“This work is my joy, it has its own flow, I simply get out of the way. The moment I am engaged with it, it is fully alive."

Fiona’s work defies simple description – a breathtaking mix of vibrant colours, creative collage and finely-worked embroidery stitches.

Each piece takes months and months of work and the spirituality of the work is evident to anyone with an eye to see it. 

Fiona Almeleh – who was born in Zimbabwe and came to the UK in 2015 adds:

“The work feels like an acknowledgement of my ancestors who, from my perspective, are every bit here and evolving, just as the essence of who I am is doing the same. It is a wonderful collaboration. If you remove the element of time, we are concurrent. The title of the exhibition – She Breathes – is an expression of the fact that we are breathing with the earth and for the earth, and we are breathing our ancestral stories to the point where there is a desirable and perfect equanimity.”

Nine Devon artists present a variety of mixed media, textiles and print work. 

·         Ann Burnham, printmaker. Linocuts inspired by landscape.   

·         Susan Bradshaw, textile artist in needle lace and embroidery. 

·         Paulette Furnival, woven tapestry inspired by memories of West and East Africa.    

·         Sheila Kettle, textile artist, using a plethora of fabrics and mixed media.   

·         Sue King, textile artist in machine, and hand stitching. 

·         Liz Salter, mixed media, repurposing textiles, and recycling materials. 

·         Maureen Trayhorn, mixed media with stitched textiles.  

·         Jal White, bead weaving, transformed into beautiful jewellery.    

·         Marjon Willis, mixed media and embellished textiles.  

I have benefited from having worked with many artists and teachers in evening classes and courses. Since coming to live in Devon over 30 years ago, I discovered a community of artists, craftspeople and creators who thrive on the beauty in this part of the country.

My inspiration to paint and create prints has come from many sources over the years. Nature has been a big influence of course and two pictures were inspired by a play I saw at Theatre Royal, Plymouth, called ‘A World Without Us’. One of these is on show here. My fascination with octopuses was inspired by a book called ‘Other Minds by Peter Godfrey Smith and an octopus I saw at the Plymouth Aquarium with a grandson. I was telling him how intelligent these creatures are, when this octopus came to the glass wall of its tank and spread out all its tentacles for us to see its full glory – I’m sure it heard me. Some pictures have been inspired by earlier times in the 1970’s when the plight of our planet was foremost in many people’s minds and I became aware of the Hopi Indian prophecies. Songs like ‘After the Gold Rush’ have also influenced my desire to create in paint.

Hannah grew up in Devon and has now moved back to Totnes where she works in her garden studio. 

She particularly loves to paint and sketch outside, working intuitively, gathering information, how it feels, and most important, her emotional response to the landscape.

She enjoys painting from memory, naturally abstracting and capturing the essence of a place.

Hannah is quick and spontaneous in the way she works, using a range of materials and processes to achieve a loose and energetic style that encapsulates the wild beauty of the Devon and Cornwall coastline. 

An exhibition of oil paintings and charcoal drawings by Rowan Day.

Exploring the mystery of life, through a spiritual quest for freedom while stepping into love, translating her personal journey of meditation and discovery onto canvas.

Deeply inspired by nature and the belief that divinity permeates every particle of creation. Rowan aims to communicate her inner experience, while capturing the compelling play between light and dark, beauty and chaos in the world all around us.

Her work speaks of hope, of light in the darkness and the dynamic motion of life and nature. Opening the doorway to the great beyond.