Bank Holiday Town Hall Closure
Owing to the bank holiday weekend the Town Hall will close at 5pm on Thursday 17th April including Friday 18th to Monday 21st April inclusive.
John Banham, a retired town planner and art lover, has given Spennymoor’s Bob Abley Gallery over 50 dry point prints and original pieces of mixed media work, which will go on display this week and be available to buy, with all proceeds going back into the gallery.
The gallery, based in Spennymoor Town Hall and managed and operated by the Town Council, is a genuine passion for John, as he worked alongside founder Bob Abley to help it get established after opening in 2011.
John, 79, volunteered at the venue for nine years up until the first Covid lockdown. He said: “I’m an enthusiastic supporter of the gallery and if selling my work can help it in some way, then I’ll be delighted.
“Before everything shutdown during the pandemic, I’d been discussing exhibiting some of my work at the Bob Abley Gallery, but when Covid hit, we closed down and I left quite a bit of my work in the gallery. I didn’t end up collecting it when everything opened up again, and with time passing by, it just seemed to make sense to put the prints up for sale.
“I really enjoyed my time volunteering there and it’s fantastic to see the gallery doing so well now. If I can help it a little bit, then that’s great.”
John developed his love of art when he retired in the early 2000s, taking a series of courses at Bishop Auckland Town Hall.
After taking courses focused on watercolours and oils, he discovered a passion for print, learning on an old printing press that had been used by renowned Bishop Auckland artist Tom McGuinness.
“It was a wonderful experience to be able to learn about art and also work with this press used by Tom McGuinness, who was a real inspiration for me,” added John.
“In 20 years making art, I’ve probably produced over 1,000 pieces and some of those will be prints available to buy at the gallery.”
John’s work is available to buy in the gallery now. Mainly consisting of prints, there are also original works using mixed media in ways that Tom McGuiness developed in his printmaking.
Interim gallery manager, John Thompson, said: “This is such a wonderful gesture from a very talented local artist. John Banham has a real affinity with the gallery and when we discussed selling his work, he was adamant that any sales should go directly towards the continuous effort to enhance the Bob Abley.
“I’d like to thank John for his generosity and his ongoing efforts in helping turn the gallery into the success it is today.”
John Banham’s work is on display in the Bob Abley Gallery, based in Spennymoor Town Hall. The gallery is open seven days a week and all exhibited work is available for purchase.
