The excitement of spring continues to abound, ushering in an extraordinary time of celebration and fresh beginnings. Nature itself seems to recognise the pomp of the occasion, graciously unrolling its regal carpets of bluebells for all to enjoy. Here at the gallery, the York Fine Arts team has been hard at work with preparations for our upcoming exhibitions and the continued curation of our collection from our outstanding selection of artists. So whether you are a seasoned art enthusiast or just beginning your journey into the world of fine art, we simply cannot wait to share our newest artwork, artists and updates with you.

Hanging in its full splendour, ‘Painting the Light’ is now open at our York gallery until Sunday, 21 May. Bringing together the work of renowned contemporary artists Terence Clarke and Mike Hall, the gallery’s latest show is a dazzling celebration of contrast, colour and saturation. Through the delightfully chromatic and calculated compositions of these two artists, the pleasures of the everyday experience are dramatically revealed.

Next month, the gallery’s second annual 'Sean Durkin: Art for All!' exhibition opens on Friday, 9 June, with an exciting opportunity to meet Sean on Saturday, 10 June. Steeped in the grit and humour of England’s industrial past and the proud working people who raised its foundations, Sean’s paintings brim with stories too often untold. Shining a light on people and places frequently overlooked, this exclusive collection of work proudly declares and asserts the egalitarian nature of fine art, justly placing its myriad pleasures back into the hands of all. Preview catalogues will be available upon request, so please do register your interest with a member of gallery staff if you would like to receive a first look at the collection.

In addition to our exciting exhibition news, York Fine Arts is delighted to extend a warm welcome to our newest artist, figurative artist Lee Fearnley. Capturing fleeting moments in time and the subtle interactions between people, Lee depicts the friction, affection and occasional absurdity present in our everyday lives. In a nod to his background as a cartoonist, there is often a gentle humour present in his paintings, lending an endearing charm to any given scene. Radiating warmth and technical mastery in equal measure, Lee’s highly collectible paintings make playful, standout additions to contemporary collections.

The gallery has added an impressive number of new paintings to our collection this month, including work from Daniel Van der Putten, Carl Whitfield, Terry Evans, Amanda Jackson, Stephen Park, Jacqueline Stanhope, Alan Smith, Jay Nottingham, Ian Rawling and the last few remaining paintings from Terry Grundy. Visit our Recently Acquired page to admire the finer details of the new collection and remember to check back throughout the month to see the newest arrivals.

As ever, we thank you for your patronage and look forward to welcoming you to the gallery soon.