the refurbishment begins...

Work has begun on the gallery refurbishment.

The previous owners, an artist and his wife, ran a traditional gallery which worked well for them for over twenty years. The pictures where landscapes mainly, in watercolour and pen and ink.






I want the space to feel much more contemporary though. The name reflects the space - it will be white, with clean lines - as well as giving a nod to the famous Bollington landmark, the 19th century summerhouse on the hill called White Nancy. The art, too, will be contemporary, with large mixed media canvases sitting next to modern photomontage, linocut prints and exquisite ceramics.

To begin the transformation of the gallery, I have enlisted the help of an electrician, Paul, and a plasterer, Saun.

Paul prepared the way by tearing out the old light fittings and digging channels in the ceiling and walls for new spot lights and sockets. Then Saun and his colleague Stewart arrived to 'dot and dab', plasterboard and skim. Watching them work reminded me of ballet dancers, stretching and leaning, arching and balancing - the way they hold their trays and scoop up the plaster in dollops, double quick so as not to let anything dry out.

Beautiful.