Art Events

Spine[less]: Rebinding The Portico

21 August 2023
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events

I’d like to tell you about an exciting project I am working on in collaboration with the Portico Library in Manchester. When I first walked into the Portico Library I was immediately drawn to the most damaged books: the ‘spineless’ books in the collection, with their scuffed

leather tones and fascinating array of under-papers, held together with cotton ribbons.  These hidden under-layers, of the centenarian books standing exposed along the shelves: hand-written accounts ledgers; scraps from newspapers; advertisement flyers; lines of script; all assumed by the original book-binders to never see the light of day. Looking along the library shelves we get a glimpse into hidden histories…

I had gone in to the library originally to see if they might like to stock some of my art cards in their shop, but they were SO enthusiastic about my work and I was SO enthusiastic about their books, that our ideas grew into a painting project 🙂 

This collaboration celebrates the importance of the Portico library as a home of

literature, history and learning.

In September this year the paintings will be displayed in the library, and on September 14th there will be an evening event ‘Spine[less]: Rebinding The Portico’ where there will be presentations from the Portico’s Collections Manager and from myself 🙂

You can book tickets for the event here: https://www.theportico.org.uk/event-calendar/spineless-rebinding-event

From Thursday 12th October 2023 – Friday 26th January 2024, the paintings will be part of an exhibition in the library promoting the Portico’s Adopt-a-Book scheme, highlighting the importance of preservation, restoration and the need for rebinding books. Members of the library are invited to Adopt-a-Book and pay for it to be rebound: to be brought back into use: to be reborn! The finished paintings will be for sale,with 25% of the sale price going to the Portico Library 🙂 

In progress in my studio at the moment are the two Portico paintings: one of a shelfful of the exposed ‘spineless’ books, and another of a collection of ornately bound books from the Portico’s collection. It is such a joy to delicately translate these ornate and battered spines into paint across the canvas, relishing all the little handwritten details and worn edges. 

I can’t wait to unveil the finished, framed paintings at the library when we set up the display next week!!

You can find out more about the Portico Library and their Adopt-a-Book scheme:

https://www.theportico.org.uk/

https://www.theportico.org.uk/adoptabook

…and more about me here: https://roowaterhouse.art/about-roo-waterhouse-shelf-portrait-artist/

Open Studios Tomorrow!! Online shop closed 10th July to 4th August…

6 July 2023
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog

Tomorrow the Hebden Bridge Open Studios Weekend begins!!! 
Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July 11am to 5pm

I’ll be offering 20% off throughout my online shop from now up until midnight on Sunday 9th:
Simply enter the code
HITCHHIKER20
in your basket
Roo’s Shop

Theo and I (and Action Girl too, of course!) are looking forward to welcoming you into my studio 🙂
You’ll find us on the first floor at:
Northlight Art Studios
Valley Road
Hebden Bridge
HX77BZ
where you will also find a fabulous array of other artists and makers, including:
Kelletur; Toby Cotterill Jewellery; Kate Boyce Art; Katch Skinner Ceramics; Jane Revitt Mapworks; Rach Red Designs; Red Mouse Designs; Don Myers Painting
along with a Showcase exhibition of our talented students’ work from our classes at Northlight Art School….
Straight after the Open Studios Weekend I will be off on a fantastic holiday, with my grown-ups Rory and Theo, to visit my niece and her family on Vancouver Island…
We are SOOOOOO excited!!!
I have my suitably-themed holiday reading planned: Alice Munro for a Canadian voice, and The Overstory for the spirit of the redwoods. I’ve read both before, but there’s nothing like being in the company of old friends when travelling!

PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONLINE ORDERS WILL BE PROCESSED BETWEEN
Monday 10th July and Thursday 3rd August

I wish you all a very sunny summertime 🙂

With Best Wishes
Roo
Roo Waterhouse Art
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Open Studios with New Science Fiction!

24 June 2023
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events
Just a couple of weeks to go until the fabulous Hebden Bridge Open Studios Weekend!!! 
Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July 11am to 5pm

Here I am in my studio at Northlight Art Studios, putting the finishing touches to my Portico Library collaboration paintings – over Open Studios weekend you can get an sneaky exclusive preview of the finished paintings in my studio, before they head off for framing for their exhibition at the Portico Library in Manchester. There will be an exciting event there in September, which you can find out more about here 🙂

To celebrate Open Studios weekend, I am releasing a new Limited Edition print ‘The Edge of Time’ 
A space-age and dystopian/utopian collection of classic science fiction novels, although I must admit to having only read two of them myself (which are two of my favourite books of all time).
Woman on The Edge of Time really blew me away the first time I read it, and still does today, and there is nothing on earth like The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy!
….and before you faint with shock at how un-well-read I am, yes, I have read parts of 1984 and A Clockwork Orange, just not the whole books!
Buy The Edge of Time LE Print Here
…and of course, as well as being able to have a chat and a nosey around my studio at the Shelf Portrait paintings and prints, there will be Art Cards, Tote Bags and Mugs for sale, along with some special bargains 🙂

For your eyes only, I am giving a whopping 20% off both online and in person at my studio up until 6pm on Sunday 9th July.
Just add the code:
Hitchhiker20
in your basket, or say ‘Hitchhiker 20’ to Theo or myself when you purchase at Open Studios 🙂
Totes and Mugs

I look forward to seeing some of you in my studio on Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July!!

