AN artist with designs on contemporary metalworking is to showcase her crafts at a new pop up art exhibition.
Kirby Stephen based artist Maria Santos, 57, who creates ‘Pewter Art’ in combination with enamels, semi-precious stones and glass, will be displaying a selection of her designs at the Shout About Art pop-up exhibition due to be held on Sunday, November 16, at Hurworth Grange, Hurworth, near Darlington.
Using repousee and chase techniques, Maria, who originally hails from Madrid, Spain, crafts a variety of pewter objects including photo frames, mirrors, jewellery boxes, decorative panels, brooches and pendants - each worked from her own individual designs.
“I have been working with pewter for the last 22 years since coming to England to settle here with my husband,” said Maria who studied art and design in Madrid at the Instituto Gabriela Mistral.
“It is such a lovely metal to work with and you see the results very quickly.
“Much of the inspiration for my designs comes from the natural world and the flexibility of the pewter enables me to recreate the beauty of nature in every small detail.”
Maria is one of 22 artists who will be showcasing their work at Shout About Art, alongside her sister in law jewellery designer Roma Vincent, also from Kirby Stephen.
The Shout About Art pop up exhibitions are the concept of artist and college lecturer Donna Slyfield enabling up and coming artists and designer makers to demonstrate their creative skills alongside established artists.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view, buy and commission original artwork, from fine art, jewellery, textiles, ceramics, print, illustration and photography.
“Having established artists like Maria and Roma exhibiting alongside newer designers, generating an atmosphere of creativity, is what Shout About Art is all about,” said Donna of Hurworth, near Darlington.
“There are lots of great artists out there who want to put themselves out there and this provides them with a great platform.”
“I think the Shout About Art pop up exhibitions are an excellent ideas,” added Maria.
“It is so important for designer makers to have artistic outlets to allow them to show what they can do and for the public to be able to go and buy original artworks from local artists.”
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.
Maria’s work can be viewed at http://www.mariasantosalcantara.co.uk