Art for All at the Green Hill Arts 2023 Winter Fair

Green Hill Arts in Moretonhampstead opened it’s doors last Friday, 17th November, for the 2023 Winter Fair, which runs until 23rd December. The Fair is open 10.00am - 4.00pm daily, Wednesday to Saturday.

Since it opened in 2011, Green Hill Arts has become one of Devon's most prominent art galleries, converted from a former Primary School and attracting the attention of some of the most respected artists from the South West, as well as many new and up and coming artists, regularly exhibiting in the Gallery's large attractive contemporary space which offers a diverse arts programme.

Last week the staff and volunteers were busy arranging exhibits in readiness for the Fair’s preview night on the Thursday evening, and the opening of the Fair on Friday. The Moorlander was invited to visit during the last few days of preparation.

Carol Harvey, Arts Officer at Green Hill, described how the selection process was a combination of inviting artists who regularly exhibit or sell through Green Hill, as well selecting new artists (to Green Hill) from the Devon Open Studios catalogue and new artists who have not exhibited before, who would all complement one another. “We’ve got art from more than 60 artists who exhibit with us regularly, and we’ve added to that; we have lots of new people, a lot of them local and all from Devon. It has been amazing because we’ve got really good quality work and in all sorts of price ranges as well, so there is something for everybody.”

Carol went on to say that Green Hill has just had a pottery exhibition, “but we have even more potters in (the Fair), some just starting out, some who have been going for years, but there’s a completely different variety of pottery as well. Plus we’ve got textiles, we’ve got paintings, photography, felt images, woodwork, metalwork; a wide range of pieces.”

In preparation for the two weeks or so since the closure of the previous exhibition, every day there have been four of five volunteers working away to prepare the exhibits, without whom the exhibition would not have been possible.

When asked if Carol or the other assistants and volunteers present had any personal favourites, everyone was very discreet, although they did admit to developing personal likes.

The preview evening was full to capacity, and early reports as the Moorlander went to press suggested a steady stream of visitors and sales throughout the first two days of the exhibition.

The Gallery has an Art Shop year-round which offers space for artists to exhibit and sell their work from paintings, prints, photography and ceramics through to greetings cards, textiles, wood and ironwork. Within this imaginatively converted former Primary School there are also studio and creative workspaces for hire.

Green Hill Arts is located at the top of Fore Street adjacent to the Parish Church in Moretonhampstead and hosts a diverse range of exhibitions throughout the year, details of which along with Gallery opening hours can be found on the Gallery’s website.

The following weblinks can provide more information about the Green Hill Arts and the 2023 Winter Fair, and other visitor information relevant to Moretonhampstead:

Green Hill Arts – https://www.greenhillarts.co.uk/

All About Moretonhampstead – https://visitmoretonhampstead.co.uk/