Thursday 2 February 2023

Three painters, one sculptor at Stapleford Granary, Cambridge.


 


















We enjoyed our visit to Stapleford to deliver work to this vibrant venue near Cambridge this week. The exhibition runs from 3 February to 16 April 2023.

Three painters, one sculptor: An exhibition of paintings and sculpture from four artists, curated by Alan Kluckow Fine Art in collaboration with Stapleford Granary.

Paintings by Tom Benjamin, Susan Laughton, Philip Maltman and sculpture by Ian Turnock.

Stapleford Granary is an Arts Centre near Cambridge whose aim is to foster cultural understanding through education. The Centre provides an inspiring environment for experiencing music and art. It was a derelict 19th century farm and granary when in 2009 the charity bought the buildings and once renovated it was awarded a RIBA Regional East Award 2019.

Held in place, 40 x 40cm, Susan Laughton.













Copper Beech, 100cm, patinated brass, Ian Turnock.


Friday 25 November 2022

Winter Annual Exhibition, &Gallery, Edinburgh

My painting Formation 6 will be included in this great group show.

Acrylic and pencil on framed plywood panel.

24.8 x 30 cm.


Annual Winter Exhibition at the &Gallery, Dundas Street, Edinburgh.

3 - 23 December 2022

www.andgallery.co.uk


All are welcome on Saturday 3rd December between 2-4pm for the opening of the exhibition. 


The annual end of year exhibition brings together the work of 31 artists who regularly exhibit in the gallery. Showcasing a variety of artworks on a large and small scale. 








Exhibiting artists: Rebecca Appleby, Joy Arden, Jonathan Barber, Andrew Clausen, Michael Craik, Joan Doerr, Liz Douglas, Hanna ten Doornkaat, Jana Emburey, Jeffrey Cortland-Jones, Gwen Hardie, Susan Laughton, Karine Léger, Elfyn Lewis, Jai Llewellyn, James Lumsden, Andrew Mackenzie, David Mankin, Ivan De Menis, Emily Moore, Mary Morrison, Frances Priest, Lorraine Robson, Anke Roder, Laura Jane Scott, Anna Somerville, Jon Thomas and JFK Turner.


 

Tuesday 11 October 2022

Handpainted and gilded plywood sculptures inspired by architecture.

wooden sculpture










I have just been updating my online shop and I still have some of my lasercut plywood sculptures available. They are inspired by houses and industrial buildings. My drawings are lasercut into Poplar plywood, then I paint, gild and engrave one side.

The freestanding ones are 18mm thick and the wall hanging are 9mm thick. And 125mm or 90mm high.



 










































My long standing interest in landscape and architecture has always inspired my drawing and painting. Vernacular buildings, both rural and urban, domestic and functional, have found a place in my paintings for some time, no doubt also informed by time as an architectural technician. I am particular drawn to the triangular form of the gable ends of buildings, whether they be simple sheds, northern terraces, suburban 1960’s bungalows, barns or giant warehouses. The move from painting to 3D forms was an instinctive urge, a desire for a more physical, tactile exploration. That exploration encompasses both the formal aspects of architectural, geometric shapes and what they mean in the sense of home, shelter, work and human endeavour and it’s impact on our external and internal landscapes. I think there is also an element of play involved in creating imaginary worlds, remembering the painted wood toy building blocks of childhood.

Thursday 18 March 2021

4th Anniversary exhibition, &Gallery, Edinburgh

In celebration of its 4th anniversary, &Gallery presents a special  exhibition featuring a selection of artworks by the gallery’s roster. This exhibition is an opportunity to reflect on the 4 past years and the superb exhibitions held at the gallery. I'm delighted to be included showing some of my new wall sculptures, such as Stowaway 2 shown left. Acrylic and copper gilding on lasercut plywood, 15 x 26cm.

The exhibition brings together a selection of available artworks by Rebecca Appleby, Joy Arden, Jonathan Barber, Helen Booth, Andrew Clausen, Michael Craik, Joan Doerr, Hanna ten Doornkaat, Liz Douglas, Jana Emburey, Jeffrey Cortland Jones, Susan Laughton, Karine Léger, Elfyn Lewis, Jai Llewellyn, James Lumsden, Andrew Mackenzie, David Mankin, Ivan De Menis, Emily Moore, Mary Morrison, Lorraine Robson, Anke Roder, Laura Jane Scott, Anna Somerville, Elaine Spears, Jon Thomas and JFK Turner

Since opening in 2017, &Gallery has established itself as a leading contemporary art gallery in Scotland as well as the rest of the UK and worldwide and organised more than 40 exhibitions.

