Simon Palmer retrospective

As part of the Arts Trail, though actually on until September, there is a retrospective in Salts Mill of the Yorkshire artist Simon Palmer's work. It includes a series of watercolour paintings of Saltaire commissioned by Salts Mill, as well as other work inspired by the Yorkshire Dales, in particular around his home in Wensleydale. Trees, drystone walls and quirky buildings populate scenes that are both evocative of this part of the world and at the same time fantastical. There are people in many of them, not obviously the focal point and yet giving a warm, humorous and often slightly illusory slant to the scene. Also some biblical references, which add to the fun. There was one that particularly amused me called 'Ascending from the bridge' which can be seen on the artist's website HERE.  

The one below is titled 'The geography field trip' and yet it's only when you study it that you notice the crocodile of tiny children obediently following their teacher. 

The one below, of Sir Titus Salt in one of Saltaire's back streets is called 'Sunday washing' and refers to the belief that Titus disapproved of washing hanging in the streets, most especially on Sundays. 

I enjoyed 'The church fete' too, which has a wealth of detail to draw you in. 

Salts Mill graciously permits photography but I'm not sure where one stands on photos of artwork. I include them in order that this wonderful artist's work may become more widely appreciated. He is 'acclaimed' in all the right circles but he's not an artist, in my experience, whose name trips easily off people's tongues. He's certainly someone whose work I'd collect, if I had the cash!