Meet the Exhibitors - Dayyani Square

Who are you?
The band is called Dayyani Square. We formed about 18 months ago and we have spent the time since putting together an ever expanding selection of original material, some of which we are about to record as our first studio album.

What do you do?
We are all creative people who love great music. We are lucky enough to be a prolific song writing band and we have developed a very strong sense of our musical direction and have a definite sound of our own. We are always well received wherever we play and we are firm believers in focusing on the listeners experience rather than the image with which the music is presented.

What's the most exciting thing you've done recently?
We recently played an excellent gig at a record label launch and supported a band that was launching their new album at the event. It was an amazing night with a great crowd and venue. We are now working with this record label. Also in the previous few months we have played live and been interviewed on local radio stations and recently our singer/guitarist had two tracks played on BBC Radio via their BBC introducing platform.

Why do you do it?
We play mainly because we are all music lovers. Individually we are reasonably normal guys working normal lives, so spending time writing and playing our music is a very important outlet for us all. Band members have creative interests outside of the music including graphics, design, film making and digital production. We do it all because we hope to offer up something interesting and thoughtful and also because we have a strong desire to create.

Further info:
You can find us on: Facebook, You Tube and Sound Cloud by searching the band: Dayyani Square.

Meet the Exhibitors - Art Heroes

Who are you?
Art Heroes is Daniel Clifford, writer, and Lee Robinson, artist.

What do you do? 

Art Heroes publishes all-ages comic books, and facilitates workshops that use comic books to engage young people in reading, writing and creativity. Art Heroes can also be commissioned to create material for other publishers and businesses.

What's the most exciting thing you've done recently?

Halcyon & Tenderfoot issue 1 was launched at Newcastle City Library on March 31st. We ran a Quick Comics workshop and held an talk about putting the comic together, which were both well attended. But the best part was receiving fantastic feedback from readers and the parents of young readers/workshop attendees. Some young people aren't interested in prose and our comics are designed to engage those people - seeing that working out is heartwarming.

Why do you do it?
The comic book industry has been shrinking for many years. Young people don't spend as much money on comics as 20-40 year old men, so the industry has stopped catering to them. We're making comics suitable for young people so that there are still comic book readers in ten years.

The workshops come from Daniel's struggles with reading as a youngster. Prose wasn't interesting to him - it's only through reading comics that Daniel developed his linguistic skills and graduated with 1st Class Honours from Northumbria University. Art Heroes aims to capture the imagination of similar young people through comic books and workshops.

Further Info:

ArtHeroes.co.uk is the place to go for further information, comic book preview pages and the Art Heroes online shop.

Meet the Exhibitors - Eric Thompson

Who are you?
Eric Thompson

What do you do?
Since 1980 I have been exhibiting my watercolours all over England, Scotland and Dublin, as well as travelling to The Channel Islands to show my work for 20 of those years. Its these exhibitions that help develop your work as you get to meet more and more people who let you know what they like (and dislike) about your paintings. I built up quite a following of customers who collect my work especially in Jersey and Guernsey as well as making some good friends. I now exhibit my art through Bondgate Gallery in Bishop Auckland and sell Giclee prints from the originals all over the world. I run 3 watercolour classes which I really enjoy as the people who attend are very enthusiastic and great company. Its great when they see the finished result all framed up and realise what they can achieve.

What's the most exciting thing you've done recently? 
I've just had a one man show at the new Spennymoor Gallery which was very successful. Part of the exhibition featured 40 little watercolours of scenes from my childhood and these were well appreciated. I think the best part of the exhibition was when some of the local school children attended and I demonstrated some of my paintings and chatted to them about my childhood. They were full of enthusiasm and even brought their parents along later.

Why do you do it? 
I'm approaching an age where I should consider retiring but that's never going to happen. What with the gallery the art classes, and helping Lynn with the upcoming festival I've no time to retire. Besides I love painting watercolours, its my passion and I'm still learning.

 Further info:
http://www.ukwatercolours.com/

Meet the Exhibitors - ARTventurers

Who are you?
I'm Fiona, I own and run ARTventurers. We run art and craft classes, parties and events for children of all ages, starting from as young as 18 months!

What do you do?
I run weekly art and craft classes for pre school age children (age 18 months - 4 years) - a chance for the children to explore and create with different mediums, materials and techniques in an environment where they and their parents/carers don't need to worry about the mess! I run weekend sessions and holiday classes for older children and also host creative birthday parties!

