Whitby is renowned for its love of weird, wonderful and whimsical but a five-foot bronze mouse doing a handstand on top of a ball on the beach at Sandsend may have raised an eye-brow at least amongst the early-morning risers and dog walkers.
It was in fact a sculpture by Stephen Charlton, who trained at art school in York and has now returned to live up north in Hinderwell after 46 years away.
The piece, which he exhibited last Friday morning is his first local work since moving back six weeks ago.
Artist Stephen Charlton has returned to the North after 46 years living away and this was his first local display of work. Picture: Submitted
Stephen’s sculptures have been shown at the Chelsea Flower Show, and he is separately known as a painter of dramatic subjects in oils, with recent painting commissions including Guinness and the Samaritans.
He said: “There’s something joyful about placing something completely unexpected in a place people know so well. A giant mouse doing a handstand on Sandsend beach makes people stop, giving a smile inside.
“That’s exactly what I want sculpture to do. Coming home to Yorkshire after all these years, I wanted my first piece here to be playful, not precious.”
He plans to display more pieces of his work around the town in unusual places.
A Whitby artist is exhibiting her work in the town’s art gallery for the first time, alongside a life-time of work by her late husband which has never been shown before.
Anne Moses has won competitions and sells work at some of the most renowned galleries in the country, and this month, art fans can see her work in the Pannett Art Gallery, where she also volunteers.
“Anne Moses & Stephen Moses – A Closer View” runs until the end of August.
Anne Moses with one of her exhibits in Pannett Art Gallery. Picture: Ceri Oakes
She chose all the pieces, prepared, mounted and arranged them in the gallery herself, in what she says was an “emotional and cathartic” process.
The couple met when Anne was 16-years-old and they were both studying at Middlesbrough Art College.
They have both had life-long careers as artists, alongside 25 years of teaching an art and design access to higher education course at Stockton Riverside College for disadvantaged adults and people looking to return to mainstream education.
Anne only started showing her own work eight years ago and encouraged Steve to show his, but he died two years ago, before he ever got around to it.
One of late Steve Moses’ pieces being shown at Pannett Art Gallery. Picture: Ceri Oakes
She explained: “Steve was a fantastic artist and just wanted to produce his own work. I met him when I was 16 and he taught me everything I know, even though I went to university.
“He was my greatest teacher and mentor. I used to nag at him to get his work out. He would encourage and support me doing it, but he wasn’t bothered about that side of it.
“He was just starting to think about it, but as always, it was too late. That is why it has been great for me to be able to show his work, especially in our own town and the wonderful gallery that Pannett is.”
Anne works primarily in oil on canvas. She is inspired by people and uses photographs, which she digitally crops, to produce close up paintings.
Artist Anne Moses is inspired by close-up images. Picture: Ceri Oakes
Steve’s work – in watercolours, oil and charcoal drawings – was based on the idea of surveillance in society and invasion of privacy.
“His work was far more intelligent than mine”, says Anne. “It was really hard to pick his pieces. He was quite private and particular about what he wanted so I did feel a big responsibility in selecting things I knew he would be okay with.
“It was very emotional to see his pieces up there, I was offered help but wanted to do it on my own. It felt like a cathartic process.”
In 2022, Anne won the New Artist Finalist in collaboration with the Saatchi Gallery, in 2023 she became the London Art Biennale Award Winner, and in 2024 she was the Winner of Women in Art Prize.
Her work was also taken by several galleries and you can now find Anne’s work at the Moosey Gallery in Norwich, Stephensons in York and the Women in Art Marketplace in London.
Artist Anne Moses is currently exhibiting her artwork alongside her late husband Steve’s at Pannett Art Gallery. Tim Cole stands in front of a portrait of him painted by Anne. Picture: Ceri OakesMolly McCutcheon with a painting Anne Moses made of her. Picture: Ceri Oakes
Lacey Brown works from her garden studio and workshop in Whitby, she enjoys creating art from natural materials such as wool and wood and also creates pet portraits. Picture: Ceri Oakes
North Yorkshire Open Studios is an annual event, held across two weekends in June, with 18 artists based in Whitby, along the coast and in the country villages taking part.
