Our second exhibition of the year features the work of Ben Holland, who focuses on the everyday buildings in our lives as well as the big, iconic monuments of the North.
About the Artist
We’re so excited to welcome another artist to the Inside Out Gallery, and local artist Ben Holland has provided some amazing art to share with you! Born in Lancaster and growing up in Ormskirk near Liverpool, he was encouraged to draw by his parents and taught himself in his youth. Ben moved from the North West and settled in Heaton – he became inspired by the old pubs and haunts of the city and began to draw them. He appreciates them as meeting places, hubs, the beating heart of a community. His interest spans not only pubs but the churches and other old buildings that Newcastle has no small supply of.
“I draw pictures of places I like. Those places are generally in Northern England though I have been to other places too and liked those as well. Just not enough to draw them.”
His Work
Ben’s love of architecture shows in his work. It manifests into the meticulous detail he puts into his work while keeping texture and adding even more character through exaggerated shapes. His use of pencil and ink lends itself to getting those precise marks that make up his unique work. More recently, he uses bright block colours to add a graphic element to his work that contrasts it’s hand drawn feel. He was a finalist for the Biscuit Factory’s Young Artist of the Year and is now running his own art gallery and studio in Whitley Bay. His art is also featured in many places, including the Baltic Shop, the Quayside Market and English Heritage.
Ben’s exhibition runs from the 4th March to the 4th of May, so there’s plenty of time to catch his amazing art at our Inside Out Gallery! As always, all pieces are for sale and prints will be available in our giftshop.
If you would like more details on the exhibition, please visit our events page:
If you would like to know more about Ben, please visit his socials:
