The Art Factor in Cardiff –  Your chance to vote for the artist with that special talent - Thursday 24th September 2009 - 6-8pm.

You have probably heard of the “X factor”: now Off the Wall, the premier modern contemporary art gallery in Llandaff, Cardiff is bringing you, the “Art Factor”.

Off the Wall, will be showcasing over 12 new and emerging artists: some recent graduates and those already starting to make a name for themselves, such as Eloise Govier and Ciara Lewis.

“We believe that we have hand picked some of Wales’ most talented young artists and sculptors, many having studied at UWIC Cardiff School of Art and Design, whose stunning work impressed many visitors at the graduate exhibition in June.” said gallery director, Marlene Outrim.

Young, some of them may be, but they are bringing new and innovative work with passion and enthusiasm.

Take, Eloise Govier from Cenarth whose work has been selling like hot cakes in Japan and Asia, and at only 27, recognises that her beloved Ceridigion can be seen in a fresh new light. Her work has expressionist overtones with a confident use of colour.

Ciara Lewis’ works of Cardiff Bay has proved hugely popular within a short time of showing it in the gallery. Visitors to Off the Wall are immediately attracted to her work. It is different, but reflects true talent.

“We aim to choose the artist who has the “Art Factor” for 2009 in Cardiff. explains Marlene. We shall be inviting visitors to the gallery to vote for their favourite artist or you can vote by emailing art@galleryoffthewall.com or on Face Book.”

All works can be seen at the gallery, on-line at www.galleryoffthewall.com or on Off the Wall Art Gallery fan site on Facebook.

For further information or to book for the private view:-

E-mail art@galleryoffthewall.com - Tel: 02920 2055 4469 

Visit web site: www.galleryoffthewall.com

Editor’s notes

Telephone 029 20554469 for more images of the work which will be on show.

Cassandra Jones, gallery manager

Off the Wall Gallery

The Old Probate Registry

Cardiff Road

Llandaff

Cardiff

CF5 2DQ

Eloise Govier

Although she was born in Canterbury, Eloise’s earlier memories are of the fields, beaches and sparkling rivers around her Welsh home. She said: “It’s an inspirational place to live and the beauty of the area was the reason my parents moved there.”

Eloise’s most recent exhibition of works, The Bridge that Floods, her third show, was at the Pendre Art Gallery in Cardigan until August 1 and attracted a steady stream of art hunters looking to buy the up and coming painter’s work. she has also exhibited at the Brick Lane Gallery in London, the Arton gallery in Japan, the Howies Bristol Shop and at numerous art groups across Wales.

The paintings depict local scenes, including Cardigan Bay, Llechryd, Newport, New Quay and Fishguard and all come in her trademark bright, colourful, expressionist manner using oil on canvas.

Her successes this year include the auctioning of her work Alltybwla at the London Welsh Dragon Ball with the painting raising close on £1,000 for charity.

She has also had a piece selected for the Kyffin Williams Drawing Prize – her work entitled Summer 2008: last of the good times? will be exhibited from October until January at the Oriel Kyffin Williams in Llangefni.

She can now boast works in private collections all over Wales and in London, St Andrews in Scotland, Kyoto in Japan, Beaujolais in France and Verona in Italy.

Ciara Lewis

Ciara was born and educated in Dublin, Ireland. She studied art and design at the College of Marketing and Design Dublin before moving to do Textile Printing in West Yorkshire. She moved to London to become a commercial printer before settling in Shropshire in 1992. She is a member of Abstract Edge, an established group of abstract artists a number of whom we have exhibited at the GreenStage. Ciara’s first solo exhibition was in Dublin in 1984, since then she has exhibited wherever she has lived; extensively in Herefordshire and Shropshire since 1992. More recently she was represented at the March Collection of the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea.  Her work ranges from expressionistic realism through to the purely abstract, using strong surface pattern and texture to capture her environment. The work conveys a sense of calm, the use of strong colours subtly adding an element of tension and structure.  

Although formally trained as a printer and working with textiles for many years, more recently she has concentrated on painting and finds this the most rewarding medium for her more creatively. A large part of her work is abstract, but if pushed, she would describe herself as a landscape painter as this is often the starting point and inspiration for her work.