a record breaking community event!

The 2025 Summer Art Exhibition, hosted and funded by The Arts Society Sandwich (TASS), took place from the 1st to 3rd August at the beautiful St Mary’s Arts Centre in Sandwich. Now in its fourth year, the exhibition has grown from a community showcase created for TASS members into a major highlight of the Kent art calendar—featuring 29 artists and drawing 437 visitors.
Curated by internationally exhibiting artist Crystal D. Evans, recently returned from the Venice Biennale with her poignant series What Remains, and Christine Ratcliffe, arts supporter, accomplished painter, and Committee Secretary of TASS, the exhibition presented an impressive breadth of work across painting, ceramics, sculpture, photography, textiles, and mixed media. Vital project management support came from Vicki Bates, Membership Secretary of TASS, ensuring a warm and seamless visitor experience throughout the weekend.
This year’s exhibition featured a dynamic mix of returning members and exciting new contributors. Among them were Jo Court, award-winning photographer and Chair of the Canterbury Photographic Society; Rebecca Herrington, recognised by the Royal Academy for her intricate hyper realistic paintings of the natural world; Katrina Dallamore, known for her luminous oils; and Angelo Pizzigallo, whose vibrant Fauvist works were a particular hit with visitors. Special recognition also goes to all contributors from L’Arche Kent, whose joyful and thought-provoking works sparked meaningful conversations throughout the weekend.

The exhibition was officially opened by author and Emeritus Professor of Social Policy, Clare Ungerson, and welcomed three past mayors of Sandwich and the present mayor Councillor Emmet Csuka, underscoring its significance within the local cultural scene.

130 artworks were sold over the weekend, with social media reels created by Evans capturing thousands of online views—340 on the Sunday show highlights alone. The success of this event is a testament to the strength and growth of TASS—its mission to bring people together through art, and its increasing relevance to the wider Kent community.
Feedback from visitors was full of warmth and enthusiasm:

“What a superb exhibition! Such talent everywhere and a real range of styles, techniques, and media.”
“Great exhibition – has inspired me to take up my brushes.”
“Simply fantastic. What we need in the world.”

Participating Artists:
Alec Ceschi, Andrew Summerhayes, Angelo Pizzigallo, Cally Vaile, Chris Young, Christine Ratcliffe, Chris Little, Clare Pickett, Colin Wiles, Crystal D. Evans, Elizabeth Nicholls, Ellie Matthews, Frankie Larsen, Jenny Samuels, Joanne Court, John Douglas Stewart, Katrina Dallamore, L’Arche Kent, Liz Lambourne, Sandwich Technology School, Matt Anker, Michael Denison-Pender, Nathan Roll, Pam Tong, Rebecca Herrington, Shanaz Minhas, Suzanne Haimes, Veronica Liote, Wendy Smith.

On 6-8th December 2024, Preston Village Hall was transformed into a vibrant hub of creativity and community spirit for The Christmas Art Exhibition, curated by local artist and curator Crystal Evans.  The event showcased an impressive array of work from 11 talented Kent artists, bringing together a delightful mix of mediums and styles, including pottery, copper sculpture, photography, collage, as well as figurative, landscape, portrait, and abstract paintings, and oil pastel illustrations.

The featured artists—Ellie Matthews, Emily Stone, Angelo Pizzigallo, Liz Anderson, Crystal Evans, Pam Tong, Sophie Otto, Matt Anker, Jo Court, Katrina Dallamore, and Christine Ratcliffe—shared their unique visions, offering something for every art enthusiast. Despite challenging weather with heavy rain and high winds, nearly 200 visitors braved the elements to enjoy the exhibition, making it a resounding success.

Collectively, the artists sold works totaling over £2,000, a testament to the talent and appeal of our local creatives. Donations from the proceeds also benefited both Preston Village Hall and UK for UNHCR, with each  receiving a generous £259.70.

One visitor shared their admiration, saying, “The range of talent was incredible—I couldn’t believe this was all from local artists! I’ve found the perfect Christmas gift here.” Another added, “It was such a warm, welcoming event, despite the weather. The energy in the hall was wonderful.”

The exhibition’s success was not only measured by sales but by the sense of community it fostered. Opening night was marked by a heartfelt speech and 'ribbon-cutting' by Tom Gale, Chairman of the village, whose enthusiasm set the tone for the weekend. The festive atmosphere was enhanced by cheerful conversations, shared appreciation for the arts, and the collective effort of everyone involved.

Special thanks go to the behind-the-scenes helpers (Jason, Abdul, Ali, Simon, and Michael) who worked tirelessly to set up and dismantle the hall, ensuring the event ran smoothly. Their dedication was crucial in making the exhibition such a joyful occasion.

Curator Crystal Evans expressed her gratitude, saying, “This exhibition was about more than just showcasing art—it was about bringing people together. The support from the community has been overwhelming, and I can’t thank everyone enough for making this event so memorable.”

For those inspired by this festive celebration of art, there are more opportunities to get involved in upcoming exhibitions curated by Crystal Evans. To stay updated, check out https://crystalevanscreates.com/exhibitions or follow her on Instagram @crystal_evans_creates. You can also see more photos from The Christmas Art Exhibition 2024 or contact Crystal directly at crystalevanscreates@gmail.com to express your interest in participating or helping out next time.

The Christmas Art Exhibition proved to be a lovely community get-together, a triumph of art, collaboration, and festive cheer. Here's to more events celebrating the incredible talents within our local community!

The Summer Art Exhibition 2024 at St Mary's Arts Centre, curated by Crystal Evans and Christine Ratcliffe, was a resounding success. Featuring the work of 28  members of The Arts Society Sandwich, several of whom are acclaimed on the national stage, the exhibition drew an impressive 629 visitors of diverse ages and cultures.

