Art Society Showcase – May 2025

Bowlees Visitor Centre will host an exhibition of recent work by members of the Barnard Castle and Teesdale Art Society. Approximately half of the Society’s members are exhibiting, including several who have not previously exhibited at Bowlees.

Fourteen artists will be exhibiting a total of 46 works in media including pastel, watercolour, acrylic, graphite, charcoal and clay.

Alan Coustick, secretary of the Barnard Castle and Teesdale Art Society, said: “We’re very much looking forward to this year’s exhibition at Bowlees. It is a great opportunity to share our artwork with visitors and locals, particularly to showcase the work that features Teesdale. We hope that some visitors may be encouraged to develop their own interest in creating art, especially in response to the landscape and life of Teesdale, and we’d welcome new members to the group.”

The society is a group of friendly enthusiastic amateur artists with varying levels of experience meeting on Monday afternoons throughout the year. The aim is to encourage members in creating art in various mediums, especially painting and drawing, with tutored sessions about once a month and mutual assistance at other times. They meet in Barnard Castle during school terms and for outdoor sketching and painting in various venues, predominantly in Teesdale, during July and August.

Jane Hayes, Visitor Services Assistant at the North Pennines National Landscape, said: “It’s always lovely to see the exhibition by the Barnard Castle and Teesdale Art Society. There are always plenty of local people coming along to see the work on display and visitors to the centre enjoy the opportunity to see Teesdale depicted by a varied group of artists.”

The exhibition is on show daily from 10am to 5pm at Bowlees Visitor Centre, from 1 to 30 May. Please note that the gallery is accessed via stairs.  Original artwork and small cards will be on sale as part of the exhibition.