Previous Exhibitions

The Art of Dance

From Saturday 5th July until Saturday 9th August 2008, the Framework Gallery exhibited works by artists Trevor Neal, Rafal Jerzy Czaja and Howard Simpson. Original paintings and limited edition prints were available to view and purchase.

Trevor Neal

Trevor Neal is an artist of note, highly respected for his ability to take traditional techniques and give them a slight twist or a surreal element that elevates them from "photographic" realism. His skill and knowledge of traditional media gives him the ability to paint true likenesses in the style of the old masters, and when given the opportunity to allow his imagination to play a part, his portraits and figures become unique and thoughtful representations.

Rafal Jerzy Czaja

After living and working in London for 15 years, exhibiting his artwork in many notable galleries, Rafal Jerzy Czaja now lives in Sheffield. A selection of his photographic works based on pose and expression will be exhibited during the Art of Dance exhibition.

Howard Simpson

Beautifully conceived, sensuous portraits and ballerinas in a style he has made his own. Textures of skin, fabric and shades of light and dark create living, rounded forms showing what can be achieved with a paint brush in the hands of an artist who breathes in understanding and breathes out sensitivity.

Helen Parsley

Helen Parsley Exhibition
at the Framework Gallery

From Sunday 25th March until Saturday 19th May 2007, the Framework Gallery exhibited work by Sheffield’s own Helen Parsley. Helen exhibits her artwork in London, Leeds and Manchester and has recently been requested to exhibit her work in America.

The day was a great success with many of Helen's prints and originals being sold there and then although the best sale of the day had to be one of Helen's canvas' which sold for in excess of £2,000.

About Helen Parsley

Helen Parsley

Helen Parsley was formally trained as an illustrator at Manchester University in 1985, achieving a BA Honours degree. Since then she has produced illustrations in pencil and acrylic colour for book covers all over the world such as Britain, America and Saudi Arabia, including the BBC publication Last of the Summer Wine and The Best Ever Book of Ballet.

Helen works mainly in acrylic paints, using the vibrant colours to their full potential. In the early days Helen admired the work of American artist Norman Rockwell who illustrated hundreds of issues of the Saturday Evening Post for many years in the 1930s, and visited his home town in New England.

More recently, Helen felt she wanted to concentrate on painting for herself and her own inspirations and is becoming a favourite in many of the places she has exhibited including London. More recently Helen has become known to the Sheffield public by winning awards at Art In The Gardens, Sheffield Botanical Gardens' September event.

Helen has an unusual approach as she uses a large brush and acrylics straight from the tube but somehow makes her finished piece look almost photographic in style. What makes you peer a bit closer to see how it's done is that there is a sparkle and atmosphere that only a skilled artist can bring to a painting where the brush strokes are a visible part of the texture of the painting.

Whether it's a secret corner of a garden, a favourite lakeside view or a majestic rock in a turbulent sea with crashing waves, Helen's skill draws you right into the scene with the atmosphere she creates by contrasting sparkling light against dappled shade or misty evening skies with a burning sun dipping through winter trees.

To see Helen's work for yourself or for more information about Helen visit her own website at www.helenparsley.com.