Amy Smith ‘The Little Whitby Potter’ is a potter sharing an open studio in Whitby with Lacey Brown Picture: Ceri Oakes
Genres range from ceramics, to painting, print-making, glass, jewellery and sculpture.
NYOS has been taking place since 2005 and has become a favourite on the calendar for the region’s art fans as it offers a behind the scenes look and a chance to chat directly to artists about their work.
It continues this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, between 10am and 5pm.
Kit Helmsley is a ceramicist living in Runswick Bay taking part in the North Yorkshire Open Studios. Picture: Ceri Oakes
Artists from Whitby and the surrounding areas taking part are: Ceramicists, Aphra O’Connor and Numi Solomons of Sleights; Kit Hemsley, ceramicist at Runswick Bay; Ian Burke, painter and printmaker at Lealholm; Magick & Wilds textiles and mixed media, Hutton Mulgrave; Emma Evett, glassworker from Newholm; Amy Smith, ceramicist in Whitby; Textile artist, Lacey Brown of Whitby; Louise Garrett, painter, Goathland; Grosmont based painter and printmaker, Maria Bennett; Paintings and drawings by Anne Thornhill at Aislaby; Paul Blackwell, painter at Aislaby; Stained glass artist, Janet Fraser of Sleights; Ailsa Nicholson, fused glass work at Sleights; Jean Cunion, Ugglebarnby ceramicist; Art by Ester, a Sneaton based painter; Sue Wilmington, applied art and design, near Sneaton; Anj Bone, painter at Stainsacre.
Janet Fraser lives in Sleights. She loves creating modern bespoke windows and designing garden pieces. She runs workshops from her garden studio. Picture: Ceri OakesKit Helmsley creates work deeply rooted in the coastline’s timeless beauty and its ever-changing forms. Picture: Ceri OakesAmy Smith ‘The Little Whitby Potter’ is a potter inspired by the Whitby coastline and moorland. Picture: Ceri OakesAphra O’Connor at her garden studio in Sleights. Picture: Ceri Oakes
A secret love story which unfolded in Botham’s in the early part of the 1900s is being revealed for the first time after a painting by one of the Staithes Group of Artists was unexpectedly donated to the town’s art collection.
Earlier this month, Pannett Art Gallery was gifted an oil painting of a young woman, who sits with her right hand over her left.
She was engaged at the time, knew she wasn’t in love with her betrothed, but also knew the painting would last longer than the engagement and covered her hand.
The subject, Maud, was a waitress in Botham’s and instead went on to marry a man, Mr Barrick, who she met while she worked there.
Their story is being told for the first time after the couple’s daughter, Winifred Benson, donated the painting by a member of the Staithes Group, Albert George Stevens (1863-1927), to the gallery.
Maud left school at the age of 14 and went to work for a dress-maker, picking up pins, who was Albert Stevens’ wife. Albert had trained in Antwerp and the couple lived on York Terrace.
At that time, it was usually wealthy people who had their portraits done, but Albert liked Maud and painted it as a present for her birthday.
Maud had five proposals of marriage and was engaged three times. She died in 1983.
‘Maud Barrick’ by artist Albert George Stevens. Picture: Ceri Oakes
Winifred told Effie: “He had to court her for a very long time, but my father was a very determined man.”
The painting had always been hung in the hallway of her house, so has been preserved from sunlight, and Winifred was prompted to take it to a local valuation event by her sister.
It was there they learned it had been painted by Stevens and of its significance.
Effie said: “We don’t always accept into the collection because we have so many paintings, so it has to be relevant to the collection. The Staithes Group is one of our key collections and it is a great Whitby story.
“We are mindful that people look at art in different ways. People travel to see the Staithes Collection because it is famous, but equally, we know people will know Winifred and her mother.
“It is so rare that you get to meet the person who has donated. It was wonderful to be able to meet her and get more information about the art work and hear the story to share with people.”
Winifred also told how her father fought in the first world war, and when he returned he was looking for work. Upon hearing some chaps in Whitby were setting up a business, he was going to ask if he could work there, but Maud said ‘why don’t you see if you can go in with them’.
