Artist Val Winterbottom finds her 'place'

3:38pm Saturday 10th May 2008

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ARTIST Val Winterbottom has an affinity with the sea and for someone who loves the energy of the rolling waves there is no better spot to set up a gallery than close to the estuary at Arnside.

Val recently opened Spindrift Gallery, with its debut exhibition A Sense of Place, which runs until May 26.

The exhibition features atmospheric paintings of sea and countryside, by Val and Forton artist Anita Tomlinson.

Anita's artwork evokes memories of a country childhood and leads the viewer into a nostalgic journey.

Val's paintings ooze the joy and liveliness she derives from the surging sea and tides through the use of rhythm, texture and vibrancy of colour.

For Val, having an art gallery was always one of those things which came under the heading of wouldn't it be great, but not very likely,' so when a chance meeting with her landlord-to-be, on Arnside Promenade occurred - and a proposal was made to take over a former newsagents as a gallery - Val jumped in with both feet, so to speak.

"To cut a long story short I shouldn't even have been on the Promenade at the time," explains Val.

"If the Kendal bus hadn't been late and I hadn't decided to walk to the next bus stop, I would never have met my landlord John Mansfield.

"I'm a great believer in fate and that was why I jumped at the chance."

Six weeks later the gallery opened its doors to the wide world.

Val's love of the sea is reflected in the name of the gallery and the way it is styled.

Her paintings, exclusive photo cards and framed photographs are very popular and so far she has had a positive response from all who have stepped across its artistic threshold.

Spindrift will also be included in this year's Silverdale and Arnside Art and Craft Trail, which runs from June 27-29, and the first time that Arnside has been part of the increasingly popular trail.

So, if you fancy dropping in, Spindrift is located near Arnside Station, opposite the entrance to the beach car park and down the steps underneath the Heron Café.

It is open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 10.30am to 5pm and on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26. For further information, telephone 01524-761102.