Visiting Friends & Supporters of the College

(Picture: Wendy Tolley enjoying the work of Richard Bavin at the Fourteen@Ten Exhibition)

I love it when I get chance to get out and about and see the creative industries in action across Herefordshire, so this recent trip to the College’s Friend and Supporter, Apple Store Gallery was an absolute pleasure!

At the College we value the support of those working, as you might say, at the coal face, in so many ways. They provide us with information on industry changes, what its really like making a living doing what you love doing and help support, mentor and give feedback to our students as they develop their practice.

Apple Store Gallery is a great example of doing just that! Husband and wife team, David and Marion, fulfil a long ambition by running a combined local Fine Art Gallery and Framing Workshop with Artists’ Studios.
They are great supporters of the College, visiting regularly to attend forums, provide feedback to students, and sponsor the BA (Hons) Fine Art course’s end of year show.

They are also actively involved in the Herefordshire Art Week (h.Art) and have a packed exhibitions calendar featuring local artists, renowned professional artists, emerging talent and of course, some of the College’s alumni and teaching staff.

I recently visited, along with my colleague Polly, to view the current exhibition entitled Fourteen@Ten which celebrates ten years for Apple Store Gallery and features fourteen local artists, including Richard Bavin, who will shortly be delivering a master class, as part of the College’s Short Course Programme. Other work included College graduate, Jane Tudge and BA (Hons) Fine Art Course Leader, Allison Neal.

(Picture: Painting by Allison Neal – BA (Hons) Fine Art Course Leader)

(Picture: Work by Jane Tudge – HCA Graduate)

The gallery has a great vibe about it, a sense of busy getting on, with exhibitions to organise, artist studio spaces to maintain and a 24 hour framing service to ensure you can always meet a tight deadline but please note, they always find the time to stop and chat and help where they can!

(Picture: Just some of the frames to choose from at Apple Store Gallery)

(Picture: Proving some serious work gets done!)

Our thanks to David & Marion for a great morning out and my thanks to Polly James for taking some great pictures! The exhibition Fourteen@Ten runs until the 1st March 2015

Wendy Tolley