‘Things Seen’ is the title of an exhibition by a local artist which will open at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre, North Shields Fish Quay on Wednesday 1 June 2022.
It will include more than 100 paintings and drawings celebrating details and places that the artist, Linda Kay, sees around her.
The exhibition will be open from 10am to 3pm until Saturday 4 June (from 11am on the Saturday only). Twenty-five per cent of all sales will go directly to the Old Low Light.
Linda, a founding trustee and active volunteer at the heritage centre, has a background in graphic design and for more than 25 years ran her own successful company. Her early training, long before computers became the main design tool, provided a grounding in everything from photography to life drawing.
Now retired, she is a keen walker and cyclist, and continues to use these skills capturing and interpreting images when she is out and about, sometimes sketching or taking a photograph to store a valuable visual memory.
“Photography, painting and drawing have given me so much enjoyment over the years. I feel that graphic design – applied art – is largely about pleasing others, whereas fine art is largely about pleasing myself. My subject matter varies as does the style and medium, according to my mood at the time and what would seem to be appropriate.
“I am hoping that my work in this show, will not only appeal to others but will also help to boost finances at the Old Low Light centre which is facing challenges following two years of lockdowns and restrictions.”
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Centre director, Guy Moody added: “Linda is very talented, and this exhibition will provide an opportunity to showcase her interpretation of the world around her, while at the same time raising much needed funds for the heritage centre.
“Visitors to the centre and galleries will have seen many examples of Linda’s graphic design work without realising it as she gives her time and skills freely, producing the vast majority of our promotional materials and exhibition boards.”
Linda, who has lived in North Tyneside for most of her life, was a member of the North of England Art Club for several years. While running her business she attended painting and drawing classes in her spare time as well as a degree course in fine art at Newcastle College. She continues to attend art classes and workshops which she enjoys immensely.
For more about Linda’s artwork, go to http://www.lindakayart.co.uk
Admission to ‘Things Seen’ is £4pp – members free. This also includes entry to the heritage gallery where visitors can view the current exhibition ‘Folk who Shaped Shields’ which focuses on the contributions to the town of four inspirational people – John Dobson, John Foster Spence, Richard Irvin and Sir James Knott – and a display ‘Deeds not Words’ about the life and achievements of suffragette, Norah Balls.