The Art, Leather, Prints & Sculpture Exhibition is a new collaborative exhibition between four artists and designers - Jan Shayler, Bente Kumar, Mike Searle and Zan Nye.

Jan Shayler

Born in Sidmouth and educated in East Devon, Jan Shayler has always had a passion for art. After attending The King’s School in Ottery St Mary, she went on to have a 20-year career in interior design. She began a new journey as an artist in 2009 after completing a Fine Art qualification while living in France. Her paintings and sculpture are inspired by the natural geography around her, be it open fields, dramatic coastlines, ancient woodlands or simple structures.

Bente Kumar

Bente Kumar was born in Denmark and has made Sidmouth her home since 2009. She is a printmaker specialising in screen printing and monoprinting and is a member of the Hutchins Group of Printmakers, working in the South West Art SPACE printmaking studio.

Her screen prints capture simple shapes and sharp lines, depicting the beautiful landscapes and coastlines of both her native Denmark and the South West. Her monoprints are influenced by the exciting ceramics of the late Barbara Lock Hanley and by modern Scandinavian design.

Mike Searle

Since retiring from the computer industry, Mike has taken up leatherwork as a hobby. All of his leather work is hand sewn and although he specialises in bags, he also makes wallets, watch straps, belts, dog collars and journal covers. Approximately 75% of the patterns he uses are designed by others, but increasingly Mike is designing his own patterns on the computer and using his design skills to enhance or alter pre-existing patterns.

Zan Nye

Zan is a painter drawing much of her inspiration from the beautiful coastline and sea, as well as from her hometown of Exmouth and the Exe Estuary. She paints mostly in acrylic and particularly enjoys palette-knife work, while also incorporating acrylic inks and mixed media on occasion. In addition, Zan creates silk paintings and dyed silk work, as well as feltwork using natural wools and silks.

The exhibition runs from Monday 5 until Tuesday 13 October and is open daily from 10am until 5pm. Admission is free of charge.