With a chill in the air and the warmth of festive cheer swiftly approaching, we brightly welcome November with open arms. Between upcoming exhibitions, breathtaking new arrivals and our first ever showcase at Manchester Art Fair, this month has been a flurry of excitement here at the gallery. Yet even amidst the hustle and bustle, it has been a comfort to know that we may always return to the peaceful solace of fine art and find sanctuary within its delightful depths.

With great pleasure, this month the gallery opens its annual Edward Hersey and Gordon Lees exhibition. One of the most highly anticipated shows of the year, the show brings together a superb selection of paintings and signed limited edition prints from two of the country’s leading and most beloved landscape artists. Coinciding with York’s annual St Nicholas Fair, the exhibition is yet another reason to make a festive visit to York to soak up its wealth of seasonal delights. Preview catalogues will be released early next week, so if you have not done so already, please register your interest to receive this exclusive first look at the collection.

In what can only be described as a whirlwind of a 72 hours, Manchester Art Fair delivered every ounce of quality artwork, electricity and excitement promised and more. Thank you so much to all the browsers, buyers and everyone in between who stopped by our stand and made our first time at Manchester Art Fair a truly fantastic experience. It was so lovely to see you all and share the York Fine Arts collection with faces old and new. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Be it a gift for a loved one or a treat for yourself, it has never been easier or more affordable to become a collector or grow a collection. The gallery is a proud member of the Arts Council backed Own Art scheme, which splits purchases into 10 monthly, interest-free payments. With no need for a deposit and the ability to take artwork home immediately after approval, Own Art throws open the doors of art ownership and extends it joys to all. The gallery also offers its own set aside service, whereby a purchase is safely stored on site until the balance has been paid in full. Payments may be made flexibly, at amounts and frequency most convenient to the buyer, making it another attractive option for collectors.

The gallery is thrilled to have added an impressive number of new pieces to our collection this month, including work by Julian Mason, Clare Haley, Michael Simpson, Mike Hall, Gordon Lees, Richard Telford, Natalie Stutely, Jay Nottingham, Raymond Campbell, Steve Thoms, Louise Hepworth-Wood, Carl Whitfield, Sean Durkin, Ian Rawling, Philip Hearsey, Leon Leigh and Ken Burton. Do take a look at our Recently Acquired page to see these newest additions, and remember to check back throughout the month to see the newest arrivals.