4 July - 14 September 2025

The inaugural exhibition at Thorns Gallery is a reflection on nature.

A gathering of works by GRAEME BLACK, SIMON GAIGER and (in collaboration with WILLOUGHBY GERRISH GALLERY) JANET LEACH.

Graeme Black: A series of large scale tapestries made by the Stephen’s Tapestry Studio in South Africa based on his oil paintings which explore the rich textures and abstract forms of trees. The translation to hand dyed mohair tapestries (a truly 3-D art form) brings these works to life in a way unachievable with paint alone.

Simon Gaiger: Raw timber and steel furniture made at his outdoor workshop in Wales. Here too the dynamic nature of the tree is brought to life and coaxed into functional yet sculptural forms dictated in the main by the nature of the wood itself. Carved, ebonised and polished, held together by hand forged ironmongery, these pieces stand alone as sculpture and echo the forms of fallen timber in nature.

Janet Leach: Pottery made mainly in the 1960’s and 70’s. Robust in form and having a dynamic, raw strength which they share with the other works in the exhibition. Glazes are sometimes like the earth itself, on other occasions like the bark of trees. Decoration where present is bold and fearless. Her influence at that time on the work of her husband Bernard Leach is clear to see.

The works are available to view by appointment only at Thorns Gallery.