Work by three of the most exciting female artists in North Wales is currently on show at North Wales based art gallery Ffin y Parc, this October. The Llanrwst gallery presents artists Kay Rees-Davies SBA, Beth Fletcher and Sue Hunt in an all-female exhibition.

“Kay is one of the most highly regarded Botanical painters in the UK, Beth is fastly becoming one of the most popular young artists working in Wales and Sue was named Welsh Artist of the Year in 2006, so we are very pleased to have all three together for this unique show,” said Gallery owner Ralph Sanders.

Kay Rees-Davies from Llanfairfechan, North Wales became a freelance artist specialising in botanical illustration and flower portraiture after a successful career as a English, Drama and later Music teacher. The artist explained although she did well at art in school it wasn’t until a chance meeting with botanical artist Margaret Stevens which changed her life forever.

“Although I could draw in school and did quite well in art exams, it wasn’t until 1987, when I went to Penrhyn Castle near Bangor, and saw an exhibition of botanical art there that I realised it was the form of art I would like to study,” said Kay. “I met the artist of this work Margaret Stevens, at her first exhibition in North Wales, a meeting which was to change my life.”

Indeed, her work can be found in collections and museums all over the world and is published in the Highgrove Florilegium, as a permanent record of the flora in the garden at Highgrove.

Ralph explained: “An expert in her field and highly regarded, these works are wondrous in their precision and delicacy.”

Kay’s paintings have been shown in many galleries in Wales, Chester and London and her works are sought by private collectors throughout the world. Two are held in the collection of the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie University, Pittsburgh, USA and five are held in the collection of the Lindley Library of the Royal Horticultural Society. Five of her paintings are also held in the archive of the Chelsea Physic Garden – one of the oldest of such gardens in Britain.

Also on display and for sale until October 23, is landscape artists Beth Fletcher. Following her successful show at Ffin y Parc last year, Beth who sees herself as grounded in the British and European landscape painting tradition, will display 20 new paintings. She said: “For me, painting landscape truthfully is as much about touch as vision, as much about intuition and memory as conscious thought and decision.”

Beth gained her BA in Fine Art and Art History in 2002 and an MA in Fine Art in 2004. Her work is held in many private collections.

Ralph explained: “These works continue to fascinate with their half-revealed, half-imaginary landscapes. Beth is able to simplify the images she sees, reducing them to their essence.”

Cardiff based artist Sue Hunt, who studied at Canterbury College of Art, achieving an MA in Fine Art at Cardiff College, currently teachers at the School of Fine Art, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff. Having exhibited widely nationally and internally in Europe, the USA and Mexico, her works are held in many public and private collections.

“We have been keen to exhibit her work here at Ffin y Parc for some time, and are quite excited that she is finally here,” said Ralph. “This collection is beautiful and delicate.”

Ffin y Parc Gallery
Betws Road, Llanrwst
Conwy LL26 0PT United Kingdom
Ph. +44 (0)14 92642070
ralph@welshart.net
www.welshart.net

Opening hours
Tuesday - Saturday from 10am to 5pm
Sunday from 11am to 5pm