A Hull-based art group is launching its own gallery this month.
Riverside Artists, which was formerly known as Street Art Hull because it holds outdoor art sales at numerous events throughout the year, is setting up the gallery space at the Oberon Building in Queen Street.
The gallery will be open from Thursday to Sunday throughout the rest of this year, with several featured artists staging exhibitions in the coming months.
The first, from July 13-20, will be Marina Ratkus, who specialises in large-scale oil paintings and hand-painted custom clothing. Patrington-based Stephen Fletcher will be the featured artist from August 3-20.
Riverside Artists began in 2014 with the sole intention of bringing the work of local artists to the attention of the public. Gordon Rason, who owned Riverside Property at the Oberon Building, was chief coordinator from the start. He helped the group obtain grant funding for large tents that could be taken to outdoor events in Hull and surrounding areas and allowed the artists to use his staff room to store and display pictures.
Mary McGarry, spokeswoman for Riverside Artists, said: “Two years ago, with the advent of so many murals in Hull, we decided to change our name to Riverside Artists to avoid confusion with different groups of artists. Sadly, our founder and sponsor, Gordon, died last year and Riverside Property’s offices have been empty for six months.
“The good news is we obtained a lease for the room in the Oberon Building on July 4, so we now have a venue to display and sell our work.”
Each year in the summer months the group, which comprises about 20 members, has shown its work at the Humber Street monthly markets, as well as at festivals in Hull, Withernsea, Driffield, Hessle and Howden.
Every Christmas, Riverside Artists opens a pop-up shop from November to December where members display and sell their paintings, cards, prints, drawings and craft items, which all make popular and original gifts. Many artists obtain commissions from people they meet at outdoor events or in the Christmas shop.
Riverside Artists also exhibit their work in Leonardo’s Bistro on Princes Dock Street and Vintage Bar, Silver Street. Once a month in summer they will also be at Pearson Park near the tea stall, sketching and talking to the public.
The Oberon Gallery will be open from Thursday to Sunday every week from 11am to 3pm from July 13.
For more information about Riverside Artists and to buy their work online, visit riversideartists.org.
