The Gallery Yr Oriel
We are situated in the pretty coastal town of Newport Pembrokeshire. The exhibition space has been created with a minimalist look, for a modern, clean feel to the gallery. Many well known and established artists show at the gallery, including sculptors, ceramicists and gold/silver smiths, exhibiting premier Welsh Art collections in this beautiful North Pembrokeshire setting. Originally opening on East Street in Newport in March 2014, the gallery moved to larger premises on Bridge Street in 2019, where we are today.
All of the works exhibited are contemporary original works, and we also have a browser with limited edition prints from several of the artists. All the work is carefully selected to showcase and promote Welsh Art as well as International Collections from two European artists.
Blog 2024 – 09/03 Peter Wakelin gave a thrilling talk last night for our book launch about George Little, the Swansea artist. It was a really interesting slide show with good company and a big thank you to Peter and also to Parthian Books of Cardigan for organising the event.
03/03 Welsh Art Week this year was probably one of the most successful! The lovely Welsh harpist Marian accompanied us throughout the evening, and the gallery was brimming…. apologies to some customers who couldn’t get through the door, please come back soon!
14/02 So much has occurred! The gallery had a little facelift in January and we re-launched on February 2nd with a jolly throng of artists, friends and supporters! Check out the Instagram page for the stunning work that artists brought in to celebrate 10 years of the gallery,. thank you everyone!
‘A New Breath’ exhibition will be starting on Friday February 2nd, as a 10 Year Gallery Re-Launch Celebration, alongside some big changes in the gallery itself, new things are afoot! Some new artists and amazing sculptors are now showing at the gallery, all will be revealed soon!
Blog 2023 – 24/11 The Winter Show kicked off with some amazing snow scenes and mulled wine! It was a lovely event, again demonstrating the broad and eclectic work that we show at the gallery from over 50 artists. Suddenly it’s Christmas, and we are rushing headlong into the new year! We look forward to welcoming everybody back in 2024, and the next exciting event on February 2nd, followed by Welsh Art Week from March 1st.
27/10 Sally James Thomas exhibition titled ‘Quiet Estuary’ was the most serene of shows at the gallery, it exuded a calm and reflective style, unique to Sally. The show had some beautiful examples of 3D collage and printing styles, incorporated with distant landscapes and anomalies.
29/09 Audrey Richardson retrospective exhibition showed absolutely unique and eclectic ceramics by this well known ceramicist who lived in Newport for many years. It was lovely to see her work out again, and we hope to continue showing more pieces by her in the next months.
15/09 North Coast Home exhibition by Tim Fudge, showed a fantastic array of colour and form, familiar places, abstract sunsets and a dynamic atmosphere, what a show! Tim’s catalogue is available online, but all works have now been sold, and we eagerly await new paintings from Tim in the coming months.
28/07 Summer Show stopper! Thank you to all the artists for producing some amazing work for this annual show, we had a huge crowd attending and with some new faces as well, which we can’t encourage enough! The year is passing quickly, and this summer event always heralds a new level of artwork at the gallery.
16/06 Alice Tennant WOW!! Her new exhibition ‘Homages’ was absolutely outstanding, demonstrating Alice’s versatility and prowess in all subjects imaginable! Please check out the catalogue which is still available to view although all paintings have now sold, no surprise there!
03/06 Christine Kinsey gave a lovely talk in the gallery on her new book Truth, Lies and Alibis, we also exhibited some exquisite paintings by her, very inspiring!
20/05 We were joined by supporters this morning for our first coffee morning to raise some funds for the Art for CRISIS Wales charity, with Art Cards produced by budding artists who have been supported by this charity, and all those who donated received an Art Card. My coffee making skills weren’t too bad either apparently! Thank you everybody!
03/05 RIP Denis Curry, inspiring and outstanding in every way, your sculpture and art remains at the very highest level of creativity, and the personal and special insight that you had with your animals which you consistently portrayed with great sensitivity throughout your life, thank you.
09/04 The Easter collection was bombastic! So many stunning pieces, and exciting new Artists work from Andrew Douglas-Forbes, Eleanor Whiteman and Noelle Pollington, do come in and see their work! Sallie Wakley has just delivered new ceramic art forms, the Hare is sublime… The gallery is also offering consultancy service, for curating your collection at home, in your business, office space, or hospitality, and and can advise and assist ‘where to put’ your newly purchased art works to make them work with other art in your own setting. Do get in touch if you are interested in finding out more about this service. Lots of things coming up soon, keep an eye out!