What's the most exciting thing you've done recently?
This month ARTventurers has been nominated for a national award which is great news and very exciting, especially as the nominations have come from the parents/carers and children who attend my sessions! We're nominated for Best Local Activity for Under 5s in the What's On 4 Little Ones Awards 2012. I was also recently asked to write a guest blog post about one of my childrens art projects for the Tate Kids website (a Hirst-inspired spin painting activity using salad spinners!)

Why do you do it?
Why do I do it? The ARTventurers "tagline" is "Laugh, Explore, Create" and that sums it up really - I love working with children and encouraging them to explore, create and use their imaginations while having lots and lots of fun and simply enjoying the whole creative process. It's also very rewarding to see the pride on the childrens faces when they show off their creations at the end of a session and to hear that they've then extended the creative process back at home. Plus playing with paint, glue and glitter is great fun!

Further info:
I have a website  http://www.artventurers.co.uk/  which has a lot more information about what we do, where we run our classes and some lovely colourful pictures of the sessions and artwork!
There's also a Facebook page where you can keep up to date with where we are and what we're doing  http://www.facebook.com/ARTventurers.
Finally you can follow me on Twitter @artventurers.

Meet the Exhibitors - Sarah Jane Oates

Who are you?
Sarah Jane Oates

What do you do?

Hello my name is Sarah Jane Oates (B/A Hons).  I am an established local Artist, living in the small town of Crook, gateway to The Dales.  I graduated several years ago from Leeds Metropolitan University, with a Fine Art degree.  I am also a care assistant, working in a nursing home, a job which I adore which influences my work daily.

I specialise in ink, sketching a wide variety of material.  Partially I enjoy creating people, with their emotions and feelings coming through the paper.  I am famous for my cartoons, inspired by Jim Davis’ Garfield, a character I began drawing at a very young age.  My Art also includes street scenes, cars, trains and motorbikes.

What's the most exciting thing you've done recently?

Current exhibition is The Royal Family, celebrating The Diamond Jubilee this year.  It includes a pencil portrait of the Majesty herself, along with cartoon portraits of the family.  Exhibition is on location, and is next to be moved to a permanent location in a Royal Tea Room, a new venture that is to open soon in The Dales.  Exhibition has been recently in local tabloids, along with my photo with local MP.

Furthermore, another Exhibition of my latest collection, Tribal, is to go on display in a gift shop in The Galleries in Washington.

Why do you do it?
I create simply because I love it.  An existence without creation does not bare thinking about!  Drawing makes me happy, content and realigns my inner charka's.  It makes the world a happier place, with it’s visual aesthetics, colour and dimension.  I love creating, and I believe it makes everyone happier too.  A room without Art and colour is a room without love.


Further info: 
http://www.sarahjaneoates.co.uk/

Meet the Exhibitors - Neil Bage

Who are you?
Neil Bage

What do you do?
Neil was born in County Durham, spending most of his childhood and youth outdoors, where he developed an interest in drawing. Photography was a natural progression, and Neil quickly established a preference for black and white landscapes and seascapes, taking inspiration from the beautiful scenery of the local area.  


Neil is self-taught and is not confined by the established 'rules' of photography, which has allowed him the freedom to explore and develop his own style. 


Neil is a perfectionist, with an artistic eye for a photograph, keeping only images that he feels are of exhibition / sufficient quality. All prints are processed in a professional photo lab using state-of-the-art equipment. He has worked closely with the lab to ensure that they fully understand his exact requirements, ensuring that they always achieve the very best results. 


Why do you do it?
Neil explains, "Photography enables me to capture those special moments that I only experience once in a while. I enjoy visiting an area and establishing a 'feel' for the place. I might go back several times before I encounter the perfect conditions to capture the essence of the place. I invest time wandering around the area until I feel that I know it really well, seeking out an alternative perspective to make my images unique."

Further Info:
http://neilbagephotography.com/

Meet the Exhibitors - Kevin McGonnell

Who are you?
Kevin McGonnell

What do you do?
I am a digital photographer who works with a mix of photography and digital manipulation.

What's the most exciting thing you've done recently?
The most exciting thing that has happened recently is being asked (alongside other photographers) to submit my favourite portraiture shot, for a touring exhibition. The photograph will be printed on a 2X2 metre canvas and will be taken to various cities in the UK, and exhibited as part of the tour.

Why do you do it?
Well, I love photography and viewing the world through another persons eyes, it's actually like magic when you think about it. Almost like living for a moment in someone elses shoes. I think that for me, it's that opportunity to share how I see or imagine things, evoking emotions or thought processes which you may not have previously had. Of course that goes back to the magic that is, living the moment in someone elses shoes. 

Further info: 
http://www.blackeyespecialist.co.uk - creative works
http://kevinmcgonnell.com - event, music, promo and product photography