Opening the doors of Kingfisher Art in Chipping Norton last week was a dream come true for Rick Brownsill and Jane Wait.
The white-washed light interior now boasts some incredible art from Henrietta Lawson Johnston‘s still lifes, to Harriet Eagle‘s compositions, Rod Craig‘s sea and landscapes, Rupert Aker‘s huge Cotswold paintings, Kieran Stiles‘ abstracts, Chris Townsend‘s metal trees, Beatrice Hoffman‘s sculptures and Robyn Hardyman‘s ceramic bowls.
“We are so excited. We did look at opening in Woodstock initially, and then this perfect property came up in chippy…”
Other artists include Catriona Herd, Maureen Gillespie, Sophie Louise White, Gerry Dudgeon, Barry Kelly and Pam Harrison, and are mainly local.
So how did Kingfisher Art Gallery come about? Art connoisseur Rick has run Renaissance Picture Framing in Woodstock for years, before starting online art gallery Kingfisher Art with his partner Jane over three years ago. And while the response was tremendous, especially during lockdown, customers often wanted to see the art in person.
Which is why the couple have opened their first physical gallery in The Cotswolds together, now bursting with work by some really exceptional artists, thanks to Rick’s extensive contacts book.
Formerly Rosie B’s emporium near Wild Thyme on New Street, the art and artists exhibited at Kingfisher Art will continually change to keep the offering fresh and inviting.
“the welcome we have had from the locals in chipping norton has been wonderful”
“We are so excited. We did look at opening in Woodstock initially where we live and work, but we couldn’t find anything and then this property came up, which is perfect,” Rick tells me proudly.
“We’d seen it before, but someone else got there first, so as soon as we heard it was back on the market we knew it was the right site for us. And here we are. It feels like a natural progression.”
“It was the perfect opportunity for us,” Jane agrees, “as well as giving the artists we love, a new avenue where they can sell their work.
“And the welcome we have had from the locals has been wonderful. We are really excited to be in Chipping Norton. And we’ve found that people have been buying art during lockdown and beyond because they have been doing up their houses and some have money to spend.”
Prices range from £400 up to £5000.
Open Monday-Saturday, Kingfisher Art is at No. 14 New Street, Chipping Norton, Oxon. OX7 5LJ. Go to https://www.kingfisherart.co.uk for more details.
