A DALES artist is developing a niche capturing the character of pets, many as they enter their twilight years.
Stacey Moore is being commissioned more and more to produce pet portraits, on occasions posthumously, as animal lovers capture the essence of family animals in pencil and graphite.
The work of the 22-year-old Hawes artist will be exhibited at a pop-up exhibition due to be held later this month.
The event, Shout About Art, will be staged on Sunday, November 16, at Hurworth Grange, Hurworth, near Darlington.
Stacey developed her love of art at home as her great grandmother Nora Oversby painted in oils.
“I did a portrait of her and she hated it because she said it made her look old; I did point out that she is 99,” said Stacey.
It was when she was at Wensleydale School that her art teacher Louise Webb inspired her to develop her skills. She studied art at GCSE and A Level before taking a degree in marketing and design at Lancaster University.
Since returning home she has taken over the front room of her mother’s house in Hawes and can be seen drawing in the bay window, when she is not working at the Mackenzie Thorpe Arthaus Gallery in Richmond.
“My grand parents were farmers and I have always been around animals,” she said. “I try and capture the cheeky elements. For instance, I have just done a highland cow with its tongue up its nose.
“I do get a lot of commissions from dog owners but I have also done a cat and a pet cockerel. I was asked to do one dog, which sadly had died, and another with a frozen pheasant in its mouth. I enjoy doing commissions but also like doing my own images.”
Stacey is extending her portfolio of work into other areas using her animal images on calendars, greetings cards and cushion covers. She is also considering wallpaper and teatowels.
She plans to take original work and prints to the Shout About Art event including a stag and hares.
“The dream would be to have my own gallery one day but pop up exhibitions like Shout About Art provide a great opportunity to get my work out there,” said Stacey.
“I also studied IT at university and the opportunities the internet offer are boundless.”
Shout About Art is the brainchild of artist and college lecturer Donna Slyfield enabling up and coming artists and designer makers to demonstrate their creative skills alongside established artists.
The concept provides outlets to promote high-end art and design and also encourage links between galleries and new talent.
Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to view, buy and commission original artwork, from fine art, jewellery, textiles, ceramics, print, illustration and photography.
“We have had a great response to previous Shout About Art exhibitions,” said Donna, of Hurworth, near Darlington.
“As an artist and college lecturer in art, it is so important to give new talent like Stacey an artistic platform to promote their talents. As a new graduate we were more than happy to give her free space to show off her work.”
Entry is £2 on the door with children under 14 years old free when accompanied by a paying adult. Discounted family and friend’s tickets for four adults are available from www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shout-about-art-hurworth-tickets.
Exhibitors will also be featured on the Shout About Art website – www.shoutaboutart.com – where full details of the event can be found. Stacey’s work can be viewed at www.staceymooreart.com.