New Exhibition David Starley ‘Our Wonderful Trees’ 20 March to 5 May

One of the great advantages of having your own gallery is the opportunity to show your own work, when you want, without the need for submissions. Obviously, there’s a little planning and I do prefer to show work consistent with a theme. My next event ‘Our Wonderful Trees’ is myself indulgently returning to my favourite subject of trees

Most are based on our immediate landscape, including Hirst Wood, which provides one option for my walk to work. It’s particularly pleasant at the moment with the increase bird song as we move into spring. Before too long the bluebells will make their appearance as is depicted on one of the show’s centrepieces ‘The Clearing’ which at 60x36 inches is the biggest work I’ve ever completed. The woods appear again at different times of the year; autumn of course and following last November’s early snow fall.

Not doing any 3D work myself, I’ve also brought in some woodwork for the show. This includes the panels of Gavin Edwards, turned wood from Mike Bentley, fractally burned items from Rustic Route and sculpture from Paul Birch. By chance a new wood worker, John Douglas, will be added very much at the last minute, to give him the opportunity to get some feedback. I’d like to say that no trees were harmed in the making of these works. I know most of the artists preferably use fallen or recycled timber from local sources, but element of them may be commercially sourced.  As ever we do try to promote artists from our own region who are doing something a little different.

A selection of the works on display