The Sixth Annual Art Show

Paintings Silver Sculpture

St Andrew's Church

Saturday 3rd - Monday 5th May 2008

The 2008 Presteigne Art Show features over three hundred new works by seventy eight contemporary British artists, sculptors, makers and silversmiths.

Exhibiting painters and printmakers include Royal Academicians Norman Ackroyd, Anthony Green and Ben Levene, plus Harriet Barber, Tony Birks-Hay, Tim Scott Bolton, Clare Woods and Vincent Yorke, showing alongside the cream of the region's artists, including David Birtwhistle, Kate Corbett-Winder, Simon Dorrell, Helen Haywood, Lois Hopwood, Charles MacCarthy, Julian Meredith, Anthony Morris, David Prentice and Cecily Sash.

This year's event also showcases a wide range of 3D work, including bronzes by Priscilla Hann, Desmond Hughes, Jemma Pearson and Mark Richards, stonecarving by Diana Hoare, ceramic sculpture by Pierre Williams and engraved glass by Nancy Sutcliffe. Silversmith Wally Gilbert also shows new work in bronze, Keith Tyssen includes work in pewter alongside silver objects and Claire Malet shows her highly textured, recycled metal vessels, gilded with copper and gold.

The exhibition takes place in the magnificent setting of Presteigne's medieval parish church, in the heart of the Marches on the border of Wales and England. Artists donate a percentage of their sales to the Friends of St Andrew's for the ongoing restoration of this important church, regarded by Pevsner as the finest in Radnorshire.

Opening Times

Saturday 3rd May: 11am - 2pm (admission £5)* 2pm - 5pm (admission £2)

Sunday 4th May: 11am - 2pm (admission £5)* 2pm - 5pm (admission £2)

Monday 5th May: 11am - 4pm (admission free)

* includes refreshments

St Andrew's Church

Presteigne's Welsh name Llanandras, means the holy place of St. Andrew and there has been a place of Christian worship on the site since before  the Norman Conquest.  The present building is an outstanding medieval church with some remnants of the old Saxon and Norman structures remaining, and considered the finest in Radnorshire.

There is a well attended service every Sunday at 11:00am, but the style of that service varies from short informal family services to Holy Communion from Common Worship or the Book of Common Prayer. Visitors are always welcome to join us in worship and to enjoy a cup of coffee afterwards.

In addition we love to have our beautiful building used for concerts, lectures, exhibitions, etc. and find  that our flexible seating make it an impressive venue for sacred and secular events.

The Presteigne Tapestry

This Flemish tapestry, woven in circa 1510, depicts Christ's entry  into Jerusalem.  It is one of three versions of the same scene and one of only two pre-Reformation tapestries still hanging in a church in Britain.  The Tapestry was donated to the church In 1737 where it was used as the altar piece until the 19th century.  It has recently (1999) undergone specialist conservation work and can be seen, framed, and hanging on the north wall of the church.

The Friends of St. Andrew's

The Friends of St. Andrew's was established to help the Parish get the fabric if the church into good repair, conserve, and reinstate it's 16th C tapestry and bring the Church Hall back into use for the whole community.  Much of this work has now been successfully completed, including the restoration of the monuments in the Chancel which has been lime plastered to return it to it's original state.  The Friends are now raising funds to complete the outstanding items of the PCC's restoration and improvement plans. 

The Annual Art Show, held during the early spring holiday has raised significant sums towards the costs of all these works, thanks to the generosity of the participating artists and silversmiths who donate a quarter of the selling price of their work to the Friends. The paintings are by established British artists, many of them living on the Welsh borders.  The Art Show provides a wonderful opportunity to view and acquire quality works of art that will make a lasting and pleasurable investment.

St Andrew's Hall

St. Andrew's Hall in Church Street, Presteigne has been completely renovated (2005).  It is a centrally placed, quality, small meetings and functions venue that can accommodate up to 60 people. It offers a comfortable meeting room, serving kitchen, full disability access and toilet facilities.  Refreshments can be provided by prior arrangement.

St. Michael's, Discoed

The modest church of St. Michael's, the sister Church of St. Andrew's Presteigne, is medieval with Victorian modifications.  The site is also notable for its spectacular yew tree, said to be five thousand years old, early wild daffodils and 32 other species of wild flowers.

The formation of the Friends of St. Michael's has regenerated the community.  The Friends arrange a very varied programme of music, poetry and arts events to a high standard including the Michaelmas Wakes. Members of the Friends from all over the country are helping to raise funds for the essential repair work to this beautiful little church and for interior improvements to widen its use.

Click here to contact the Rector, to find out more about the Art Show, to book St Andrew's Hall or to join the Friends of St Michael's.