Pop Up Gallery in North Shields gives 15 local artists a moment to shine
Local artists are being given the chance to showcase their work for free at a Pop Up Gallery in North Shields.
The artists and organisers behind the Pop Up Gallery in North Shields.
The exhibition by City Park Studio is being held over two weekends in September and October 2024 and features 15 artists at different stages of their careers.
The Pop Up Gallery is backed by the North Shields Cultural Quarter Projects and Events Fund. North Shields Cultural Quarter is part of North Tyneside Council’s ambitious plans for North Shields, enhancing and growing the creative economy. It is supported by the North East Combined Authority.
There are three categories: Females, Teens and Newbies. The Females and Teens exhibitions took place on Saturday 28 September and Sunday 29 September, with the Newbies exhibition still to come on Saturday 5 October from 6pm to 9pm.
The artists work in a wide range of disciplines including portraiture, photography, realism, digital art, watercolours, oil painting, sketchbooking, abstract mixed media, collage and illustration. The gallery is being hosted at 103 Howard Street, in the heart of North Shields Cultural Quarter.
Each artist gets the chance to present new art, sell pieces, network and meet like-minded individuals. There is no fee for the artists to show their work and entry is free for the public, with light refreshments and entertainment laid on.
The artist behind Pop Up Gallery, City Park Studio’s Sophia Ramsey, is one of three sisters all blazing a trail in the arts and cultural scene in North Tyneside, with Megan Ramsey a celebrated North Shields photographer, and Jennifer Nicol the founder and director of inclusive theatre company Ramsey’s Theatre Stars, which is lending its premises for the event.
Sophia Ramsey said: “I feel passionately about the creative power and potential of artists in this area right now. I wanted to do something to shine a light on that. The Pop Up Gallery is all about bringing artists and the community together to network and appreciate local talent.
“We’re giving new, young and female artists a chance to experience what it’s like to have their own exhibition, get some recognition and sell some of their work.
“The Pop Up Gallery is being held in an intimate setting in North Shields Cultural Quarter. With some nibbles, drinks and live music from local musicians, the first two events have created a warm, supportive and fun exhibition experience for these amazing artists.
“This funding from North Shields Cultural Quarter is giving people a platform and the confidence to take their work to the next level. It’s an opportunity these artists might not otherwise have had.”
Artist Rachael Brien is exhibiting in the Female category. She said: “I'll be exhibiting a set of paintings I have made that detail architectural features of two buildings and a bridge that I see on my daily route from school drop-offs to my studio.
“They are the cement, sculptural details on Tynemouth Bridge, an extract of the tiled exterior of King Street Social and the tiled entrance of One Three One Studios, Bedford Street. I have made them as part of my Artist Residency in Motherhood (ARIM), a fantastic concept conceived by Lenka Clayton for mother/parent artists to explore.
“It is fantastic to be able to show work where you live instead of having to travel. It helps to build community. There are a lot of artists living at the coast and in North Shields and initiatives like the Pop Up Gallery are bringing artists together on a much more local level.”
Artist Raymond Usher is exhibiting in the Newbies category. He said: “I’m showing my loose ink and watercolour artwork, mostly of places and buildings around North Shields and the North East. It’s great to have a local venue to display artwork, especially with nearly all my art being of local places.
“Most of my art inspiration comes from nostalgia and walking around Shields and I think that might be why the people of Shields are so supportive. The Pop Up Gallery means that a few people who might not have seen my art can find it and maybe even find a piece that feels special to them.
“I only really started painting with watercolours in the last three years and even during this short time it feels like there’s more and more happening in Shields to support local artists and creative folks. It’s only going to get better the more of these kinds of events we have.”
Cllr Carl Johnson, Deputy Mayor for North Tyneside and cabinet member responsible for Regeneration, Economic Development and Culture said: “We are so lucky in North Shields and North Tyneside to have a massive range and breadth of local artistic talent. North Shields Cultural Quarter has come at the right time to support a surge of creative energy that’s helping boost the town’s economy.
“To see 15 artists coming forward to exhibit at this Pop Up Gallery just goes to show how exciting a place North Shields is right now for artists and creative businesses.”
A full list of the artists taking part in the Pop Up Gallery is as follows. Teens: Poppy Johnson, Isabella Whitfield, James Holland, with Jennifer Nicol and Lucinda Willis as featured artists. Females: Liane Dixon, Briony Haddon, Rachael Brien, Gaby Zak, Pamela Morton. Newbies: Laura Mosavi, Raymond Usher, Kirsty Hall, Paris Jones, Lewis Dimmick.