VISITING ARTISTS 2025/26
Peter Woolley
Demo: 8th April 2025
Subject: Lake District in Watercolour
Website: www.peterwoolley.co.uk
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Profile:
Peter Woolley was born in Derby in 1960. He was educated at Spondon Comprehensive School, where he received Art tuition from the late Wilfred Ball. Leaving school at 16, he worked for 6 years at Rolls Royce in Derby as an Assistant Buyer. He left the company in 1982 to more fully pursue his interests in music and painting.
A bad experience with a gallery reinforced his desire to have as complete control over the sales of his work as possible, resulting in his first one-man exhibition at the Guildhall in Derby in February 1983. After early experimentation with subject and medium, he settled for the pure watercolour style he now employs. He began painting full-time in December 1986.
In June 1991, Peter presented his Pennine Way Exhibition, a collection of 50 finished paintings and a portfolio of working sketches depicting Britain's first official Long Distance footpath. He repeated his success with the Coast to Coast, Three Peaks and West Highland Way Exhibitions, and all his subsequent work has been directly related to his extensive travel and walking experiences.
Steve Woodhams
Demo: 24th June 2025
Subject: Cubism is Fun - Mixed Media
Website: www.stevewoodhamsart.com
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Profile:
Steve is a self-taught, West Midlands based artist who specialises in his own unique take on cubism and abstract art. Often taking inspiration from environmental and conservational issues, Steve will be equally as moved to create a painting inspired by his inner most thoughts, frustrations and personal day to day life.
Steve’s artwork teases the eye and the brain and over time allows the viewer to interpret the painting and impart their own perspective. Clever use of lines move the eye across the canvas and create depth in an otherwise two-dimensional image.
Despite a relatively short career as an artist, to date, Steve is gaining high praise and recognition for his work and has enjoyed being part of a number of impressive exhibitions, including at the prestigious New Art Gallery in Walsall. He has also had work selected by the RBSA for their Friends Exhibition.
Steve is never happier than when he is talking with fellow art lovers.
Leanne Ellis
Demo: 9th September 2025
Subject: Winter Sunsets in Acrylic
Website: www.leanneellisart.com
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Profile:
Leanne was born in 1980 and have had the privilege of growing up in a Country that has so much beautiful scenery. Everywhere you look in the UK there is an opportunity to paint.
She has always been in to music, arts and crafts from a very young age and played the Viola for many years (but is somewhat neglected these days). She has also been on the circuit as a professional singer since 2006 under the stage name Lena Carole. Leanne loves to ice skate and takes regular figure skating lessons. She has been painting, drawing and doodling since before she can remember, following the masters of the art industry, including the modern greats.
For many years people have told her to sell her work, which she has ben doing for quite a few years now.
Leanne's passion is to pass on her knowledge and skills that she's learned over the years and to watch others achieve what they thought was too difficult. She hopes to inspire the world to get a little mucky with a heck of a lot of colour.
David Wenborn
Demo: 4th November 2025
Subject: Seascape in Acrylic
Website: www.davidwenbornfineart.co.uk
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Profile:
David was born in North London where he spent his childhood. During the 70’s his parents made a life changing decision to emigrate to the endless sun of southern Africa. The following 12 years spent living in Durban had a profound influence on his development and values as both an individual and an artist. This new world introduced him to a splendidly pristine environment, and from where he lived, within walking distance of the sea. Life there and then was all about the great outdoors, the light, colour of Africa and the splendour of the ocean, all of which were monumental in his development as an artist.
David returned to England in the 80’s and eventually came to settle in Melton Mowbray where he has his studio.
Kara Strachan
Demo: 10th February 2026
Subject: Sea Shore in Acrylic
Website: www.karastrachan.com
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Profile:
Kara is a self-taught Southport born artist. Her distinctive style and subjects are inspired from her many years of floristry, running her own successful business in London. A move to Staffordshire allowed her appreciation of old English Gardens and her fascination with ancient woodlands to develop. At her happiest wandering through woodlands with canvas and acrylic paint, depicting in her paintings the seasonal atmosphere that nature creates.
Since 2007, Kara has been based in her studio gallery holding solo exhibitions and selling her work both nationally and internationally. Outside of the studio she has been tasked with creating anamorphic 3D artworks for multinational companies, museums and educational establishments.
Kara also travels the British coastline and interprets the atmosphere of the sea and skylines capturing the mood on canvas in vibrant acrylics and brush strokes. Her love of the coast, woodlands and flowers is beutifully represented through her bold atmospheric paintings.