Top international artist brings solo exhibition to North Pembrokeshire gallery

Published

5 mins ago

December 2, 2024

Ever since she was a child, Carole Hodgson has drawn from the landscape a quality and a strength that have earned her the reputation as one of Britain’s most eminent female sculptors.

After studying at the Slade School of Fine Art (1962 to 1964), she continued to express – with an astounding precision and an unblinkered clarity – a range of subjects that resulted in major solo shows in some of the world’s leading galleries and museums. Her work has gained recognition from leading critics and broadcasters, including Joan Bakewell, who wrote of her in 2015: “We seek the stillness of remote places to soothe our panic at global combustion. We find in the deep reaches of rock and ravine, a balm to modern anxieties. Hodgson’s work both derives from, and pays regard to, these present sensibilities.”

This month local art lovers are being given the chance to view Hodgson’s work at close range when she exhibits her latest selection of predominantly north Pembrokeshire landscapes at The Coach House Visitor Centre, St Dogmaels.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to create art in its many varied shapes and forms,” Carole Hodgson told The Herald.

“I attended my first art class when I was 12, which was a life drawing class at Epsom. And from the outset, all I wanted to do was capture the sense of space which that particular landscape offered.”

After leaving the Slade, Carole began teaching art at Reading University however in 1967, while she and her husband spent the New Year at a teaching colleague’s cottage in Tegryn, she realised that Pembrokeshire would soon become home.

“I knew that I was never going to leave, because I loved the place so much,” she said.

Carole subsequently began exploring the many diverse landscapes that Pembrokeshire has to offer.

“The first thing I always do is sit and watch a particular space, and this is so fundamentally important to me. The space of the Preseli mountains, the space of the field behind my home, the flow of the river or the sea…all these spaces became increasingly apparent and so important, as so much of my art depends on the atmosphere that each particular space creates.”

Carole – who is an Emeritus Professor of Fine Art and Sculpture at Kingston University, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors and a regular exhibitor at the prestigious Flowers Gallery since 1973 – continued teaching in both painting and sculpture following her move to Pembrokeshire. This included stints at Spain, Scotland and the Royal Academy of Art in London.

Meanwhile her latest exhibition at The Coach House, St Dogmaels, features a wide range of subjects in a cross-section of media, including crayons, chalk, watercolour and inks.

“I don’t think a day goes by when I fail to realise how very fortunate I am, not just to live in such a wonderful village like St Dogmaels, where the people have been so supportive of my work, but that I continue to feel so motivated to paint,” concluded the 84-year-old.

“Without art, my life would have been so terribly boring. At the end of the day , I’ve been one very lucky woman.”

The exhibition will run until January 31, 2025.

Community

Haverfordwest Castle Ward’s councillor addresses leaf hazard

Published

26 mins ago

December 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AS County Councillor for the Castle Ward, Cllr Thomas Tudor has responded swiftly to concerns raised by residents of Oakwood Grove about the build-up of fallen leaves on the pavements. The leaves, described as a potential hazard for pedestrians, were flagged as a danger, especially in wet conditions.

Following Cllr Tudor’s report to Pembrokeshire County Council’s maintenance team, the pavements have now been cleared, restoring safety for residents.

Cllr Tudor expressed his gratitude, saying: “Many thanks to all involved; it’s very much appreciated.”

Before and after photos provided by Cllr Tudor illustrate the improvement made for the community.

News

Court hearing to force Pembroke Dock resident clear up excess waste

Published

29 mins ago

December 2, 2024

Tom Sinclair

FAILURE to remove excess waste from a garden in Pembroke Dock resulted in a Court fine for a Council tenant.

A Community Protection Warning Notice was issued to Sheena Deacon to remove accumulated waste at her home at Wavell Crescent but it was not cleaned up.

The accumulation of waste in the property’s garden was causing rodent infestation and presented a health hazard.

Engagement with the tenant, and investigations by the Council’s Public Health and Public Protection division were carried out prior to the issuing of the notice.

This resulted in Pembrokeshire County Council serving a Community Protection Notice which was also not complied with, leading to a Court hearing.

Tenant Sheena Deacon did not attend the hearing at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court and was fined £200 for each offence, with five breaches of the CPN charges put and was ordered to pay £1,000 towards costs.

If the waste is not removed, a Criminal Behaviour Order can be applied for under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act, breaches of which could lead to further penalties being issued by the Court.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services Cllr Jacob Williams said: “The Public Protection teams work hard to ensure Council tenants are not put a risk form health hazards caused by anti-social behaviour of this nature. We will always seek to work with tenants to resolve these issues but will use further powers to improve residential environments when required.”

Pembrokeshire gallery invited to prestigious London venue

Published

2 hours ago

December 2, 2024

Sarah Jane Absalom

A leading Pembrokeshire art gallery has been invited to exhibit at one of London’s most prestigious venues thanks to the innovative work of its director and curator, David Randell.

This year the Wales Contemporary exhibition will be exchanging its regular venue at Milford Haven’s Waterfront Gallery for the Garrison Chapel in Chelsea Barracks, which is run by the King’s Foundation.

“It’s a great honour for the Waterfront Gallery but also for all the international and local artists who have been entering the competition for the past six years,” David Randell told The Pembrokeshire Herald.

“The standard of work they submit is truly amazing, so for them to have the opportunity to exhibit at the Kings Foundation Gallery in Chelsea Barracks is very special.”

David launched the Waterfront Gallery in 2002 after its predecessor – The Dockside Gallery – was closed down by the Port Authority. The Waterfront Gallery was subsequently registered as a charity, and has been run on a purely voluntary basis ever since.

“I knew just how important the former Dockside Gallery was to so many artists and craftspeople here in Pembrokeshire, so I was determined to do everything I could to keep it going,” he continued.

From the outset, David was committed to retaining a high standard of exhibits, and his ethos has continued through each of the gallery’s exhibitions, and this was what prompted the launch of The Wales Contemporary exhibition back in 2019.

“As we continued to see the Waterfront Gallery develop, we knew it was important to try and do something different. We wanted to tap into the international market, and so we launched the Wales Contemporary.”

Assisted by leading art consultant Penny Harris of Parker Harris, the international open fine art competition attracts some of the world’s most competitive and inspired artists in both two and three dimensional genres.

“We’ve watched the exhibition get bigger and bigger year on year,” continued David. “In its first year we saw around a hundred pieces of art and last year, we had 1,400 entries.”

The entries are then whittled down to approximately 110 pieces which are displayed in the exhibition.

The competition attracts artists from around 50 countries all over the world and includes sculptures, bronzes, needlework, pottery, enamelled copper pots and paintings.

Meanwhile David and his team of volunteers are seeking to raise £70,000 to fund the 2025 Welsh Contemporary exhibition at the Chelsea Barracks Chapel Gallery.

“Because we’re a charity, we’re now looking for sponsors who will all be invited to attend the official opening which will take place on St David’s Day,” he said. “The exhibition will also coincide with ‘Wales Week in London’ which celebrates all things Welsh that are based in London. So naturally this will be a very good marketing and advertising opportunity for all of our sponsors.”

The Wales Contemporary exhibition opens in London on February 24 and will continue until March 8. It will then move to the Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven, where it will continue for the remainder of the month.

If anyone is interested in finding out more about how they can sponsor the exhibition they can contact David Randell at the Waterfront Gallery on 01646 695699.