We love hosting Meet the Artist evenings, but this one — an evening with Doug Hyde and his new collection, Snapshots of Summer — was one we'll remember for a long time.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to meet Doug and enjoy a first viewing of Snapshots of Summer in person. It was such a pleasure to see the gallery full — familiar faces, new friends, and a hubbub of happy conversation. It was exactly the kind of evening we love hosting.
If you couldn't make it — or just want to relive it — you can watch the highlights here, or see Doug talk through the collection himself in this short film.
One special part of the evening was Doug meeting Catherine, the winner of our Great British Summertime Photography Competition.
Catherine's winning photo told the story of Doug's The Great Escape, which hangs in her workspace and, she tells us, is loved by everyone who sees it — clients often comment on how happy and uplifting it makes the space feel. Seeing Catherine and Doug meet in person, over the very piece that started it all, was a lovely moment to witness.
Putting together events like this is hard work, but these evenings are a joy for everyone involved. There's something special about introducing people to the artist behind the pieces they love — about hearing the artist's stories of creation, and giving collectors a chance to share their own stories too.
The collection itself marks a shift for Doug — more colour, more freedom, and a focus on feeling over specific memory. Talking about Good Times Ahead, his piece of two cyclists flying downhill through sunlit woodland, he told about his inspiration for the piece.
""I remember being at the top of the steepest hill where we live, in Bristol, and just screaming all the way down. I'm trying to capture that feeling — carefree, nothing else on your mind, just free. Forget about all your worries. That's really what highlights how I go about all the pieces now.""
Doug also drew the winners of our raffle, with three lucky guests each taking home a hamper featuring his Our Happy Place sculpture, his collector's book, and a bottle of our own Rose Gallery gin. Congratulations to Philip and Andrea, Carol, and Keith and family!
If you've ever thought about coming along to one of our events — or hoping to meet your own favourite artist — we'd love to see you at the next one.
Thanks for subscribing!
This email has been registered!