The exhibition showcased an extensive range of media, including oil, acrylic, and watercolour paintings, pen and ink, sculpture, ceramics, china, textiles, glassware, and photography. The diversity and quality of the artwork on display were truly remarkable, offering a vibrant tapestry of local artistic expression.

Among the standout pieces were Gillian Bull's intriguing punk tapestries, which brought a refreshing and unexpected edge to the exhibition. Royal Academy's Sir William Flint's stunning figurative watercolours captivated viewers with their elegance and precision. Alec Ceschi's haunting documentary-style photography left a lasting impression, evoking deep emotions and reflection, whilst the energy and dynamism of Angelo Pizzigallo's large canon of work fired up joy in all. Thrilled  to be able to showcase the latest engaging and sensitive portraiture by Tony Foster, Chris Young, and Liz Anderson, who all demonstrate exceptional skill and a keen eye for detail, as well as the transportive colour and texture scapes by photographer turned abstract artist Matt Anker.

Visitors were also treated to many a beautiful landscape, sublime stained glass by the masterfully skilled Vicki Bates, intricate embroidery by Jan Raes, compelling abstracts, exquisite prints, and innovative conceptual art, all of which contributed to the rich and dynamic atmosphere of the show. 

The Summer Art Exhibition 2024 was a wonderful celebration of unique artistic vision and talent, making it a memorable and inspiring event for all who attended.

Special thanks to Vicki Bates and Mirahny Manning, whose contributions were essential to the success of this show.

I am thrilled to share a July 2024 feature from the Sandwich Community Ad Magazine highlighting our upcoming Summer Art Exhibition 2024 by The Art Society Sandwich. As Co-Curator of the show, I had the honour of discussing the inspirations behind the diverse collection this year with their journalist. 

Excitingly, this popular magazine also chose to showcase one of my landscape paintings in its collage spread (see gold frame, upper centre) called "A Scottish Scene," which aims to capture the serene beauty of Scotland's countryside, plus one of my more intricate pen and ink works (bottom right) called "Pair of Koi," symbolising the tranquility and balance we can find in nature.

This wonderful exhibition promises a captivating array of works for sale and show from talented local artists, each piece telling a unique story. We invite everyone to join me in celebrating the richness of local artistic expression. 

Be sure to visit this free exhibition at St Mary's Arts Centre in Sandwich from 2-4th August, 10-4pm each day, to fully experience all these pieces (and much more!) in person and engage with our vibrant and thriving community of artists and The Arts Society members.

See you all at the show!

The Art Show curated by Preston local Crystal Evans, held on the 9th - 11th of Feb 2024 at Preston Village Hall, Preston, Canterbury, Kent, presented a vibrant celebration of creativity, diversity, and expression and showcased a myriad of artistic styles, mediums, and perspectives. Happily, the event captivated a broad audience of all ages and backgrounds, with its exciting mix of paintings, sculpture, photography, and craft attracting over 600 visitors.

From traditional landscapes to avant-garde abstracts, our gallery walls and tables burst with colour, form, and imagination, inviting all to explore the depths of local creativity.

The Art Show also served as a platform for emerging artists to gain exposure and recognition, providing a valuable opportunity for networking and professional development. Established artists, art fans, and collectors alike mingled with up-and-coming talents, sparking conversations, and forging new connections within our creative community.

Overall, The Art Show yet again served as a testament to art's profound ability to inspire, ignite reflection, and bring together people from diverse backgrounds in celebration of the human spirit's innate capacity for meaningful connection.

I’m pleased to report that through the collective effort and support of the wonderful communities of Preston & Elmstone, and because of visitors from Wingham, Sandwich, Whitstable, Canterbury, Dover, and London, we were able to rally together with common purpose and raise vital funds not only for our cherished village hall but also for two humanitarian aid causes close to our hearts: British Red Cross and UK for UNHCR (the United Nations Refugee Agency).

Because of this immense support, we raised a grand total of £1,079.12 for charity, and £2,014 for our local artists. Well done everyone. 

Enormous gratitude is owed to the commitment and generosity of our artists, stewards, and numerous helpers, as well as every single visitor to the show. This dedication and team effort ensured the event was a resounding success, and underscored just how transformative the power of community is in effecting lasting positive change at both the local and global level. 

Here are some of the many positive comments in our visitor’s book from this year’s show:

“Very high standard all round, well done everyone”.

“Thank you for an entertaining and stimulating exhibition.”

“Great exhibition, very talented artists!”

“Wonderful exhibition! Fantastic artwork.  We have really enjoyed having a nose around!”

“Amazing art, really great selection of pieces”

“Wonderful display of local artwork - worth seeing again and again.”

“Lovely to see so much original work.”

“Thank you for organising such a lovely event – so many beautiful pieces! We got an excellent find to take home, and had a coffee and cake treat too! Fully enjoyable trip”

Lovely exhibition, enjoyed the paintings, ceramics, and woodcrafts.”

“Envious of all the talent! All very clever indeed. Thank you!”

“What a lot of talent – amazing range of styles. Lovely to see such work locally. Thank you”

“A lovely exhibition and very well attended”

“Some beautiful and amazing work – lovely helpers too!”

“Thank you for a much-needed escape from the unreal world! Had a lovely afternoon admiring the excellent range of work.”

“Wonderful. Such talented creative people and a lovely way to spend an afternoon in Preston. Please may we have more exhibitions soon?”

We certainly will be organising future events – so watch this space!

Thanks again to everyone who participated, and to this wonderful community for your unwavering support.

With kind regards, 

Crystal Evans

Curator of The Art Show, The Arts Society Sandwich Summer Exhibition, and The Christmas Art Exhibition.

crystalevanscreates@gmail.com