Tuesday 22 December 2020

Looking back: Sightlines at Salford Museum and Art Gallery, 2009.



When LS Lowry's paintings were moved from Salford Museum and Art Gallery to the new Lowry centre twenty years ago Salford Museum held various exhibitions in the gallery space. In 2009 I was asked to exhibit my work and also given the opportunity to select work from the gallery's rarely seen permanent collection. Although unfortunately I don't have great photos of the exhibition I wanted to share them.

"An exhibition inspired by the English Landscape, with paintings by Salford artist, Susan Laughton and a selection of works from Salford Museum and Art Gallery's permanent collection. The English Landscape has inspired and challenged artists for centuries. Works displayed from Salford's permanent collection demonstrate the artist's traditional preoccupation with the picturesque or landscape as a ‘view'. This exhibition illustrates how one contemporary artist has responded to the challenge and created complex work of sensitive simplicity. Work that speaks as much about our changing relationship with the landscape, as it does about the times we live in.

Most of the artists I chose were also Northern but I was also excited to find a Prunella Clough (1919-1999) painting Recollection 1976, seen here with The Church on the Hill, Milnthorpe 1979 by Elizabeth Finn (1933- 2019) who was from Marple and on the left my Sodium sky 2006.










Below: Salford born artist Olive Bagshaw's painting Adams Hill, Winter 1978 with Cloudburst 2008 in the foreground.










Below middle: Bolton Parish Church by Brian Bradshaw (1923 - 2016), left: Vanishing point I & II 2009, right: Measured space I & II, 2009. Brian Bradshaw was born in Bolton, attended Bolton Art College and after WW2 was awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Art.














Vanishing point, 2009 Susan Laughton

Below left: Faded glory IV & V, right Putney Window by Carel Weight (1908 - 1997) Weight became Professor of Painting at the Royal College of Art in 1957, and was awarded the CBE in 1962. In the following year he painted the mural Christ and the People for Manchester Cathedral, and in 1965 was elected RA.










Below left: Telegraphic I & II, right Landscape by John Ward (b.1935) John is based in the High Peak, Derbyshire and taught at Salford, Manchester and Stockport Colleges of Art and Design.



















Telegraphic II, Susan Laughton, 2008


Below: second left Bickershaw No.4 by Roger Hampson (1925 - 1996) Hampson was born in Tyldesley near Wigan and is considered an important member of the Northern School. He taught at Bolton College of Art and Design and also worked as a graphic designer. Third from right: Sunlight and Mills by Rochadale born Harold Hemingway (1908 - 1976) 


























Sunday 27 September 2020

The Art Buyer Autumn Show 2020 at The Upstart Gallery, Putney, London.

















Exhibition news: I will be showing six new paintings in the The Art Buyer Autumn Show 2020 at The Upstart Gallery, 161 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, London from 8th October - 21st November.

Monday – by appointment

Tuesday to Thursday – 10.30am to 1.30pm

Saturday – 10.30am to 4pm

Sunday – closed

'Silvering time III' 40 x 40cm.

Wednesday 6 May 2020

Little plywood architectural sculpture: houses, barns, huts














I have recently being working on these little lasercut 18mm thick plywood buildings. They are 12.5cm high, handpainted and gilded. I'm really pleased with the results! They are available from Gallery57 and I am also starting to add some to my online shop here.















My long standing interest in landscape and architecture has always inspired my drawing and painting. Vernacular buildings, both rural and urban, domestic and functional, have found a place in my paintings for some time, no doubt also informed by time as an architectural technician. I am particular drawn to the triangular form of the gable ends of buildings, whether they be simple sheds, northern terraces, suburban 1960’s bungalows, barns or giant warehouses. The move from painting to 3D forms was an instinctive urge, a desire for a more physical, tactile exploration. That exploration encompasses both the formal aspects of architectural, geometric shapes and what they mean in the sense of home, shelter, work and human endeavour and it’s impact on our external and internal landscapes. I think there is also an element of play involved in creating imaginary worlds, remembering the painted wood toy building blocks of childhood.