Bude Pop-Up Gallery Aims to Elevate Local Art Scene

The creators of a new pop-up gallery have stated their objective is to enhance the visibility of the art community in a north Cornwall town. Fine art gallery Teyr, located in Bude, commenced operations on 13 November and is scheduled to remain open for a two-month period on Princes Street within the town. The establishment of the gallery was undertaken by three local artists: Sue Read, 64; Hannah Wheeler, 47; and Natalie Day, 49. Ms Day, a native of the town, remarked: “We’ve made it a mission to grow the awareness [of the calibre of local artists] and put Bude on the map as a fine art destination.” Mrs Read, known for her appearance on the television program Rick Stein’s Cornwall, conveyed the trio’s aspiration to “bring some good art, culture and conversation” to the locality. She added: “Bude’s quite remote and we often feel quite cut off from West Cornwall, so a lot of people don’t really know what’s going on at this end of the county.” Teyr, a name derived from the feminine form of the Cornish word for three, will showcase pieces by the three artists, who describe their artistic approaches as distinct yet complementary. Mrs Read explained that the three artists established a connection after Ms Day’s return to Bude three years prior. She further noted that the local art community was “scattered” in contrast to locations such as Newlyn, Penzance, and St Ives, which possess a “real community,” resulting in its underestimation. Ms Day, whose artwork has been displayed at the Royal Cornwall Museum, stated the group’s desire to present something distinct from “holiday souvenir art.” She elaborated: “People want a picture of a place that they recognise – which is not really something any of us do.” Mrs Read mentioned that the collective was displaying works characterized as “bigger and a bit more out there.” A unique aspect of the gallery, which plans to rotate its exhibited collection throughout its two-month duration, is the daily presence of the artists to engage with visitors. Ms Day indicated that visitors “love the fact” they receive “direct access to us,” a departure from conventional galleries. She asserted that “Meeting people and being able to talk to them about the art” has the potential to alter public perception of the artwork. The gallery operates from Tuesdays to Saturdays, between 11:00 and 17:00 GMT, and will conclude its run on 10 January 2025. For updates, follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its external linking policy is available.