Artful ENDEAVOR

Thanks to their recent expansion and an enviable list of artists, Whitewater Contemporary are bringing the best in fine art to North Cornwall

Over the last few years, Polzeath’s Whitewater Contemporary has gone from strength to strength, responding to the region’s high demand for fine art by doubling its original gallery space in 2021, and this year consolidating both spaces into a single, white walled gallery. Whitewater is now a leading venue for the exhibition of Cornish and British art, with an enviable list of exhibitors. Owners Nick and Suki Wapshott have a passion for working with Cornish painters, sculptors and makers, alongside new and established artists from across the UK.

“We have been delighted to introduce new artists like Luke Knight, beginning with his very first solo exhibition, and Max Leuchars, who is an extraordinary young talent, as well as supporting much loved local artists like Caroline Cleave. We’ve also held landmark exhibitions of contemporary craft, including potter Hugh West’s 50th year show, and a beautiful collection of work by Hannah Billingham who is currently one of the UKs most talked about ceramicists.”

The gallery has also been exhibiting work by painter Simeon Stafford, who is a huge name in British art, and other new and well-known names as part of their yearround Featured Artist series. This year’s series begins in March with a dazzling exhibition of ceramics by Royal College of Art graduate Judy McKenzie, whose works explore the ancient art of Nerikomi and Kintsugi. April sees still life and landscape paintings by Exeter College of Art graduate Sam Brooks, who is rapidly becoming one of the South West’s most collectable artist. She continues to study under respected painter Robin Child, whose own professor was a pupil of Walter Sickert, who was himself taught by Whistler and Degas, bringing a prestigious lineage to the gallery’s schedule.

Simeon Stafford’s warm and witty artwork returns to the gallery in May, while Central St Martins graduate Viv Richards heralds the start of summer with an exhibition of mixed media works throughout June. ‘Plein air’ watercolour painter Stewart Edmondson is Whitewater’s Featured Artist in July, and Cornish land and seascape artist John Brenton, whose work has been exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the Royal Society of British Artists Exhibition and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters Exhibition, is on show at the gallery in August. The autumn schedule will include a collection from Rebecca Styles, recipient of a Vacma award and Creative Scotland artist bursary for her work involving local raw pigments and traditional paint making, and the gallery’s much anticipated annual show by Suki Wapshott. Suki has become one of the North Coast’s most respected painters, thanks to her distinctive collections inspired by the light and reflections found in the coastline around Polzeath.

“As artists ourselves” says Suki, “we understand that artists need devoted gallerists to support and promote their work, and at Whitewater Contemporary we work hard to achieve those relationships. That’s good for our artists, good for our gallery, and allows us to present great work to our wonderful clients and collectors”.

Whitewater Contemporary, 1& 1a The Parade, Polzeath, PL27 6SR. For further information and to take a Virtual 3D Tour of the gallery see www.whitewatercontemporary.co.uk