The girls next door

Artist Catherine Hyde returns to Penzance’s Lighthouse Gallery for another fascinating exhibition 12 years on.

Lighthouse Gallery in Penzance is on the move in November, but not far, in fact just next door! Directors Tracey Spry     and Christine Weschke first launched Lighthouse in Causewayhead in 2003. “We still love the street, its individual shops and bustling atmosphere! Needing to relocate, we were delighted when the former Goldcrest became available. Putting the ‘Lighthouse stamp’ on the space has been hectic but very exciting; the opportunity to refresh everything has been brilliant!”

“a visual poet weaving images, symbols and archetypes into paintings…”

To celebrate the opening of their new gallery they host a solo exhibition by fine artist and award-winning illustrator Catherine Hyde. Well known for her atmospheric, symbolic paintings and illustrations, she has been described as a “visual poet weaving images, symbols and archetypes into paintings that resonate in the subconscious and linger there like half remembered dreams”. Her first solo at the Lighthouse Gallery, ‘Dreams of the twelfth moon’, marked the beginning of a highly successful partnership between gallery and artist and 12 years on her winter shows are as anticipated by her collectors as Christmas itself!

This year’s show, ‘The Twelve Days’, is a celebration of both the 12 years and the Twelve Days of Christmas. It is a rich and sumptuous body of work that explores her love of Cornwall along with interpretations of poems, carols and stories with a wintery theme.

Catherine trained in Fine Art at Central School of Art in London in the 1980s, before moving to Helston 16 years ago with her family. Since then she has illustrated four picture books including her own story, The Star Tree, and just completed jacket and interior illustrations for The Snow Angel, a Christmas novel for children by Lauren St John. Original paintings and signed copies of the books will be available in the gallery, alongside a wide selection of Catherine’s prints and cards.