With Best Wishes
Roo
Roo Waterhouse Art

(Affordable Art Fair Battersea) Spring is Here!

7 March 2023
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events

This week I have been busy packing up paintings to send down south for the Battersea Spring Affordable Art Fair
So I thought I’d give you a little Private View of what will be on display at the Fair with Nicholas Bowlby Gallery :

‘By The River’  2022 oil on canvas 30x40cm

 

‘Pathways’  2022 oil on canvas 30x 40cm

 

‘What The Dickens’  2022 oil on canvas 40x40cm

 

 ‘Look At This’  2022 oil on canvas40x40cm

 

‘The Edge of Time’  2022 oil on canvas 30x40cm

 

 ‘Beatitude’ 

You’ll find these paintings of mine on Stand A5 at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea Park from Thursday March 9th to Sunday March 12th

You can grab yourself FREE TICKETS by using the code NIB-GC at this link:

GET AAF TICKETS HERE

 

 

Best Wishes,

Roo

 

 

Northlight Winter Fair !!

19 November 2022
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Events, Gift Ideas

It’s our annual Winter Fair event at Northlight Art Studios!
Our fabulous studio holders will be hosting stalls to showcase their artistic goodies and gifts 🙂
You all get to come and visit, eat mince pies, buy locally made Christmas presents direct from the makers, win a raffle prize perhaps, drink some mulled wine, make a crafty something and enjoy a little festive feeling!
#hebdenmakeschristmas
Yay!!

 

New Shelf portraits at Green and Stone Gallery, London next week :-)

14 June 2022
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events, oil painting

I’m proud to be one of the artists exhibiting new work in next week’s
‘Come As You Are’
exhibition with Nicholas Bowlby Fine Art
at Green & Stone Gallery
Chelsea, London

You are hereby most cordially invited to attend the private view on
Tuesday 21st June 6.30 to 8.30pm
Please RSVP to thegallery@greenandstone.com

The exhibition runs from
Mon 20th June to Sat 25th June
open from 10am to 5pm
Green & Stone Gallery, 251 Fulham Road, London SW3 6HY
Here is my new painting ‘Every Grain of Rice’ in progress. The finished article will be on show at Green & Stone next week 🙂

May Day at UPCO !!

26 April 2022
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events, oil painting, Shelf-Portraits

Come and join me at UPCO in Otley this Sunday.
It’ll be the final day of my exhibition, as well as being May Day!!

There will be refreshments and merriment 🙂

These lovely little notebooks are new in my shop this week!
I’ll be bringing some to Otley on Sunday too 🙂
Choose from Jane Austen, Science Fiction. the ABC of Bees and Gentleman Jack…
Shop Notebooks 🙂

Book Stairs!
The Bookery, a fabulous independent bookshop in Crediton, sent me this great photo of their innovative stair decoration using some of my Book Shelf greeting cards.
Isn’t it fab!!

I hope you all have a super bank holiday weekend.
I look forward to seeing some of you in Otley on Sunday 🙂

Best Wishes,
Roo
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Spring is in the Air :-)

1 March 2022
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events

My thoughts are turning towards the garden this morning, now that I can feel a bit of spring in the air, and in the ground, with bulbs all starting to peep up 🙂

I was a bit late with my winter manure cover (February😮) but I’m sure it will be a while before sowing temperatures are reached up here in Yorkshire!

This ‘Down to Earth’ greeting card reminds me to take care of the soil and start planning my crops for the season ahead…
Shop Down to Earth

My son and I had a busy and successful day yesterday setting up my exhibition at UpCo Arts in Otley. It’s looking great (if I may say so myself!)
I’m very much looking forward to the open day this Saturday, and hope to see a few of you there 🙂

Here is my son, Rory, using a drop-knee climbing move to do some extreme hanging over the stairwell!

Best Wishes 🙂

Roo

Book Shelf Art Up at UpCo!

16 February 2022
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events

BOOK SHELF ART at UPCO

I’ll be taking my Book Shelf Art over to Wharfedale for an exhibition at the new Otley Arts hub that is

UpCo

7 Courthouse Street, Otley, LS213AN

The exhibition starts with an

Opening Day event on Saturday 5th march 11am-4pm

and ends with another

Open Day on Sunday 1st May 11am-4pm

If you’d like to visit the exhibition any time between these dates please ring Josh on 07549 531449

Snowdrops, Starlings and Jane Austen…

8 February 2022
Roo Waterhouse
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Categories: Art Events, Blog, Events

I had my first snowdrop sighting of 2022 yesterday on a very blustery coastal walk in Silverdale, also including snow, rain, sunshine, hail and a rainbow!!

After a quick paddle in the sea (trying and failing to stay upright in gale force winds!), joy of joys, my very first experience of a murmuration of starlings, at Jenny Brown’s Point, which settled just 50 yards from my feet before swooping off again, and later coming straight over our heads – what an astounding show!
My incredibly moving starling experience has encouraged me to dig out my binoculars and seek out some more bird focused walks.
Any recommendations most welcome!
You can bring a touch of the Wonder of Birds into your own home with this ‘Bird Life’ art print from my shop 🙂
Shop Bird Life range
I am very happy to have finished my new ‘Jane Austen’ Shelf Portrait last week, so it will be framed and ready for the Battersea Spring Affordable Art Fair in March, with Limited Edition prints being available from my exhibition open days at UPCO Otley on March 5th and May 1st.