The Tower Gallery artists’ co-operative in Crickhowell celebrate the New Year with an exhibition of oil paintings by their most recent member, artist and painter Michael Howard.
William Gibbs, co-founder of the co-operative, said: "We plan to build on our successful debut year on the Welsh art scene with a packed program of local art and Michael’s exciting exhibition of expressive landscape paintings will be a tremendous start to 2016."
Three years ago, after a 20-year career teaching art, Michael left his job as head of art at Rugby School. Since then he has been painting full time.
You may have seen this local artist braving all kinds of weather with his canvas and brushes, walking up and down the hills and mountains around Brecon.
Michael said: “As a landscape painter I am focused on my surroundings and this exhibition of new work hopefully reflects the preoccupation that I have with the dramatic landscape around my home in Trallong. While my paintings are topographically faithful, they are much more about the manner in which I apply the paint, the colour selection, the quick mark making and the struggle to resolve the visual issues and problems that seem a constant companion of the creative process.”
Michael has been making his art in this area since the early 1980s and like many artists before him, he is endlessly inspired by the dramatic Brecon Beacons.
The other artists in the Tower Gallery cooperative, Hannah Firmin, Kay Leverton, Harriet Lloyd, Lesley Lillywhite, Philippine Sowerby, Robert MacDonald and Graeme Galvin are well known around the Brecon area and after a highly successful first year, they are all looking forward to 2016 and another year of outstanding exhibitions.
You can see Michael Howard’s exhibition of Powys Landscape Paintings at The Tower Gallery in Crickhowell from January 13 - February 20, 10am - 5pm, Wednesday to Saturday.