Putting the Art in Dartmouth

Dart Gallery in Dartmouth is both stunning in terms of aesthetics and also very impressive in commercial terms – even given the challenges of the last few months. After establishing and selling a successful gallery in the New Forest, owners Ed Reach and Tom Butcher took over Dart Gallery six years ago. Scrolling through @dartgallery on Instagram is very therapeutic in itself – so much gorgeous artwork, much of which celebrates this beautiful part of the world. Ed and Tom have got a great business – with a very proactive approach to marketing and total buy-in to being as digital as possible to save time and improve efficiencies, while delivering a very personal service.

MEET DYLAN LLOYD

Cover artist Dylan Lloyd is currently showing at Dart Gallery and getting a fantastic reception for his uplifting garden collection.

Dylan has a studio on the Island of Portland in Dorset and his work is a ‘painterly’ response to the classic subject matter of the garden. The paintings balance photographic depth of field and pixilation with traditional painting techniques. Built up through thin layers of oil paint, there are areas of intense detail balanced with brushwork, encouraging the viewer to enter the space and be transported into a verdant landscape alongside being absorbed by the surface of the paintings.

Many of the gardens are imagined places but they are also a response to the formal and wild gardens of Dorset, Wiltshire and Normandy. From walled gardens to wild hedgerows and beautiful planting in French villages, Dylan looks at rich layers of plants for his imagery. Contemporary developments in garden design, film and photography are important ingredients in the work and allow Dylan to respond to an ever-changing subject matter.



Dylan has built a great relationship with Tom and Ed over the last couple of years. He told 4walls that: “We started with a set of seven or so pieces and this evolved over time. They communicate really well about possible exhibitions, commissions and customer feedback. They understand about the production of work and are very keen to get the right balance between the way the work is developing but also showcasing a variety of scales and imagery.”

In terms of where framing comes in to play, he says: “It’s really important to show the work in the best way possible. I always frame thinner profile canvases and the work I make on linen boards. Partly to make sure that they can stand their ground around other work but also to ensure that they are not lost on a wall or overpowered by the backdrop. The white or grey space around them has become increasingly important as the work has become more intense and layered. Larger work needs a feeling of being complete. Good quality deep canvases can give you that, but thinner profile work often needs a space around the edges and the sides to lift it from the wall and add clarity to the image.”

DART GALLERY IN THE FRAME

Dart Gallery is located in the bustling harbourside town of Dartmouth in Devon, at the heart of the South Hams area of outstanding natural beauty and a short distance from Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Totnes and Brixham. It is a beautiful area benefitting from loyal local residents, second home owners and holiday-makers alike.

Over the last two decades, the gallery has earned a reputation for consistently offering high quality contemporary British art. Spread over two floors, there is a constantly evolving collection of work involving established artists and newcomers alike.

Gallery artists featured in upcoming shows include Harry Brioche, as well as Jan Nelson, Jo Quigley and front cover star Dylan Lloyd. Issue 31 of 4walls featured the totally awesome Scott Naismith who is also shown at Dart Gallery.

LIFE IN LOCKDOWN

Ed and Tom have built a very strong online business, which absolutely helped to get them through lockdown. Ed told 4walls that: “The last few months have accelerated the importance of online trading for us. And this has been a very positive experience for us.” They still place face-to-face relationships at the heart of their business.

During lockdown, the guys were keen to keep in touch with their customers and social media played a key part, of course. They ran an awesome initiative called Homework, whereby they called out on Instagram for people to share Dart Gallery work in situ. The response was phenomenal with over 30 posts!

Tom explains: “So we then had to do something else! The idea of a Young Masters competition meant we could showcase art that could by no means be considered competitive to our artists while also providing an idea for parents who were home schooling. We have been totally overwhelmed – great feedback, and big thanks to Larson-Juhl for sponsoring the competition and providing product to frame the winning entry, which was Aneya Chauhan’s beautiful painting of trees against a night sky, judged by artist Chris Forsey.”

Lockdown also meant time for redecorating and Dart Gallery reopened on 15^th June looking fresh, well-loved and ready for what will hopefully be a busy summer.




As we all return to differing levels of normality, life has changed for us all one way or another. In terms of trends going forward, Ed is expecting to see particular demand for art that “celebrates treasured memories as well as images that uplift the soul!”

OWN ART

Dart Gallery is part of the Own Art scheme, which is part quality mark and part finance package. Customers can pay over 10 months, interest free, on artwork costing up to £25,000. For more information visit ownart.co.uk
dart-gallery.com is part of the Own Art scheme, which is part quality mark and part finance package. Customers can pay over 10 months, interest free, on artwork costing up to £25,000. For more information visit ownart.co.uk
dart-gallery.com