This weekend just gone Chris and I were away for 3 nights in North Yorkshire, staying in a small lodge just outside Thirsk in Carlton Miniott. As we were staying in the Thirsk area we popped in to the small market town for a wander around and a couple of nice meals, and decided to pay a visit to the local art gallery Zillah Bell, especially as the Thirsk tourist website highly recommends it. This, it turns out, was with good reason- the gallery was a delight.

The current exhibition is called 'The White Horse Revisited' and features paintings, etchings and ceramics all on the theme of 'The White Horse', primarily that of Kilburn fame but also Hood Hill and Lake Gormire. I thoroughly enjoyed all the differest artists varied interpretations of these striking landscape features- some were really imaginative, others symbolic, others really stripped down and haunting- there was great variety within this exhibit. It was such a pleasure to discover such a small gem of a gallery. 'The White Horse Revisited' exhibit finishes shortly on June 2nd, the next exhibit being 'Print Show'. If you'd like any more information on these exhibits or to plan a visit to the delightful Zillah Bell Gallery check out their website at www.zillahbellgallery.co.uk.

Then, on Monday, Chris and I had the pleasure of spending a sunny day in one of our favourite places- York. Again, we popped in to the city's Art Gallery, which is always a pleasure. On this occasion we just visited the guest exhibition 'Gordon Baldwin: Objects for a Landscape'. Baldwin is a sculptural potter who primarily works in clay but does also paint. This exhibit, which will be 'touring' other venues after York throughout 2012/ 2013, focuses on Baldwin's work from the mid 1960s to the present. I enjoyed it- Baldwin's work is simple and beautiful, very natural looking and familiar- I'm sure I've seen his work at the YSP before. This was certainly a large exhibit and showcased a whole manner of works from different periods of his career. I liked the more recent works best, with their dark colours and stone like appearance in rounded, seaside- object like shapes (think rocks smoothed into curves by repeated water lapping). The York City Art Gallery is free to visit (donations welcome) and the 'Gordon Baldwin: Objects for a Landscape' exhibit is on until June 10th. For more, or general visitor information, visit the gallery's website at www.yorkartgallery.org.uk.