Celebration at Falmouth Art Gallery

2:05pm Saturday 12th January 2008

As an early celebration of Falmouth's hosting of the start of this year's Funchal 500 Tall Ships Regatta, a major art exhibition capturing the joy of water, wind and waves is to be mounted by Falmouth Art Gallery from March 1 to April 26.

"Smell the Sea, Feel the Breeze" promises something for everyone - from dramatic sailing adventures in wild waters to paddling in rock pools with Rupert Bear.

It has been made possible by the generous sponsorship of TMS Financial Solutions, of Truro and Penzance, who are making their debut in arts sponsorship, and Arts and Business South West, who have funded the additional insurance and the transporting of valuable works.

These include works by distinguished Cornish artists such as Henry Scott Tuke RA, Charles Napier Hemy RA, William Ayerst Ingram, Frank Jameson, Mike Haywood and David Hills.

Important loans from the Royal Society of Marine Artists Diploma Collection have been made available through the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and work by Sir Terry Frost, one of Britain's greatest abstract painters, is being made available through private collections.

Sir Terry's career spanned seven decades, starting with his introduction to art in a prisoner-of-war camp. The featured works drew inspiration in Cornwall from sailing boats bobbing on the tide.

Also showing will be original works by contemporary Falmouth artist Jamie Medlin, one of the country's leading marine artists and widely known through his prints.

He currently paints beautiful classic yachts, and some of the best of these paintings have been borrowed for this exhibition. His art was included in the recent Christie's sale of "Important Maritime Paintings."

Falmouth has a long and proud association with sailing. The Packet ships, ocean going clippers and the coastal trading sailing vessels have long ceased their trade, but the port can still attract major sailing events, from the Tall Ships Regatta to the arrival of round-the-world yachtsmen and women.

A full programme of gallery events has been designed to complement the exhibition, which will include free workshops for babies, children, families, schools and community groups. A full colour brochure sponsored by TMS Financial Solutions will be available.

The exhibition's opening hours will be 10 am to 5 pm and admission is free. Further information about activities and education is available from Natalie Rigby on 01326 313863.

The exhibition promises to be one of the most prestigious ever staged at the gallery, which has just celebrated one of its best-ever years - capped by the Markey and Friends Exhibition attracting 7,600 visitors and 1,178 educational visits.