Figures Art Exhibition at Red Rag Gallery, Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire UK from Sunday, 13 March 2011

GLOUCESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND, February 24, 2011 (Press-News.org) Moving from the comic scene to the formal portrait, the classic to the avant-garde, the show combines works of portraiture, affection, social commentary and whimsy in a thoughtful medley.

The exhibition features the work of British contemporary artists Simon Davis, David Eustace and Janet Ledger, Scottish contemporary artists Damian Callan and Joe Hargan and Irish contemporary artists George Callaghan and Brian Smyth.

The whimsy and humour of David Eustace's 'man and dog' paintings counterpoint the moving, emotional portraiture of Simon Davis; the impressionistic scenes of childhood joy, freedom and fun, captured in fine brush work by Damian Callan, contrast with the bright colours and exaggerated shapes of daily scenes by George Callaghan and the playfulness of Joe Hargan's characters; while Janet Ledger and Brian Smyth provide a refreshing, colourful and light view of figures in an urban setting.

Carole Teagle, Gallery Manager at Red Rag Gallery, comments, "This show is a wonderful insight into figure painting in the contemporary British art scene. It is full of skill and artistry combined with honest observation, thoughtfulness, sensitivity and, often, humour in the final piece."

George Callaghan was born in County Antrim in 1941, studied at the Belfast College of Art and now divides his time between his home in Tasmania and Ireland; Damian Callan was born in London in 1960, studied at the Edinburgh College of Art and has tutored at the Leith School of Art and the National Galleries of Scotland; Simon Davis was born in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire in 1968, studied at Swindon College of Art and is a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters; David Eustace was born in Birmingham in 1950, studied art at Sutton Coldfield and Exeter College of Art and is a member of the Royal Society of British Artists; Joe Hargan was born in Glasgow in 1952, studied at the Glasgow School of Art, is a founder member of Group 81 and is a member of the Glasgow Art Club and the Paisley Art Institute; Janet Ledger was born in Northampton in 1934 and studied at the Northampton School of Art; Brian Smyth was born in 1967 and studied art at the Crawford College of Art and Design in Cork.

The Figures Exhibition will run from Sunday, 13 March 2011 to Sunday, 27 March 2011.

Red Rag Gallery is a leading UK art gallery and specialises in British and Irish contemporary art, sculpture and limited edition prints. Red Rag Gallery represents many leading contemporary artists and sculptors and ships artwork worldwide. Red Rag has galleries in Stow on the Wold and Bath. The galleries are open every day. Opening hours are: 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday; 10am to 4pm, Sunday.