York | 01904 634221
Clare Haley: Light of Yorkshire 2024
Press Release

Clare Haley: Light of Yorkshire 2024

/ Wednesday 12th of June, 2024

York Fine Arts is delighted to announce ‘Clare Haley: Light of Yorkshire’, its ninth annual solo exhibition of original paintings by contemporary landscape artist Clare Haley. From rolling, verdant dales to dark, ominous skies, Clare once more weaves a narrative of the changeable northern landscape as it responds to light and the elements. Collectors old and new are invited to roam and lose themselves in the raw, dramatic beauty of nature’s wild panoramas.

As one of the most exciting artistic talents to emerge out of Yorkshire in recent years, Clare Haley, praised as the ‘Light of Yorkshire’, captures the emotion and ethereal essence of the British landscape with unparalleled perception. As an active and ardent observer of cloud and weather consequences, Clare works primarily from memory, pushing the boundaries of imagination whilst retaining the organic integrity of her subject. In just a few short years, Clare has achieved marked success and recognition as a professional artist, gaining an international and loyal collector base enamoured of her work. In 2023, she was selected for the prestigious New Light Prize Exhibition, cementing her place amongst the rising starts of Northern art and beyond. 

Born and raised in West Yorkshire and now based in Holmfirth, it is no coincidence that Clare Haley’s largest solo exhibition of the year opens on Yorkshire Day, celebrated on the 1st of August. Gallery Manager Deanna Dawkins says,

“With her proud Yorkshire roots and lifelong passion for the northern landscape such an integral part of her work, Clare has understandably become one of the county’s most loved and collectible artists. Dramatically imbued with echoes of Yorkshire’s raw, rugged beauty, her work is a testament not only to the moving power of God’s Own Country, but also to the wealth of talent it has to offer. A celebration of her work feels like a celebration of Yorkshire itself.”

Clare describes her work as “contemporary northern landscapes which mostly appear timeless, of any era—earthy, wild places to become lost in.” She develops the atmospheric content of her paintings through location photography, research of weather and cloud consequences, imagined places and her experience living in an area of raw beauty. With nods to the drama of John Martin’s apocalyptic paintings and to the colours and heritage of Sidney Richard Percy’s landscapes, Clare’s own unique style resurrects the tradition of British landscape painting and brings it into the 21st century with graceful transcendence. 

The exhibition opens at York Fine Arts on Thursday, 1st of August and runs until Sunday, 25th of August 2024. Due to expected high volume of interest in the show, an early viewing is recommended. Preview catalogues will also be available upon request.

For press enquiries or high-resolution images, please telephone Deanna Dawkins on 01904 634221 or email [email protected]