01/03 Welsh Art Week Launch in London Fitzrovia’s Woolff Gallery. Wow what a turn out! We welcomed more than 70 guests to hear Jamie Owen open the event with personal stories about Kyffin Williams and John Knapp-Fisher, followed by the beautiful dulcit tones of Marian O’Toole on harp. It was an exciting and vibrant evening, many people knew each other, many met new friends, and all were linked with that special and most magical of connections, Wales. It was also exciting to showcase 9 Art Graduates from Pembrokeshire College for our customers to see some emerging new artists coming to the fore. We had 5 days of exhibition space to enjoy, and received many International visitors who joined the ranks of art lovers, and the mailing list! A very special event, thank you all!
30/01 Austrian Harpist Monika Stadler and Book Launch with Peter Lord and Rhian Davies, Branding the Welsh Nation. What an evening! Music and words, a historical slideshow through the music and art ages from the twelfth century on, it was enthralling! Monika’s harp playing was sublime, and we welcomed around 30 guests into the gallery for an hour and a half of candlelit entertainment, it was truly lovely.
28/01 Our Pembrokeshire College Art Graduates Show was outstanding! Nine excellent and diverse pieces of art created and developed over the last two years. It was a lovely evening for everyone, and a great get together for the graduates with their tutor’s, and a really good turn out of supporters, thank you everyone!
22/12 Our Winter Show was a beautiful eclectic blend of styles, it’s still running up until the twelfth night! It’s been an amazing year for the artists that show in the gallery, they have consistently brought in outstanding work to show here, and are a huge source of inspiration to me and my customers. It’s akin to Christmas all year round, with some very special work appearing on the walls at regular intervals. My newest artist comes from the Swansea area, Carl Chapple, who has worked with Ballet Cymru for many years, we have some beautiful examples of dance and movement on canvas. The gallery provides a calm fusion of mixed fine art and sculpture, and it has a very special appeal and atmosphere, created by the artists who show here. Cross the threshold, and explore!
21/10 Maggie’s show tonight was a real treat, it looked absolutely breathtaking! Her sensitivity of brush stroke and inherent drive to promote conservation through art, should resonate with any lover of wildlife. Top Tip for October!
In the last month we have welcomed two new artists to the gallery, oil painter Angharad Taris from New Quay Ceredigion, and painter in acrylics, Martin Llewellyn from Neath in South Wales. A very warm welcome to all of the new artists now showing at the gallery, alongside the established and inspiring group we have been exhibiting over the last few years.
We had a weekend event at Denis Curry’s studio on September 17/18th, a very personal view into Denis’s life and work, paintings, sketches, bronze’s and old photographs covering a broad time span. A very special collection from a man who should be more widely acclaimed, and one of the top British sculptors of the 20th century. Denis will be 104 years old in November, we have huge admiration for this man, researcher and artist.
September 9th……A very quietly beautiful selection of water colours by Jane Corsellis, will manifest in the small gallery room….coastal studies, still life sketches and chine collè paintings, all showing great sensitivity to the subject matter. Jane is a great observer of light and contrast in every day life. Has Christmas come early this year?
Our Summer Show saw some exciting new artists being introduced in the gallery, ceramicist Neill Curran from Carmarthen, glass designer Beryl Morgans from Brecon, and painter Michelle Dovey from St Davids, welcome all! The variety of work is as broad as it is captivating and inspiring!
In June 2022 we were delighted to host a special exhibition for Lyndon Thomas’ 80th Year celebration. Llanelli born artist, Lyndon taught art in Aberaeron until his retirement, and his unique artistic expression using palette knife to produce an appealingly uneven textured effect in greys, yellows and orange on paper, really is unparalleled.
The Coastal Approach exposition was launched in May for Anne Kerr and Ro Croxford, exploring multi medium faceted paintings, and was our busiest launch since pre-Covid days, a great start to the exhibition! A varied yet complimentary grouping of mixed media paintings, some in 3D relief….the expertise and talent here is quite mesmerising!
The Clare Rose Exhibition over Easter 2022, has attracted a great footfall at the gallery, ‘Always the light falls..’ showed a broad depth stylistically, and her palette was a joy to view, stunning work by Clare. It was our first evening launch again since before covid-19, and lovely to see people flocking to the gallery and enjoying a glass of wine with friends and meeting the artist.
Welsh Art Week was held in Newport Pembs in 2022, and we were delighted to show a very varied show with new work from all of our artists, including a new emerging artist from Aberystwyth this year, Saoirse Morgan who achieved her MA in 2021. Next year we will be back in London Fitzrovia for Welsh Art Week 2023.
