Toucan and Friends - Romi Behrens

The first quarter of the year is always an interesting time for us here at the gallery as we move from the old and in to the new. As well as our annual spring cleaning, it is a time to host different events, exhibitions and show work of a different nature. As such we are delighted to present the oils paintings by Romi Behrens.

Inspired by her native coastal Cornwall Romi has for five decades been at the heart of the contemporary Cornish school. Inspired by the traditions of Park, Wood, the Nicholsons, Hilton, Lanyon and a close friend of the late Patrick Heron Romi's work reflects the depth and warmth of this rich British cultural heritage. Basing this suite of paintings around an antique South American totem that has been a lucky charm in her studio for many years these pictures have all the colour and brightness welcome during the final days of winter.

Best known for her portraits the collection also includes a number of smaller sketches for which she is so well known and for which she was recently the subject of a single artist retrospective at the Royal Cornwall Museum. Selected by Country Life magazine as one of the exhibitions to see this month we are anticipating the blast of the horn and the cry of the hunt to resound along Bury St. at any time ...

Shaun Tan at The Oscars

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony approaches and a hearty congratulations to Shaun Tan who with Andrew Ruhemann has been nominated for Best Short Film (Animated) for The Lost Thing.

As well as being one of the most charming people to have crossed the threshold of the gallery Shaun is also an exciting and innovative artistic talent, whose careers moves from strength to strength. With a truly international following this nomination for an Oscar is a testament to his artistic vision and we will be supporting wholeheartedly on Sunday night for victory.
We are delighted that Shaun will be back with us at the gallery this August and look forward to hosting an event and exhibition of his work and the new book, The Bird King, published by Templar this April. Shaun will be at the gallery to sign books, the date is to be confirmed. Watch this space.

Shaun is pictured here, at his previous event at Illustrationcupboard, chatting with Shirley Hughes.

Falmouth Illustration Retrospective

The beginning of the new year always sees us hosting a guest exhibition here at the gallery, and this February was no exception. Welcoming Falmouth Illustration we were delighted to host the alumni of this esteemed and greatly respected degree course. Curated by Alan Male, resident professor of illustration, the exhibition hosted an array of past BA students, all now leading fruitful and successful careers within this field. A buzzing evening reception saw old friends and new reunited, and highlighted above all the the enduring success and popularity of this degree course which has set on the road many bright and sharp-eyed talents. We wish Alan and his colleagues further victories at Falmouth and look forward to another visit from them in the near future.