In the Winter edition of dluxe BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL we interviewed Anthony Wardle, co-founder of a major new Contemporary Art Fair in Cheltenham. This issue we look at what art you can expect to see at the Fresh: Art Fair.
“Fresh: is so-called because we’re bringing new faces and new ideas to the art fair world” says Anthony. “Many of our Exhibitors are leading Galleries that are, by choice, rarely seen on the UK art fair circuit. Many of the artists are already established in public and private collections around the world with others on the brink of acclaim and, like a good wine, showing the quality that will develop over time. Fresh: will be a wonderful place to see and buy art”.
Among the 5,000 works on show, will be a huge range of genres, media, styles and subjects …traditional landscapes and classical still life through abstract, geometric, figurative, Pop, Op and the truly avant garde. Fresh: will host forty five galleries from the UK, France and Ireland showing work by artists from five continents.
John Noott of Broadway will show work by Royal Birmingham Society of Artists member Edward Noott. Wren Gallery in Burford will hang the wonderfully evocative architectural paintings of Cyril Croucher. Paragon Gallery will show the perfectly crafted bronze sculptures of Adam Binder. From further afield you will see London galleries Thompson’s, Hicks, Eames Fine Art and Gallery Different. Gormley’s Fine Art from Dublin and Belfast will be there and Camburn Fine Art from Chinon, France, showing the sublime and much-collected paintings of Alan Halliday.
There will be works by honoured names …Bridget Riley CH CBE, Sandra Blow RA, Mary Fedden OBE RA, Sir Peter Blake and many more. If the work of Picasso isn’t there (and it may be) then his one-time muse Sylvette will certainly be on show under her painter’s name Lydia Corbett, exhibited by David Simon Fine Art of Bath. A Gloucestershire girl with a global following will also be there …the distinctive figurative paintings of PJ Crook MBE RWA FRSA will be hung by notable Pall Mall Gallery Panter & Hall. Not all Fresh: artists are celebrated …yet. There will be a strong showing of recently graduated art students. New Blood Art specializes in spotting young talent and giving them a chance to shine, sometimes with spectacular results.
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There will be artists painting and sculpting live throughout the show and happy to answer visitor questions about their inspiration and technique. Visitors will be able to see how art is created.
Fresh: will offer original paintings and prints for a few hundred pounds through to large works by acclaimed artists for quite a few thousand. Fresh: is also inviting visitors to bring in up to three old paintings for which Fresh: partner Bonhams will provide free valuations (early 20th century work and earlier).
“There’ll be something for everyone, for all tastes and budgets” says Anthony. Less than 10 minutes off the M5 with unlimited parking and a shuttle to and from the town centre, Fresh is really easy to get to.
Fresh is in partnership with the RWA (The Royal Academy in the West) and the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.
The Fair is open from 12th – 14th May at Cheltenham Racecourse with tickets at £6 on the door and £6 for two if bought online.