Blog 2021 – Our Winter Show 2021 has some very exciting work this year! All the artists we show produced some fabulous work for the gallery! We also introduced an phenomenal ceramic sculptor from Amandford to the gallery, welcome to Sallie Wakley. Also sculptor Chris Kelly from Harrogate with family connections in Swansea, both an absolute must see! The all day launch was hugely successful, thank you to everyone for your continued support during 2021. We are looking forward to seeing you in 2022!
Mike Jones 2021 Exhibition had a huge following within Wales, and much press coverage for the 5 shows he held during the autumn to celebrate his 80th year. A fantastic selection of work by Mike, who we are so honoured to show at the gallery.
The very successful Gillian McDonald Exhibition 2021, is being followed by our Summer Show launching n Friday August 6th from 10am – 5pm, do pop in to browse the new collection from all our artists. This year’s shows from Theo Crutchley-Mack, Denis Curry and Gillian McDonald have attracted visitors from all over the country and abroad.
After the Mixed Summer Show, we are looking forward to David Humphreys Exhibition from September 10 – 30, and also Mike Jones’ Exhibition from October 22 – November 12. Our Winter Show will commence from November 26 over the Christmas period and into 2022.
First Blog 2021 – The Gallery Re-Opened on Monday March 27th 2021, after a second lockdown. We have distancing and hygiene measures in place, and can admit up to 8 people at the same time. We look forward to welcoming you again.
Covid-19
We hope you are staying safe in these challenging times, so we are constantly updating our newly upgraded Art-To-Buy pages, to enable you to enjoy browsing new Art from the comfort of your home.
We are now providing a safe home delivery service for any items purchased, and will leave Art works in a safe place of your choice, or post it out to you, or we can store any Art for you until the time comes when we re-open again, thank you.
The Gallery Yr Oriel
We are situated in the pretty coastal town of Newport Pembrokeshire. The exhibition space has been created with a minimalist look, for a modern, clean feel to the gallery. Many well known and established artists show at the gallery, including sculptors, ceramicists and gold/silver smiths, exhibiting premier Art collections in this beautiful North Pembrokeshire setting. Originally opening on East Street in Newport in 2014, the gallery moved to larger premises on Bridge Street in 2019, where we are today.
All of the works exhibited are contemporary original works, and we also have a browser with limited edition prints from several of the artists. All the work is carefully selected to showcase and promote Welsh Art as well as International Collections from several European artists.
All the Art we exhibit is the property of the artists, not the property of the gallery, we are the agent selling on behalf of the artist on a sale or return basis.
In addition, we are also selling books from the Library of Wales Collection published by Parthian Books of Cardigan, and we are delighted to be working together with them, and hosting book launches at the gallery every year. Parthian marked twenty-five years of publishing in 2018/19 with several award-winning books, in addition to launching two collaborative translation projects and bringing its classic Library of Wales list to fifty titles.
The Gallery opened a St Davids Day exhibition at Brand Exchange in the city of London in 2015, which we entitled Welsh Art Week, and was very successful, attracting over 200 visitors to the exhibition over 7 days of events. All of the artist’s whose work was shown in London, exhibit at the gallery throughout the season. We have subsequently held six Welsh Art Week Exhibitions to date, and this year we were in Mall Galleries for 2020.
Below are some video’s of previous Welsh Art Week exhibitions;
click here to watch video 2020 London
click here to watch video 2019 Newport
click here to watch video 2018 Newport
click here to watch video 2017 London
click here to watch video 2016 London 1
click here to watch video 2016 London 2
click here to watch video 2015/16 London 3
The gallery ethos is to make art as inclusive as possible for everyone, and we encourage people to come in to the gallery to browse the artwork we exhibit, in a calm atmosphere, and to leave feeling uplifted and wanting to return. With this in mind, we have also organised art competitions over the last six years to encourage creativity, the first was in 2016. Running alongside the continuous exhibition at the gallery, young artists from West Wales were invited to submit themed art work as part of a project to encourage and inspire them to show their work in a gallery. The competition received many entries from schools and colleges in the area, followed by the top six artists having an exhibition/show at the Newport gallery in December. Subsequently we held a Schools Competition in 2017 with nearly 300 entries, and an All Age Art Competition in 2018, in conjunction with Fishguard High School / Ysgol Bro Gwaun. The top six winners loaned their work to the school for a three year period to inspire students and staff alike.
We thank everyone for their contribution in all of these competitions, they were inspiring and wonderful, and a great set of judges who were extremely hard pressed adjudicating the winners.
We hope you will enjoy visiting the gallery, and look forward to seeing you again in the near future, please do check our ‘Whats On’ page for up and coming events. Thank you.
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