Natalie Russett

Oscillating between the figurative and abstract, Jayne Simpson’s exhibition LION is part of Grundy Art Gallery’s ongoing programme of solo exhibitions, Turning Point – an opportunity given to artists living and working in Blackpool and the Fylde Coast to ‘catalyse artistic and career development’. Curated by Paulette Brien, and developed over twenty-four months, this exhibition marks a big step in Simpson’s own career, which sees her producing works at an increased scale.

On a bright blustery Saturday in June 2024, I followed the coastal path above the sands and mudflats of Half Moon Bay in Heysham to attend a drop-in nest building workshop led by artist Henna Asikainen. The event was the first in a series of workshops commissioned by Lancaster Arts as part of their joint project LANDING with We Live Here, an ambitious social arts programme realised by independent arts producer Tim Harrison.

Aliyah Hussain is at an exciting point in her career. Recent successes include a solo exhibition at Lowry; being featured alongside works by Salvador Dali, Leonora Carrington and Jean Arp in The Hepworth’s, 100 Years of Surrealist Landscapes; and an Artist Fellowship at the UCLan ceramics department. A ceramicist who also works across sound, collage and digital, Hussain’s work constructs narratives out of abstract and ornate sculptural forms.