Paintings Prints Sculpture Glass Textiles Jewellery Ceramics Cards

The artworks have been selected to be a pleasure to look at, to possess, or to give as very special presents.

For the Christmas period each year The Gallery presents a mixed exhibition of fine art and craftwork of the usual high standard but priced affordably.

This year, paintings, prints and sculpture include work by the artists who have studios at Parndon Mill as well as those who exhibit regularly at The Gallery and some whose work is new here.

Introduced for the first time is the work of Nigel Earle. After being involved in many different design fields he has in recent years turned to ceramics, producing mainly organic sculptural vase forms in his Hertford studio. These stoneware pieces reflect the natural colours and textures found in the different clays used, contrasting with vivid sunken areas of glazing, often with additional glass and metallic elements

Ceramics also include work which will be familiar to regular visitors to The Gallery. Lustrous stoneware and porcelain by Margaret Gardiner contrast with pieces of colourful earthenware by Marylin Andreetti and Aila Simpson, who along with Caroline Avey and Angelka Hinton also show interesting decorative pieces.

Works of art in glass featuring various different techniques are being shown, including pieces from the studios at Parndon Mill where six glass artists now work: Heike Brachlow. Jon Lewis, Yuki Kokai, Karen Murphy, Ewa Wawrzyniak and Dominique Conte. Pieces from The London Glassblowing Workshop will also be included in the exhibition.

Glass will also feature in the range of jewellery exhibited, often combined with silver. Rita Lampen, another resident Parndon Mill artist exhibits her delicate jewellery which combines silver and semi-prescious stones.

Textile artist Ayse Simsek set up her loom on the top floor of the Mill this summer and is exhibiting her delicately woven silk wall hangings. Nicola Hughes is also new to the Christmas exhibition. Her textiles involve many different materials and techniques to achieve a very colourful and decorative effect.

Many of the artists have contributed to a range of cards which have been hand made or specially printed and offer a wide choice of subjects and designs.

This exhibition is a pleasure to look at an offers the opportunity to acquire that very special present.