown that she rediscovered her love for painting. Her paintings are inspired by her own emotions and nature and are a colourful expression of the ups and downs of her life in Devon.
'Landscape' Helena Clews with students
6 December 2023 - 13 January 2024
The exhibition celebrates the success of students on the landscape painting course. With Helena's guidance, all participants have created an incredible body of work. It is a vibrant exhibition of local scenes and some further afield, including some of Helena's originals paintings and limited Giclée prints.
Vivienne Turner : Found
16 - 28 October
My latest collection of foraged woven wall panels using elements of nature.
The sculptured pieces have evolved from Found natural and man made fibres. Gathered within the river Dart's impressive woodlands and Strete Gates' diverse coastline at Slapton Sands.
Seascapes incorporate tangled fishing line, discarded shells, dried seaweed and seed heads from the vast array of wild flowers, which inhabit the shingle beach.
I hope my work encourages you to look more closely into the heart of nature and appreciate its full beauty.
PETER BLAKESLEY: Top of the World
31st July – 2 September
Art is in us all; we just have to develop it, practice it, and nurture it. As children we all have that capability, but we don’t always follow the heart. Art is limitless, and this is perhaps why I continue to experiment with mediums, and not restrict myself to one type, or style, of painting. Light and suggestion have superseded realism in my paintings, and I continually strive to achieve this, and to reflect the natural beauty of the countryside’
http://www.peterblakesley.co.uk/
www.facebook.com/peterblakesley1
www.instagram.com/peterblakesley
THIS EXHIBITION IS FREE TO VIEW WHENEVER THE FLAVEL IS OPEN
ALAN JONES: Eclectic Paintings 17-23 July 2023
Formerly, as an art teacher, my focus was on helping others to develop their skills and to find their joy in painting. Over two decades living in the South Hams, I have benefited from the support of some excellent teachers and have rediscovered and revelled - and at times, struggled - in the joy of my own creativity. ‘Eclectic Paintings’ represents the freedom I enjoy to paint what I like, when I like, at my own pace. As a person with dyslexia, painting allows me to express myself with freedom, two fingers raised to the judgements erroneously made of my ability in my early life.
I have previously shown my work here at The Flavel, at Birdwood House in Totnes and at Harbour House in Kingsbridge.
I am donating 30% of any takings from this exhibition to the PKD Charity (www.pkdcharity.org.uk), a cause close to my heart as my husband has Polycystic Kidney Disease.
THIS EXHIBITION IS FREE TO VIEW WHENEVER THE FLAVEL IS OPEN
JOINT EXHIBITION - Monday 22 May to Saturday 3 June
David Bagott : 'Memories of Dartmouth'
Fred Goodwin : ‘Wartime Sketches’
David Bagott : 'Memories of Dartmouth'
David Bagott studied art and design at Birmingham College of Art, and fine art at London Central College of Art.
He moved to Dartmouth in 1997, and in 2020 he joined the Dartmouth Art Society where he started to explore painting in watercolours.
In this exhibition you can enjoy scenes of Dartmouth, as well as other subjects, painted in David's unique style.
Fred Goodwin : ‘Wartime Sketches’
Alongside Bagott’s work are the sketches of Fred Goodwin who was a friend of Bagott’s father.
Fred trained as a commercial artist in Manchester and moved to Birmingham in 1937. He later joined the RAF and was part of the 605 fighter squadron.
This exhibition showcases the many drawings and paintings that Fred made throughout his wartime experiences, including his time as a prisoner of war in Japan.
An illustrated book, ‘Fred’s War’, accompanies the exhibition and is available to purchase, with Fred’s dramatic works preserved in print.
HELEN ALLEN
Artist Printmaker
8 - 21 May
Working with contrast Helen has a background in architecture and landscape/garden design and is based in Brixham having relocated from north London.
Helen draws inspiration from nature, the sea and urban spaces, exploring the sharp contrast between the two - from Brutalist architecture (like Marmite, you either love it or hate it!) to scenes of the fishing industry and the beautiful landscape of Devon.
Her work is an eclectic mix of processes and prints from acid etching and aquatints on steel or zinc plate to wood engraving and linocuts; the subject matter often dictates the process.
All prints are unique and for sale /commission work undertaken.
insta: helenallen_printmaker_gardener
LUCY MAGICMAKER: MARMALADE THE MOUSE
3rd - 15th April
2-week colour exhibition of 30+ illustrations & story snippets from ‘The Story of Marmalade the Mouse & His Jammy Adventure’. Hardback, watercolour-illustrated book set on The River Dart by local author Lucy Magicmaker.
FEATURING, mini black & white exhibition entitled ‘You make it happen! You make your wish come true!’ The story of Lucy’s journey to become writer, illustrator & self-publisher of hardback children’s books. Suitable for 3-92 year olds.
MEET THE AUTHOR: informal drop-in, book signing, drawing, story telling, chat: Fri 7 Apr 10am-1pm & Fri 14 Apr 10am-1pm
Tony Hyson – Options
17th April - 6th May
The works in this exhibition show a mixture of visual and conceptual imagery; for example from “Road End Farm” or “Great Hill Wood” to “The Ring Master”. Conceptual drawing/painting is that which relies on memory and not visual or preconceived images. This approach opens up a whole new range of interesting possibilities which I enjoy pursuing.
Donna Francesca
6th March - 1st April
U3A Art Group
From 9 January 2023
Celebrating our Joy of Art
A varied selection of mature students who aim to pursue, or revitalise, a love of painting and drawing. We explore various media and subject matter allowing each individual to develop their own strengths.
