This summer, the Cath Ray Gallery in Retford will be in full bloom as the work of botanical artist Betty Jarrett is exhibited throughout July and August. See ‘Paintings and Drawings by Betty Jarrett’ from Saturday 5th July to Saturday 30th August
Betty was born and brought up in Bristol and studied Zoology, Botany, and Art before attending Homerton College, Cambridge, where she specialised in Painting and Sculpture. She then taught for around 20 years before training as a psychotherapist in London. Life eventually brought her to the north, where she completed an Open College of the Arts Diploma course in Drawing. Following this, she attended a weekend Botanical Painting course at Harlow Carr Gardens. Betty enjoyed the course so much that she went on to complete a Society of Botanical Art Diploma in 2010, achieving a Higher Pass. Her final portfolio painting of apples was selected by the Society to advertise the next two-year course and will be displayed at the entrance to the exhibition.
After retiring as a therapist, Betty devoted more time to painting. Since joining the Northern Society for Botanical Art, she has discovered a love for working in coloured pencil and graphite – now her preferred media. Over the past 12 years, she has exhibited regularly with the Society at venues including The Graves Gallery in Sheffield, Doncaster Art Gallery, Patchings Gallery, and Southwell Minster. Many of these original artworks will be available for purchase, alongside a popular range of cards.
During the exhibition, various workshops on the theme of flora and fauna will be held:
- Paint and Meditate (Femke Williams): Sunday 13th July, 1.00pm to 4.00pm, £40.00
- Monoprinting (Bev Ramsbotham): Sunday 20th July, 1.00pm to 4.00pm, £30.00
- Cardmaking (Louise Daniels): Tuesday 22nd July, 7.00pm to 9.00pm, £10.00
- Botanical Illustration (Cath Ray): Sunday 10th August, 1.00pm to 4.00pm, £30.00
- Summer Ceramics (Shaun Clark): Sunday 17th August, 11.00am to 3.00pm, £50.00
- Pressed Flower Cards (Bev Ramsbotham): Sunday 24th August, 1.00pm to 4.00pm, £30.00
Cath Ray Gallery and Studios is located at 58b Bridgegate, Retford DN22 7UZ. For more information, contact the gallery on 07803 204424 or raybooks@msn.com, or follow them on social media: Facebook, Cath Ray Gallery & Studios and Instagram, cathraygalleryandstudios.