Exciting new art gallery open inNewry this weekend

Newry has an exciting new art gallery opening on the 13th December in Monaghan Street, Patron Arts Art Gallery and Art Studio, which will be showcasing the art of the gallery owner, professional artist Bruno Patron, but also be a venue for local artists to exhibit their work.

It is very difficult for many artists to find a venue to exhibit their work because many galleries have extremely long waiting times (some as long as five years) before having the opportunity to exhibit artists’ work.

“ I have been a professional artist for over twenty years and trying to find gallery space to exhibit quickly is near impossible,” Bruno explained, “so I decided that instead of spending a great deal of time and effort to find an exhibition venue, I would set up my own gallery to exhibit my work but to exhibit other artists work as well.”

However, Bruno is going one step further.

“When I was a teenager in the 1970’s, I wanted to exhibit in galleries in London, but my youthful age and my Sex Pistols punk attitude no galleries were prepared to give me the opportunity. Maybe because the work I was doing was too street graffiti style, and it was not marketable then because of society’s abhorrence for the ‘in yer face youth punk revolution’ that exploded in the UK from 1977. Now- times are very different and the graffiti style is very desirable and marketable– thanks to Banksy of course!”

Bruno can still recall the numerous rejections from gallery owners who thought they knew more about art than a punk inspired contemporary artist like him. Some gallery owners were very cruel, laughing at his work and recommended he “should get a proper job” than waste his time trying to make it as an artist!

Over fifty years later he is encouraging young artists to come forward to showcase their work at his gallery, to gain the experience of exhibiting and developing an artistic career.

“I will never demean any artist wanting to develop an artistic career, “Bruno says, “all that matters is that they enjoy being creative and want to expand their abilities.”

Bruno studied at Wimbledon College of Art and then completed a degree in Fine Art at Gloucestershire University. However, on leaving his art education in 1983 the UK was experiencing an extremely nasty recession, so jobs in the art market were very few and far between, in fact they were non-existent. So, he entered the world of the new mobile telecommunications and fledgling internet markets and did very well for twenty years before deciding in 2005 to become a fully-fledged professional artist.

He began his artistic career as a street artist in Leicester Square, London doing portraits and caricatures of the public walking by. Then this developed into establishing a very successful restoration company specifically dealing in the construction industry and carried out restoration work in Battersea Power Station and Television Centre in London. Then this evolved into concentrating on portraiture and commissioned to paint a portrait of the former SDLP leader Seamus Mallon. Many portraits followed later and now after over ten years he has developed an artistic career that ranges from caricatures to portraits, from children book illustrations to large scale panoramic paintings. He has recently exhibited in Armagh Art Centre and the An Tain Centre in Dundalk his depiction of the Peace Wall in Cupars Way and series of paintings themed on the early Troubles.

As well as completing landscapes Bruno Patron is a highly skilled portrait artist working in pencil, acrylic and oil paints on paper or canvas.

“Fortunately, there is no need for sitting for hours to have the portrait completed. All that is required is a good quality photograph for me to work from. I can even create a portrait that is a composite of other photographs, namely have a loved one posed in a favourite landscape that they have never been to or deceased grandmother holding a newly born baby they never met.”

Newry roots

Bruno was born, raised and worked in London from 1961 to 2018 and moved to Bessbrook eight years ago but his connections to the north extends to the whole of his life as his mother, Maura Erskine, was born and raised in Belfast and his family would return to Northern Ireland every year.

He moved from London to Northern Ireland to be with his mother when his brother died.

While his family background gave him knowledge and experience of the political difficulties of a period known as the Troubles, this never diminished his love for the city and the country, nor his long-held desire and aspiration to live permanently in Northern Ireland.

“Even though I lived most of my life in London I always felt deeply that Northern Ireland, particularly Newry and surrounding area, was my real home and now that I live here, I am so proud and happy to do so.”

Patron Arts Art Gallery and Art Studio

Bruno’s mainly concentrates on portraiture, in particular children and pet portraits, but has been commissioned to carry out portraits of deceased family relatives, weddings and special portraits to celebrate anniversaries.

“Doing portraits is such a deeply personal experience for me as I never lose sight of the personal nature of every portrait I am commissioned to do and as such always strive to the best of my artistic abilities to create a portrait that will mean so much for the family who will have the work on their wall. I always feel immense pride and honour to have the work I do become such an important part of a family’s connection to their loved ones.”

Bruno has several copies of portraits he has completed over the years and are on display in the Gallery that will enable visitors to decide what type of portrait they are looking for.

“Fortunately, there is no longer the need to sit for hours for a portrait to be completed. All that is needed is a good quality photograph. I can also work from multiple photographs to create a unique portrait not captured in any one photo. The portrait can be a unique composition that is deeply personal to the person or family commissioning it.”

Exhibitions

Bruno aims to exhibit his landscape and townscape paintings four times a year and is looking to exhibit local artists, including aspiring young artists wanting to experience the exciting opportunity to display their work to the public for the first time.

”Any local artists or young aspiring artists who would like to exhibit in Patron Arts Art Galley can email a small sample of their work and their contact number to www.bruno@patronarts.co.uk or pop into the gallery and discuss with me directly.”

Patron Art Gallery and Art Studio opening

Patron Arts Gallery and Art Studio will open on Saturday 13th December from 9.00am to 7pm and all are welcome to come and view Bruno’s paintings on display. The paintings range from landscapes, townscapes, themed work and portrait samples. Bruno will be present all day to introduce himself and answer any questions anyone may have.

Patron Arts Gallery and Art Studio, 2c Monaghan Street, Newry.

Email; bruno@patronarts.co.uk

Website: www.patronarts.co.uk