This is Rook Lane Gallery, a beautifully restored 18th Century Chapel in the heart of Frome. It's here that, until 8th December 2018, you'll find 140 pieces of spectacular feline themed art.
The show is an exciting collaboration between members of The Society of Feline Artists (SOFA) and International Cat Care. SOFA are kindly donating 25% of the value of artworks sold to International Cat Care.
International Cat Care
It was a long drive from York, but I really wanted to visit the Exhibition. I had also been wanting to visit International Cat Care HQ and find out more about the work that they do. Claire Bessant, Chief Executive of iCatCare, kindly took the time to show me round their premises and give me a better understanding of their staff. As a Charity focused on education about cat care, a lot of their resources are devoted to the publication and dissemination of useful information to those involved in the welfare of cats. This work also extends to organising UK and International conferences for around 600 veterinary professionals plus lobbying Government and working with Authorities to bring about positive change for cats worldwide.
Armed with a fuller understanding of iCatCare's global reach, I was ready for a glass of fizz and some feline art!
The Complete Cat Exhibition
The first thing that drew my eye on arrival was the Christmas tree decorated with some charming white "angel cats". The tree and associated decorations were kindly provided by Protectapet who offer fencing solutions for animals. In exchange for a donation to iCatCare, visitors could take a decoration and replace it with a cat shaped card decoration on which you could write a dedication to a "loved and lost" feline friend. A lovely idea!
After a glass of cava it was time to have a look at the artwork on display. A total of 140 pieces of art adorn the walls of the Rook Lane Gallery. A huge variety of styles, all artists offering their "take" on the feline form. Here are some of my favourites (in no particular order):
Cat & Blossom by Sue Sareen £900 - impressive from a distance and close up. With an image size of 46 x 64cm this piece can make an impression on most walls.
The Piece of Cod by Lois Sykes £1,080
A religious pun. I wouldn't call this blasphemous, just "irreverent".
Woody in the Garden by Celia Pike £600 - a very relaxing painting to admire. In me it evoked lovely feelings of warm Summer days.
An Evening in the Sun by Jacqueline Gaylard £1,750. So this is a photo right? Wrong! I just cannot begin to imagine how an artist can create such a lifelike picture. Incredible attention to detail and an overall effect that is simply stunning. The amount of time it must have taken to get not just the cat, but the leaves right is just mindblowing.
Deco Cats by Marian Forster £238. Alison and I have a soft spot for the art deco period having lived in a succession of 1920's and 1930's houses. An iconic style that works perfectly with Siamese cats!
I hope you liked my selections? Please do have a browse through the online exhibition catalogue and while doing so, remember that 25% of every purchase goes to help fund the work of International Cat Care. Not only that, but you'll be purchasing an original work of art by a member of the prestigious Society of Feline Artists.
In 2019 and beyond, The Cat Gallery would like to start offering both prints and original works of art by top feline artists. If this sounds good to you then please drop us a line via our website contact form to register your interest.