The Harley Open 2024 is now on show, with 185 pieces from artists within 100 miles of the Harley Gallery on display.

The Harley Open 2024 is now on show, with 185 pieces from artists within 100 miles of the Harley Gallery on display. The 2024 Harley Open Exhibition is now on show, with 185 works being exhibited by artists in the region. The open art competition received over 1200 entries, with two rounds of judging needed to whittle the artworks down to the final 185 which are on show until 13 October

Works on show include “Line and Space III” (pictured above) by David Beedall, an artist local to the Harley Gallery. This piece is one of a series of pictures subtly investigating the relationship between line and space using freehand pen drawing in a minimalist style. David successfully completed his BA Fine Art degree course with First Class Honours at the University of Derby last year and had one of his works chosen for inclusion in the University collection. He has two works currently on show at the “Undercurrents” exhibition at the Cupola Gallery, Sheffield, has exhibited numerous times at the Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield, and has two works in the upcoming West Studios Open in Chesterfield.

David has also accepted an invitation for a week-long residency at the Quad studios in Derby. The grand prize of £2500, sponsored by the Harley Foundation, was awarded to Harriet Brady for her piece Summer Birthdays. The exhibition features a wide range of artworks with an impressive variety of subjects, techniques and materials – from a still life of baked beans, to a tiny ceramic Elizabethan Gentleman. This year, the Harley Open was selected by guest judge Selina Skipwith. Selina has curated numerous art exhibitions in the UK and abroad, including In Good Company at the Harley Gallery. She was the former Director and Keeper of Art of The Fleming Collection 1996-2014. Selina Skipwith, guest judge at the Harley Open, said: “It was both a privilege and a daunting task to judge this year’s Harley Open exhibition.

This is the largest ever Harley Open with 185 artworks showing, which is a testament to the quality and range of entries. I selected Harriet Brady’s Summer Birthdays as the winning artwork for its technical ability and artistic flair – I kept being drawn back to the painting and feeling as though I was part of the conversation.” Lisa Gee, Director of The Harley Gallery and Foundation, said “Selecting the artworks for an Open Exhibition is always a difficult business, but this year with over 1200 submissions to whittle down – it was truly a mammoth task. On display are the pieces that we felt made an interesting and engaging exhibition. The pieces that reflected our region, made us smile, had a distinctive voice, a personal feel, or amazing technical skill.” Other prize winners include: Taylor Davies-King, winner of the Young Artist’s Prize; Graham Firth, whose artwork Between Breakfast and Brunch will be made into a limited-edition beer label by Welbeck Abbey Brewery; and Lucy Stevens, who was awarded a solo exhibition opportunity at Creswell Crags.

Visitors are invited to have their say by helping to choose the winner of the People’s Prize. You can vote for your favourite exhibit to win this £750 prize, sponsored by the Welbeck Estates Company, by visiting the gallery or heading to the website [https://harleyfoundation.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-harley-open-2024/]. Many of the works in the Harley Open Exhibition are for sale, providing an excellent opportunity to buy original art and support local artists.

Own Art is available for purchases £100 – £2,500, and lets you spread the cost of your purchase over 10 or 20 months interest free. – The Harley Open is on show at the Harley Foundation, Nottinghamshire from 27 July – 13 October 2024. – The exhibition is free to enter and there is a large, free car park. – The Gallery is open Tuesday – Sunday. Please check www.harleyfoundation.org.uk for opening times. – The Harley Foundation is on the Welbeck estate, on the A60 south of Worksop. It is 15 minutes from both the A1 and M1.