A renowned artist who spent her schooldays in Windermere is the latest talent to have her works displayed in Low Wood Bay’s ‘Art in the Atrium’ gallery.
Low Wood Bay art gallery features renowned Northern artist
In partnership with art specialists Gavagan Art, the ‘Buildings in the Landscape’ gallery features some of Kitty North’s most prominent works, including Moonlit Night, her painting of Levens Hall, and The Old Rectory, once home to the English poet John Betjeman.
Early Career
Kitty North studied at Blackwell and St Anne’s School, but her links with Cumbria have continued beyond her school days. A solo exhibition of her work was held at the Abbot Hall Gallery, Kendal in the late 1990s and she was later the ‘artist in residence’ at Levens Hall, the Elizabethan mansion with its famous topiary garden.
Kitty’s growing reputation as an artist has resulted in a number of prestigious commissions across the UK. These have included projects at Bolton Abbey, Chatsworth and Salts Mill Saltaire, where a large exhibition of her work, ‘Continuum’, has been on display.
"Our inaugural art gallery at Low Wood Bay was a great success and many of our guests commented on our use of the Atrium space to showcase contemporary pieces of art. Kitty's work has been widely exhibited and collected around the world. So we expect the display to draw art lovers to Windermere and be a big talking point for guests and visitors to the spa resort."
Inspiration
Kitty lists several key influences which led her to paint, in particular being taken as a child to see an exhibition of David Hockney’s paintings, and in the same year seeing an exhibition of the British artist JMW Turner. And yet the overriding and continuing influence on her art has been the experience of living in the Northern landscape.
"I have the fondest memories of my early life and schooldays in the Lake District. My formative years were spent at Blackwell, now the arts and crafts museum, and St Anne’s, now Windermere School. These two beautiful places are a large part of my artistic journey, as well as my experience as artist in residence at Levens Hall. This part of the world is etched deep into my soul and the landscape and the people are an unending source of inspiration in my work."
Buildings in the Landscape Exhibition
The exhibition of Kitty’s paintings is the second ‘Art in the Atrium’ gallery display to be held at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa. It runs until 24 April 2024 and is freely open for viewing throughout the day.
"This exhibition of Kitty’s work at Low Wood Bay is a wonderful opportunity to bring her paintings to a wider audience. Kitty is a prolific artist and colourist. I have exhibited her work previously both in Lancashire at Lancaster University’s Peter Scott Gallery and in Yorkshire."