Sell-out artist for John Bell Gallery, Newry

With a client list that includes American superstar Gwen Stefani, Donegal based painter Samantha Robinson has enjoyed huge success in the past 18 months.  The artist specialises in mixed-media art based on childhood themes and her work is now sought after by galleries worldwide as well as being collected by public bodies in Ireland and the UK. To mark her achievements, the John Bell Gallery at Newry Arts Centre launched an exhibition of her latest work on Saturday 1 November, running for two weeks.

A graduate of Chelsea College of Art and Design, the Buckinghamshire-native Samantha enjoyed a sell-out exhibition in An Grianán, Letterkenny recently and was hailed as ‘gifted’ by Julie Costello of the Donegal Democrat.  Her works are created from mixed media that combine anything from oil-paints to glitter and sparkle-dust.  “Most of my work is based on childhood themes or aimed at children”, says Samantha.  “For example I have a range of pieces based on popular girls’ themes such as fairies or princesses or ballerinas, and then a range based on boys’ themes such as forts and soldiers”.  Because the work is so appealing to children, many of Samantha’s clients are buying pieces to place in a nursery or children’s room, and they have also been acquired by crèches and schools.

Samantha’s exhibition was officially opened by Mayor Cllr. Colman Burns at The John Bell Gallery, Newry Arts Centre on Saturday 1st November.  In addition to the launch of her work, Samantha will be hosting two Family Tree Workshops on the same day, at 10.00am and 11.30am.  During the workshops, aimed at children aged 6 to 12 years, along with their parents or grandparents, she will demonstrate the basic elements of creating a painting and will encourage the attendees to collaborate in the creation of a new piece of art.  The workshops will be limited to 10 children per workshop and cost £10 per child.

To register for the workshops, or to attend the launch, please contact Jacqueline Turley on 028 3031 3180 or visit the Newry Arts Centre Website at www.newryandmourne.gov.uk/community_arts for further information.