Gallery Tresco, Isles of Scilly

It has been a privilege to have been supplying my work to Gallery Tresco on the beautiful Isles of Scilly since 2018. It is undoubtedly one of the finest galleries in the U.K. outside of London although maybe not obviously so from in it's humble outward appearance - the building is a conversion from a Pilot Gig shed - but in the quality of the work it displays and it's amazing location on the beach in a sub-tropical paradise.

Gallery Tresco with one of my oversize Scilly Cow Sculptures

The Isles of Scilly are an outstandingly beautiful archipelago of islands lying 28 miles off the coast of Land's End in Cornwall U.K. comprising over 140 islands and islets, of which 5 are inhabited. The main island, St. Mary's is partly inhabited by my family - my mother was born and grew up there and other family members remain - and so happily lay I claim to being 50% Scillonian! The islands are known for their flower industry; the first daffodils and narcissi of the year arrive in the U.K. from the islands. This is an industry my relatives once took part in.

Grandad, Granny and Auntie June picking daffodils

Gallery Tresco (and Tresco Island itself) is property of the Duchy of Cornwall and a place I have been admiring on my visits to the islands ever since I was an aspiring young artist. I remember marveling at the amazing art on show and hoping that one day I could be an artist as accomplished as that and exhibit in a gallery like that. So it was more than a little exciting when I was approached on my stand by their gallery manager whilst I was exhibiting at British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate in 2018 - made all the more significant because of my personal connection with the islands! "Could you make a collection of personalised work for the gallery?" she enquired - you bet I can!

The Isles of Scilly - a sub-tropical paradise!

The gallery kindly posted a large box of locally sourced collage material from the islands - magazines, flyers, maps etc., with which to decoupage the locally themed sculptures that I created exclusively for the gallery so that customers could literally take home a piece of the islands. As you can imagine, shipping to an island can be logistically difficult, so the gallery were also good enough to make up a couple of strong crates to be sent back and forth, one of them so large they could house a giant paper mache cow (pictured below).

Isles of Scilly themed decoupage on a Scilly Cow!

I sincerely hope that my relationship with Gallery Tresco continues for a long time as I feel privileged to be able to supply my work to such a lovely place!

I have a continuous stream of ideas for new, improved and variations on sculptures that I would like to offer as well as still having quite a large pile of collage material to work with...and of course it makes a great excuse to visit my family and the islands more often! The gallery operates seasonally, closing in October and re-opens in March. I thoroughly recommend a trip to the islands if you get a chance to go, not forgetting a visit to Gallery Tresco!

www.tresco.co.uk/enjoying/gallery-tresco