The Stockroom Society is an initiative conjured up from local artist Rachel Groom who desired a space to showcase art in all its glorious forms. The art gallery is housed within the pop-up shop in Learherhead’s Swan Centre and not only plays host to a stunning space, for at present nine local artists, with disciplines ranging from painting, photography and sign writing but also aims to incorporate tutorials in sculpture, life, drawing, photoshop and many more.
The venue will also see ‘Jazz’ and ‘Vinyl’ nights so visitors can enjoy great music and art in a happy, friendly and exciting environment.
The Stockroom Society hopes to enrich the lives of all who cross their threshold and raise many artists profiles in Surrey. Opening times are currently Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm.
STOCKROOM ARTIST PROFILES
DANNY VERNO SMITH AKA VERN ARTIST
‘Life has a constant ability to remind us who’s boss but it also offers us beauty – should we be fortunate enough to see it,’ Vern artist explains.
John Cage once said, “the thing with accidents are you get to choose which one’s you keep!” and this for sure holds a fair truth within the way in which my work unfolds. I work in a very fluid manner which is highly reactionary… in constant a state of flux if you will…. is as though my mind soul are instructing and just the catalyst for steering the direction it wishes to proceed. Sometimes this works, sometimes not but I’ll keep overlaying and only feel OK to stop when nothing more is bothering me…this can take some time but it’s all worth it.
INSPIRED
We all have people we draw inspiration from. For me the list could be long… the genius that is Piccasso. The brilliance of Gerhard Richter. The anger of De Kooning. The invention of Yayoi Kusama. The legend that is Da Vinci. The list could go on… but all those who have crossed my path in some way fuelled my childish inquisitiveness.
As I’ve never been the type who wants to know what his coffee is going to taste like before he wakes I produce a varied array of works some light hearted and some drawn from deep inside which can also be a kind of self-therapy. If a piece makes you think then good but if it makes you feel then we’re really getting somewhere… perhaps this is why faces have a strong representation within my portfolio. All faces have the same components and yet no two are the same. They are also the focal point for emotional release. The structure, shape and form has always had a fascination for me.
I believe art is of massive importance in our ever-increasing stressful lives with its relentless pressures. I think it can offer us (however brief) an opportunity to take a break from the modern day madnesses constantly straining at us.
GET IN TOUCH
If you’ve taken the time to view my works and read this far… then I thank you and trust it wasn’t overly traumatic! If you are interested in purchasing any of my original art then contact me at:
Instagram: @dannyvernosmith
Email: vernarts@outlook.com
RACHEL GROOM
My photography centres around people, places, and horses. From effervescent race meets to splashes of neon graffiti, my favourite snaps are taken in Glorious Goodwood, the sandy beaches of Sardinia and everywhere in between. With antique dealers for parents, my former years were spent navigating the hubbub of Portobello Road. In the height of 70s hedonism, I was fascinated by the people, and of course by the cameras. One could say this was my introduction to people watching. What I have always enjoyed most is spotting obscurity in normality.
LAURIE MAY
I stumbled upon alcohol, ink art which is a relatively new medium and was totally hooked on its beauty. So, after doing no art since leaving school many moons ago, at the beginning of lockdown for Mother’s Day, my 4 children bought me all I needed to get started and I haven’t looked back since. I’m totally in love with how you never know quite what creation you are going to end up with. Each painting is totally unique and is made by dropping ink and alcohol. I only use a paint brush for the fine details. None of my art goes to waste as I also make cards and pictures from the off cuts.
DAVE WAY
Dave Way is Bookham born and bred and developed a passion for art later in life. Goodness knows why as his paintings are phenomenol! Dave now spends his time out of the day job painting legendary faces. Painting in oil or acrylic, including famous faces such as Mick Jagger pictured or Mohammad Ali (or anyone that you may like, just ask!) as luckily for you Dave is now taking commissions. Approach him to get your famous facers covered.
CHARLIE CROSS
Charles Cross is a designer, illustrator, photographer and sign-writer from Leatherhead. Away from the day job, Charles enjoys commercial illustration as well as sign writing, painting with acrylics as well as sign writing enamels. Charles is looking for new opportunities to work with businesses within the surrounding area, developing illustrated campaigns, both online as well as within print. Get in touch to find out more.
SAMANTHA EMBLEM
Samantha Emblem is a sculptor and painter based in Bookham. After working in film special effects she now teaches at a local secondary school. Her artworks are in a wide range of mixed media. Commissions are taken.
SAM FERRARI
Babe from the sixties, child of the seventies, rebel teen throughout the eighties, mother of three in the nineties, back to school during the noughties, divorced and free in the tens,
full time artist in the twenties. I reuse, reinterpret, reimagine; blend, break, bend. From nature, science, fonts and words, to isms, ideologies, myths and more. I am a painter, printist, poet, sculptor, crafter, calligrapher. I see no limits.
VOID NUMBER 6
I’m here! City’s a dull place so I’m here to inject colour back into it. Love anything neon/pastel, which my work reflects. Influenced by internet subcultures, I aim to deliver a perfect blend of cynicism, cutesy & provocative aesthetics. Medium: Screenprinting/lino print /digital/fashion/vandalism
TRACEY JANES ART
It makes you realise just how much time & thought you’ve put into your work when you see lots of it together. Hundreds of hours of work on one wall for the month of November. Come and see @popupleatherhead #artists #supportlocalartists #popupleatherhead
CONTACT:
Stockroom Society, Pop-Up Leatherhead, Swan Centre, Surrey
hello@thepopupshopagents.co.uk
https://popupleatherhead.co.uk
