John Connolly: Art in the Gardens. Sheffield

This has now become an annual event for me having first exhibited in Sheffields Botanical Gardens last year. Several thousand visitors come through the gardens over the weekend where there is a great wealth of creative talent (mine included of course LOL ) exhibiting work at one of the countries largest open air arts events.

My exhibition was in the same spot as last year. Most of the plants had grown so I had to be even more creative in the way that work could be displayed. Hanging work amongst and sometimes on Tree Firns.
I was quite pleased with the final display of 40 paintings, most of them produced this year and none displayed at AIG before. I had taken extra lighting for the preview evening and was able to attract visitors into the Pavillion well after the sun had set , which was pretty early because it rained heavily forcing even more people inside to look at my work.

The weather was kind to us over the weekend with warm sunshine throughout. I was pretty warm as you can imagine. Even though there is plenty of ventilation, I was still standing for 7 hours each day in the Pavillion which is basically a giant greenhouse. I am glad I wore shorts.

Preview Evening

Preview Evening.
Waves crash has been purchased and shipped out to Canada.

These are the paintings being exhibited. A wide range of sizes and prices to suite all pockets. Even during the recession. These 20 x 20 cms studies proving very popular.