Dear Blogger
WILLOW GALLERY SPRING CRAFT FAIR
| HAPPY EASTER
PASG HAPUS
Easter Opening:
Thursday 17 April: Gallery open / Café closed
Good Friday 18 April: Gallery & Café closed
Saturday 19 April: Gallery & Café open | | | Spring Open Exhibition Until 26 April A dynamic and colourful exhibition showcasing all kinds of artwork to enjoy and purchase  | | | Bob Guy 1947-2023
Wood engravings
Bob Guy was born in 1947 and studied panting and printmaking at Kingston University. He lived and worked in Wales from 1973. He was elected a member of the Society of Wood Engravers in 2010, and taught wood engraving from his home studio in Llanfyllin, Powis.
He exhibited at the National Eisteddfod and curated numerous exhibitions at the Llanfyllin Workhouse. Bob also played clarinet in a local band with his partner Iris and other local musicians.
Bob's work often involved collaborations with poets and bards, resulting in handmade books. Examples of his wood engravings are in the British Library and the Ashmolean Museum, as well as a number of private collections. | | | Jaci demonstrates how she paints pastel seascapes We were delighted to welcome Jaci Hogan back to the gallery last month, when she demonstrated how she uses soft pastel to paint waves and coastal-inspired pieces.
Evoking the dynamic energy of breaking waves, Jaci also plays with light and shadow to add depth and dimension to her tranquil beach scenes. | | | A WAY OF SEEING WITH REG TURRELL
COUNTRY LANE
I like discovering a walk that's new to me. This started off as a tarmacked road but gradually petered out into a muddy lane. I realised that the track must be ancient because it was worn away well below the level of the fields. What did attract me was the curves of the tree branches echoed in the tracks and banks of the lane.
Using broad brush strokes, I applied watercolour to indicate shadows. FW acrylic inks were used freely to draw drooping branches and curving tracks. I enjoy using oil pastels on top of watercolour at the moment: I like their oily texture and how easily they can be blended to create an ethereal effect. I felt it captured a glimpse of past time.
| | | | Art & Craft Workshops at the Gallery
 At our artist-led workshops, learn new skills or hone an existing one, try out different art materials and take time out with like-minded people. Classes consist of small groups, ensuring that everyone receives plenty of individual attention and guidance.
LEFT: Acrylic workshop with Mark Warner See our website for dates, full details and updates | | Upcoming exhibitions  Borderland Visual Arts & Open Studio Weekends Saturday 3 May–Saturday 28 June Showcasing artists from Oswestry and the surrounding area
Open Studio Weekends Saturday 7 June & Sunday 8 June,
Saturday 14 June & Sunday 15 June Go behind the scenes to see local artists at work in their studios, learn about different creative processes, and buy unique work directly from the artists.
 Saturday 5 July–Saturday 30 August An exhibition for established and emerging textile artists working with stitch, fabric and mixed media. This not-for-profit event creates an opportunity to exhibit alongside nationally and internationally renowned textile artists. Exhibitors will be part of a growing movement that is bringing fine-art textiles to a wider audience. Click here to visit the Stitch by Stitch website for full details regarding submissions. | | | | Other Local Events & Information | |  Vicky launches new book
Local author Vicky Turrell unveiled her latest novel, The Rest is Life, last month at the Willow Gallery. The new book centres upon a group of retirees connecting with each other as they explore new interests and make interesting discoveries about themselves. Now experiencing retirement herself, Vicky writes with wit and humour to present a positive portrayal of retirement and the value of older people.
At a well-attended and convivial event, Vicky was joined by fellow-authors John Piper, Ron Turner and Bernard Pearson to talk about the book and give readings. There was also a lively question and answer session, and attendees were able to purchase signed copies of the new work.  Published by local writers' co-operative Leaf by Leaf Press, The Rest is Life is available to buy online at £6.50 plus £3 postage. Retired teacher Vicky is also the author of a popular blog, Notes from the country, and writes a regular column for the Shropshire Star. | | | | Repair Café
Oswestry & Borders
Oswestry Memorial Hall
Saturday 12 April, 12-3pm
A team of skilled volunteer repairers give their time and expertise for free to help people fix items that might otherwise be thrown away. Please book your item in beforehand at osbordersrepaircafe@gmail.com, so organiser Elaine knows which experts to invite and what tools they need to bring.
You can also bring your repairs to the Midweek Mend sessions at the Climate Action Hub in Oswestry's Bailey Street (Wednesdays 11am-2pm).
| | | SPRING WALK IN THE OSWESTRY HILLS
Sunday 13 April - 11am-3.30pm A 6-mile guided walk through woods and fields, enjoying spring birdsong, butterflies and flowers.
Starting from: Village Hall, Trefonen (SY10 9DG) CHASING THE LIGHT
Wednesday 16 April - 7.30-8.30pm
A talk by ornithologist and photographer Keith Offord on the responses of birds to the changing light of the seasons.
Location: Methodist Church Hall, Castle Street, Oswestry (SY11 1JZ) | | | | Art World Brexit blow for art galleries
Leading British art galleries are struggling with the loss of hundreds of thousands of international visitors lost since the pandemic because of Brexit, it has emerged.
In particular, a dramatic fall in student visa applications - due to the end of free movement - has caused a drop in the number of young people from overseas visiting UK art galleries, analysis shows. The inability to use EU ID cards to travel to the UK, and the end of VAT-free shopping for tourists are also being blamed for the slump in overseas visitors.
World-famous UK galleries, including London's Tate, the Royal Academy and the National Gallery, have seen visitor numbers fall by between 20 and 50 percent since 2019, while rivals in Paris, Amsterdam and Florence have thrived over the same period. Regional art spaces in the UK are also struggling, with significant visitor reductions at Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery, Leeds Art Gallery and Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art.
The figures lay bare the challenges facing the arts sector in the wake of the UK's departure from the EU in 2020, and will put pressure on Keir Starmer's government to do more to support world-renowned institutions.  Tate Modern in London has lost nearly half of its young overseas visitors since 2019-20 Photographer:
Lucy Green | |  A vibrant, not-for-profit art space packed full of contemporary artworks from local and national artists. We host exhibitions, art classes, craft fairs and other community-focused events - bringing together creative individuals and art lovers from our local communities and beyond. CONTACT US Tel: 01691 657575
email: willowgalleryoswestry@gmail.com
Website: willowgalleryoswestry.org
Facebook: Willow
Address: 56 Willow Street, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 1AD Gallery/Café open Tues-Sat 10am-4pm (3.30pm café last orders)
Closed: Sundays/Mondays/Bank Holidays Editor: Hilary Moorcroft
April 2025 | | | | | |
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