The Gardens Gallery Cheltenham

Robert and his wife Rachael will curate the show, along with Liz Walker. The exhibition will feature a range of Robert’s original watercolours and limited edition prints as well as greetings cards. We look forward to welcoming you, do come along and have a chat with Robert and Liz about their work.   To see more of Robert's work visit www.robertgoldsmithartist.co.uk 

Cheltenham based artist Robert Goldsmith is well known for his watercolour paintings which capture the local townscapes throughout the seasons, and especially his ability to bring alive the glowing reflections of light and colour at dusk on a rainy day. 

Liz Walker of ‘Bellannay Craft’, featuring hand-made ladies bags made from South African ‘Shweshwe’ fabric.

Janet James https://www.janetjames.co.uk/

I am an artist with a passion for watercolour painting. I prefer to paint ‘plein air’ (in situ) and do so all year round, which is not a problem if you are prepared accordingly. There is no doubt that watercolour is the most challenging of all mediums but I admit this is exactly what attracts me to it. I feel watercolour is at its best when you allow it some freedom to do what it wants to do naturally, by contrast it’s at it’s very worst when forced to behave. I have found it is a matter of learning and understanding how to walk a fine line between both.

I started out as an artist in the late 1980’s but it all came crashing down around me when I was forced to stop due to chronic illness. Illness has bad timing as I was doing well and had been accepted and exhibited at the Royal Academy.

I returned to painting a few years ago as a form of therapy, but only paint as my health permits.

I am often asked what inspires me, the simple answer is the energy, atmosphere and light of somewhere or something! I can only say that I have no clue what will inspire me in any given moment, I don’t think about subject matter because I am not bothered about this. I simply wait for whatever it is catches my attention.

Awards

I feel extremely honoured to have won 33 awards for my painting over the last few years. I was also very chuffed to have been one of 100 artists worldwide to be selected to appear in ‘Contemporary Artists of Excellence 2016’ coffee table book available from Amazon and all public Galleries and Museums.

I was one of 2 artists selected to represent the United Kingdom in the worldwide International IWS Watercolour Societies 2017 biennial convention and exhibition, hosted in India.

I was one of a few British artists selected by IWS England to represent the UK by exhibiting my painting at Fabriano Convention and Exhibition in Italy May 2018, and doubly honoured to have been selected to represent the United Kingdom again this 2019.

My health will never improve but am very grateful to have my art which keeps me sane.

Claudia