‘Nine Lives’ is an exhibition of new work by the Teifi Artists’ Group to be shown at The White Lion Street Gallery in Tenby in April.

The group was formed in the late 1990s and comprises a small local association of invited artists who mutually support, inform and help develop each other’s work and ideas in paint, printmaking and other media.

The artists are: Andie Clay, Wendy Evans, Helen Gillam, Glenn ibbitson, Carole King, Nigel Pugh, Peter Rossiter, Philippa Sibert and Diane Walkey. Between them are skills in illustration, printmaking, photography, batik as well as considerable experience in drawing and painting in traditional and modern styles, whether figurative or abstract.

Their diverse backgrounds, wide ranging interests and preoccupations, combined with their own repertoire of skills make this a celebratory group exhibition, filled with the quirks of each individual.

Inspired particularly by the wide views of both coastal and the more remote areas of West Wales are batiks, paintings, works in oil and wax and graphite drawings. A closer focus on the natural world is shown in paintings of magnified rock pool seaweed, abstract pieces with flower references and large format bird imagery.

People, some animal-headed, appear in surreal paintings by one artist and as finely drawn female nudes by another. Purely abstract paintings directly contrast with the detailed architectural drawings of one artist’s former professional life and spare lines, graduated colour and symbolic detail represent music’s rhythms and harmonies.

Together the artists have produced 60 paintings and original prints – a rich and exciting insight into contemporary practice in West Wales today.

The exhibition ‘Nine Lives’ will show from1st to 28th April at The White Lion Street Gallery in Tenby with an opportunity to meet the artists from 2 to 4 pm Saturday 5th April. Everyone is welcome. The gallery is open from 10am to 5pm every day except Wednesdays. View the exhibition online at www.artmatters.org.uk and phone 01834-843375 for any further information.