OPENING THE VAULT:
OUR FIRST NEWSLETTER
Looking back at Saul Cathcart's first exhibition with us
When we opened the doors for Saul Cathcart’s, The Wild Edge We Love, in September, we hoped people would connect with the work. We didn’t quite expect how deeply they would. Over the weeks of the show, we welcomed visitors from Fowey and well beyond. Many lingered, came back for a second look, and told us about the stretch of coast, the weather or the memory a particular piece brought to mind. Thank you to everyone who came, whether you stayed for five minutes or an afternoon.
What you told us
The feedback was lovely, and honestly a bit overwhelming for a gallery this new. A few of the things we heard:
"The themes of change and journeys come across so strongly."
"I felt an immediate connection."
"There is so much to take in, I just sat there staring for the longest time. I hope you didn’t mind!"
We didn’t mind at all. That’s exactly what we hope the gallery is for, and you’re welcome to sit and stare for as long as you like.
Finding new homes
We’re delighted that a number of pieces left the gallery to start new lives on other people’s walls. Here are just two that found new homes in the first week alone.
It’s a special thing to watch a painting you’ve lived with for a few weeks go off to a home where it will be looked at every day.
A few thoughts of my own
I spent a long time surrounded by Saul’s work, and the more time I spent with it, the more I noticed. In many of the paintings, in much the same place, there are windows: gaps in the planes or screens of colour. I came to feel I was meant to look through them and see something in a different way, perhaps something pure and unfiltered. Bravery is one of the things I value most, in every area of life, and I admire it enormously when I see it in artwork. That’s what made these paintings stand out for me. Saul’s instinctive marks and elements are not safe. They are brave, raw and honest, and that is something to revere.
The ones we kept...
A few pieces from the show have stayed with us, and here’s where they now hang in the gallery: If one has caught your eye, you can buy it directly from our website.
Sauls' work looking really fresh in the upstairs lounge area, where we have bought the paints and brushes back out for you to use while you enjoy a drink.
OUR CURRENT EXHIBITION:
AISLEIGH ANNE, 'HELD'
The Cornish landscape is at the heart of Aisleigh Anne's expressive paintings, her new body of work, ‘Held’, is reflection of how nurturing our surroundings can be. "Finding solace, finding joy, finding calm. Everything I have needed, Cornwall has given”. A view through soft grasses swishing in the breeze, comforting and sheltering, while a glimpse ahead hints at all the excitement life still holds. The landscape has an incredible way of meeting you wherever you are. Showing you joy, showing you fragility, and reminding you to notice the little things; the everyday moments that give us so much to be grateful for.
This exhibition offers an opportunity to experience her distinctive interpretation of the Cornish Landscape, looking beautiful in our light-filled upstairs gallery. Please contact us for a list of available work, or view online here:
NEW TO THE GALLERY:
GORDON VIRGO
Gordon works from his studio in the coastal village of Gorran Haven. Each day, the shifting tides, winds, and light offer new inspiration, reminding him that nature is always in motion, always telling a story. His paintings seek to honour that raw, elemental energy.
He is drawn to the power of the coastline and the quiet strength of the landscapes that define Cornwall. He aims to capture not just how these places look, but how they feel.
Working in acrylic on canvas, he builds each piece through countless delicate washes, letting layers of colour grow, merge, and breathe over time. Charcoal and pastel bring the final spark; marks that carve movement, emotion, and pathways for the viewer’s eye to journey through the piece.
“Every artwork is an invitation to pause, to reconnect, and to experience the landscape with renewed wonder.”
Two of Gordon Virgo's large scale works on the gallery wall, 'Ynyal', centre, and 'Keel', far right.
COMING UP IN FOWEY...
After the news of the Christmas Market being cancelled this year, a wonderful thing has happened, the community has come together and are planning lots of festivities across the town. For more info please see the 'What's on', guide on Inside Fowey:
The Old Bank Gallery, 2 Trafalgar Square, Fowey, PL23 1BA