See me at HELIOS – June 2024

Helios – A creative celebration of sun, sea and sky.

Curator Alison Shelton Brown has invited artists and makers from around the South West to display a wide variety of materials and techniques at a range of prices.  There will be painting, jewellery, leatherwork, textiles, glass, lighting and ceramic sculpture. Something for everyone to see, touch and enjoy, with artist demonstrations throughout the ten days.

The Malthouse Gallery, Town Mill Courtyard, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3PU

Friday 21st – Sunday 30th June

Open daily 10am – 5pm

In Greek mythology, Helios, the Sun God, dashes daily from east to west in a chariot pulled by his galloping horses. A heartening picture as we approach the summer solstice in June looking forward to longer and sunnier days. The upcoming show ‘Helios’ at the Malthouse Gallery in Lyme Regis which opens on the Summer equinox celebrates this love for the outdoors, nature and our world.

As a designer and maker of indoor furniture pieces, specifically coffee and side tables, I focus on capturing and enhancing the natural characteristics of the timbers grain features and shape. This ethos results in unique statement pieces telling the life story of the tree. A cross between functional furniture and natural art. Our wood is sourced locally and sustainably from nearby farmland in Wootton Fitzpaine and my small family woodland in Dorset. I am constantly looking for the most interesting characterful, windfallen trees to take slices from and look forward to bringing pieces from across my portfolio to the Malthouse, in celebration of nature.

Ceramist Jane Staniland was so inspired by the title she immediately set about drawing Helios and his horses charging around her vessels. She says, ‘The sun and searching for it warms my heart. It is the source of light and life. In the good old British summer, I am hoping my pots will encourage the sun to shine on us all in this beautiful seaside town of Lyme Regis.’

The tiniest of pin-pricks allows the full might of the sun to reveal a moment in time and this phenomenon is captured on out-of-date film using home-made pinhole cameras by Robin Shelton, then printed onto expired paper stocks in his darkroom; often with painterly, dream-like results. He will be talking about these pinhole camera techniques during the week in the gallery.

Bronwen loves living by the sea and the tideline provides a wealth of resources for making. Eroding cliffs bring richly coloured ochres to the beach which is sadly often littered with brightly coloured plastic. Bronwen turns this uncomfortable combination of natural and unnatural materials into beautiful and meaningful art and jewellery. 

Alex Brooks furniture

Bronwen Gwillim jewellery

Daphne Roach textiles

Helen Eastham glass

Jonathan Mulvaney painting

Jane Staniland ceramics

Janine Partington leather and jewellery

Reworked lighting

Richard Jeffery ceramics

Robin Shelton pinhole photography

Silver & Slate textiles

Alison Shelton Brown sculpture

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