He didn’t have the money so Maud gave him the wages she had saved from Botham’s. Mr Barrick became a partner in the business which became Universal Garage.
The Staithes Group of Artists painted as a group and were based along Staithes, Whitby and the Yorkshire coast from around 1894 to 1909, documenting local life through their works.
Advances in travel, mainly by rail, made this area more accessible and open to tourism. The artists, like many other visitors, were drawn in by the scenery and the fishing industry.
The Staithes Group of Artists became part of the local economy and community as they needed lodgings, studio space and models.
The Pannett Art Gallery in Whitby is the only one to have a comprehensive public display of paintings by these artists.
More than a dozen artists from Whitby, the moors and the coastline will open their studio doors to art fans giving them behind the scenes access.
The annual event, North Yorkshire Open Studios (NYOS) returns next month over two weekends with 18 artists taking part.
Their genres range from ceramics, to painting, print-making, glass, jewellery and sculpture, and art fans will be given a rare glimpse of where and how they work.
An example of ceramic work by Aphra O’Connor. Picture: Ceri Oakes.
NYOS began back in 2005 and has developed into one of the most anticipated diary dates in Yorkshire’s cultural calendar.
Each year sees new artists added to the line-up alongside art fan favourites who have been involved for many years.
Ceramicist, Aphra O’Connor first took part in 2024 and will exhibit again this year, alongside her mother Numi Solomons in their garden studio.
Numi Solomons will be taking part in the North Yorkshire Open Studios event next month. Picture: Ceri Oakes.
She said: “I like working by myself, and it is nice to work with Numi, but NYOS is a chance to have a conversation with people who come to the studio, because they come specifically to see your work.”
Numi is also a ceramic artists, and while they do have differing styles, keen observers may spot similarities.
Aphra O’Connor at work in the garden studio she shares with her mother and fellow artist Numi. Picture: Ceri Oakes.
Aphra joked: “Sometimes I use similar shapes but then I think she might have been doing them for years and I have been copying.”
NYOS takes place on June 6 and 7 and June 13 and 14, between 10am and 5pm.
Artists from Whitby and the surrounding areas are:
Ceramicists, Aphra O’Connor and Numi Solomons of Sleights; Kit Hemsley, ceramicist at Runswick Bay; Ian Burke, painter and printmaker at Lealholm; Magick & Wilds textiles and mixed media, Hutton Mulgrave; Emma Evett, glassworker from Newholm; Amy Smith, ceramicist in Whitby; Textile artist, Lacey Brown of Whitby; Louise Garrett, painter, Goathland; Grosmont based painter and printmaker, Maria Bennett; Paintings and drawings by Anne Thornhill at Aislaby; Paul Blackwell, painter at Aislaby; Stained glass artist, Janet Fraser of Sleights; Ailsa Nicholson, fused glass work at Sleights; Jean Cunion, Ugglebarnby ceramicist; Art by Ester, a Sneaton based painter; Sue Wilmington, applied art and design, near Sneaton; Anj Bone, painter at Stainsacre.
Bridget Wilkinson has been creative throughout her whole life – but she didn’t think art would become her living.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Bridget stepping away from a stressful job in the NHS to follow her creative path, which is driven by bold colour, nature and marine life.
Bridget is inspired by driftwood, clay and sea treasures sourced from the beach. Picture: Ceri Oakes
Each day she is inspired by her surroundings, nature and the beach.
A clay model of a quaint cottage which forms part of her 3D artwork. Picture: Ceri Oakes
Ms Wilkinson said: “I had been creative all my life so it feels a bit funny saying it is now my full time living. In a stressful job my outlet was painting. I thought ‘this is something I can do and enjoy it’, I will do it.
“My daughter can remember me sitting on the sofa saying ‘I am going to be an artist’. I worked in Doodlepots studio and it went from there.”
Ms Wilkinson creates art-work, mixed media, prints, cards and gifts from her home studio on the West Cliff.
Her work is stocked in galleries in Alnwick, Whitby, Filey and Brighton and this year she will be exhibiting at the Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage.
