New paintings and regular art updates.
Yesterday in Newcastle under Lyme for the Christmas lights opening. A large reindeer puppet strolled round the town centre. It’s movements steered by three puppeteers, directing it’s head downwards so that young children could stroke it’s nose. The head was lit up and you could see it’s eyes blink.
It was a lovely and beautiful sight. I think it was made by BArts.
Our Orme group continues to meet and create new art.
We are holding our annual exhibition, with paintings, sculpture, jewellery and other art and crafts available. There will be festive refreshments available.
We have new artists who have joined this year so there will be different work amongst the art on display. If you are in the area of Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire, on 23rd November 2025 why not come along?
Found an old photo of my mural of Walter a regular at the Leopard Hotel in Burslem, the other picture is my reimagined portrait of Molly Leigh, based on the mural I did of her. Both murals were destroyed when the pub burnt down a couple of years ago. I might try and recreate the Walter one too. The final photo is of my Molly Leigh painting and my Spode circular window painting in the Orme Art Group Exhibition at the Brampton museum and art gallery in Newcastle under Lyme. It’s on at the moment.
Six years ago I played the Mock Mayor of Newcastle under Lyme and hubby played my mayoress. It was based on the idea of having a fool in charge for a day. Like the idea of the lord of misrule. We had fun playing with the idea of being able to order pies for everyone, or ale and cakes. The crowd would have been let in the local pubs for free. The point was that ordinary people were given the power that they normally lacked for a short period of time. Hubby loved the day. He always enjoyed acting. His great booming voice grabbed the attention, and he could be heard above the crowd. The photographer took a picture of us kissing, me in a massive white wig and staff and cloak and him in a straw hat and a psychedelic tee shirt and one of my dresses. We had 43 years together. This shows our love.
Today I had the honour of holding the Cerimonial Mace of the borough of Newcastle under Lyme. We were Celebrating the Mock Mayor Ceremony that was held in 2019 to crown a Mock Mayor for the day. Then covid happened so there hasn’t been another event and I’m effectively still the Mayor! My hubby played the Mayor’s wife in one of my dresses…
The marvellous Glenn Martin James who organised the extravaganza is standing next to hubby in this photo by a lady called Amanda. Glenn has done a wonderful drawing of the whole cast at the event and it is now on display at the Guildhall. Hopefully there will be a new ceremony in the future. X
Had a lovely but tiring afternoon. Might post more later!
My friend designed this banner for a Mock Mayor ceremony he organised in 2021? To celebrate the ancient tradition of electing a Mock Mayor (like a lord of misrule) for a day. I’m not sure of I’ve remembered the right date. But Covid happened and a new ceremony was postponed.
That means I’m still the Mock Mayor! It makes me laugh. It’s not real or serious but it is a nice thought that I was allowed to play the part! My hubby got to wear a dress and play the lady mayoress, he revelled in it. Fun memories….
My portrait of hubby actually up on the wall at the Brampton open exhibition in Newcastle under Lyme. I’m so proud to share this with the world. It’s called mend him. I started it at my studio at Spode and finished it there after he passed away. It was my last painting at Spode.
It’s on till 22nd December 24 so a lot of people will see it. I hope they like it. The painting is covered in cracks as if he is broken and then the idea of using gold lines to hold him together like a broken japanese pot. X
Lucky to get my painting “mend him” into the Brampton open exhibition in the Brampton museum and art gallery, in Newcastle under Lyme. Staffordshire. It’s on from 14th October I think. The painting is a portrait of my hubby I started last year and finally finished a couple of months after he passed away. I miss him. This is my in memoriam tribute to him.
I had decided to enter it as “not for sale” but the gallery wanted all images to be up for sale so I put a large (very large) price on it to virtually guarantee it won’t be sold. It’s very personal to me, but I wanted people to see it.
It’s acrylic on canvas and I started it in my Studio in Spode Site, Stoke. I finished painting it there after I decided to leave due to not being able to afford the studio rent any longer. It means this is the last painting I completed there.
I was out with my friend and wanted to take some photos of the birds in an aviary, but my phone camera was playing up. My friend sent me a few of her pictures. I like this photo she took of a pheasant? Mostly I like the composition, it reminds me of a Mondrian painting and although the bird is not square or oblong shaped the red black and white add a pop of interest in response to the more muted colours in the background.
Taken when we were having tea and scones at the Brampton museum and art gallery in Newcastle under Lyme a couple of weeks ago.
When the Orme Art Group Exhibition finished this weekend the gallery at the Brampton museum asked if they could use my willow pattern painting in their next display of bird paintings and images. I was pleased to leave it up. It’s there till the end of May!
The painting is done in acrylic on canvas. It’s based on a few willow pattern pots, I took different aspects from different images so it is unique.
Mallaband-Brown