New Doncaster art gallery will celebrate Ted Hughes and area's creativity

The Fox Gallery, in the Mexborough Business Centre, is hosting an opening exhibition on 10 September displaying local artists’ work.

Creative director Helen Watson said: “I’m passionate about giving this building its identity as the Old Grammar School with connections historically to Ted Hughes.

"It’s about highlighting the huge wealth of history and heritage creatively from not only the building, but Mexborough itself.

“I want to generate this platform to house creative arts and culture for Mexborough and Doncaster and give a platform for young creators as well as existing artists.”

The gallery, located at the Fox Creative Hub at the Upper Floor, Old Grammar School, will be exhibiting the artwork of Rosemary Firth and Jo Smith who are Doncaster based artists.

Both create detailed landscapes through a variety of mixed media techniques. Their work for this exhibit has been inspired by poems by Ted Hughes and will be for sale.

Helen said: “For this first year its very much about Doncaster and Mexborough artists. But, fortunately, because of the calibre of artists who are in Doncaster, it’s then taking it out into South Yorkshire, then nationally, and then internationally.”

Helen, from Barnburgh, studied fine arts and went onto a career in commercial photography, TV and film. She said that Covid brought her back to Doncaster and inspired her to create the gallery.

She said: “I was reconnecting with old creators who I used to be in different circles with and I found that there was a new scene of art happening in Doncaster. I was keen to get involved and support it.

“Not only will the gallery celebrate poetry, but also photography, art, music, theatre, and film. That’s the vision.”

The gallery will also be partnering with the National Literacy Trust to host a family fun art day on 10 September. Children will be encouraged to create their own artwork, listen to poetry read by Phil Sheppard, and explore a nature trail.