What is Art? Bagsythat Art By Kirsteen Benson BA (Hons) and Kitty Atkinson MA (Hons)

Kirsteen Benson BA (Hons)

2009-11-29T12:33:00.001-08:00

Kirsteen Benson BA (Hons)

Kirsteen is greatly inspired by both European and Japanese 20th Century art.
After three years teaching art and drama Kirsteen attended Heriot Watt University and graduated with Hons in Textile Design. She was also distinguished by winning two design competitions, which led to a career in innovation. During this time she worked as a graphic designer and developer of new products. Throughout this time Kirsteen continued to exhibit in various art and design galleries including Gallery Now (Birmingham ) and The Lighthouse Design Centre (Glasgow).
Now a full time potter and painter, Kirsteen is inspired by the thoughts and emotions of people and what they project about themselves, as well as life and growth.

Exhibitions:

1999 and 2000 Exhibitions of oil paintings with two other artists, East Grinstead Art Centre.

2002 Exhibition at the Lighthouse Design Centre, Glasgow.

2002 Degree show exhibition, Galashiels.

2002 New Designers, Islington exhibition centre, London.

2002 Now Gallery of contemporary art, Burmingham.

2005 Solo show, Wealden House, East Grinstead, Sussex.

2006 Bagsythat, Christmas "open studio show", Sussex.

2007 Bagsythat, Exhibition in the Burmingham City Theatre.

2007 Bagsythat, Forest Row village hall, Sussex.

2008 Bagsythat, Christmas art Exhibition, Tilgate Park, Crawley.

2007 - 2009 Bagsythat, Work in my own gallery in Tilgate Park, Crawley.

2009 Work in the St Hill international Arts Festival, Sussex.

2009 Bagsythat, Cralwey Library show with two other artists.

Competitions:

2001 First prize-winner of an industrial competition for Morton Yong & Borland. This was a prize for the best of Madras lace design and involved one week’s work placement gaining first-hand experience of designing Madras lace converting it into a suitable format for the computerised loom and seeing it woven. I was also involved in preparations for a trade fair the company were attending.

2001 Joint first prize-winner of an industrial competition for Muraspec, (a textile wall coverings design and manufacturer). The judges of this competition said I had won for the relevance and applicability of my response to the brief as well as the high standard of work, commenting “There are people out there making good livings with far inferior products”.

Qualifications:

1999-2002 BA (Hons) Textile Design 2(1). Involving; print, weave, knit, marketing, finance, management, coloration Technology, print technology, visual studies, professional practice, CAD and the design process. Also being entered into the Royal Society of Arts textile competition.

Kitty Atkinson MA (Hons)

2009-11-29T12:27:00.000-08:00

Kitty obtained her degree from Glasgow School of Art in the 60s and was awarded an extra year of study there for outstanding work.

She specialised in study of murals, stained glass and mosaic, with a special interest in ceramics and has had many exhibitions of her work over the years since.

Following Art School, Kitty moved to the Isle of Arran where she painted for exhibitions held in Glasgow.

She then moved to the Edinburgh area and held shows in various places on the East coast.

She owned and ran a small craft pottery for ten years in Scotland and then moved to the South of England, still painting, making pottery and doing all sorts of art projects including theatre and teaching activities.

Kitty has always loved to paint from life, whether landscape, still life or figure, but also likes moving into abstract fields, usually very derivative from life images. Her work is therefore very varied and she does not like to feel that she has a ‘style’ but continues to experiment. However a distinctively recognisable quality is present in her work, caused by her use of brilliant colour adjacent to both contrasting and complementary colours and to use of a single very full brushstroke for emphasis of forms. Her obvious delight in colour is another way in which one would recognise her work.

www.bagsythat.co.uk

Exhibitions:

2006 Bagsythat, Christmas "open studio show", Sussex.

2007 Bagsythat, Exhibition in the Burmingham Cresent Theatre.

2007 Bagsythat, Forest Row village hall, Sussex.

2008 Bagsythat, Christmas art Exhibition, Tilgate Park, Crawley.

2007 - 2009 Bagsythat, Work in my own gallery in Tilgate Park, Crawley.

2009 Work in the St Hill international Arts Festival, Sussex.

2009 Bagsythat, Cralwey Library show with two other artists.

The Big Fight Exhibition

2009-11-14T11:26:00.001-08:00

The Big Fight Exhibition
Exhibition Crawley Library
Private view on Thursday the 3rd of December from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.
at Crawley's New Library.
Bagsythat Art and Wordie Photography.
Art by Kitty Atkinson MA (Hons), Kirsteen Benson BA (Hons) and Samantha Wordie.

Show runs from Monday 30th November to Monday 21st December.

Crawley Library, Southgate Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6HG (Opposite Crawley Mall Debanhams).
Library opening hours: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 7.00 Saturday 9.00 - 5.00

Please let me know if you are coming for the Thursday evening so I can buy drinks. Thank you, Very Best, Kirsteen

Bagsythat Artists:
Kitty 07853031693 Kirsteen 07799201417 www.bagsythat.co.uk bagsythat@yahoo.co.uk
Samantha Wordie Photography:
Samantha 07825395971 www.wordiephotography.com sam@wordiephotography.com

The Big Fight: Painting V Photography

2009-11-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

The Big Fight: Painting V Photography
East Grinstead painters Kirsteen Benson BA (Hons) and Kitty Atkinson DA (Hons) will be fighting it out with photographer Samantha Wordie in Crawley Library this December.
David Hockney believes that paintings can do things that photography can’t. Edvard Munch said “Photography can never depict heaven or hell." It’s a controversial debate that has raged since the invention of photography and the next chapter is taking place in Crawley’s Library!
“I think combining painting and photography in the same show is really exiting for the viewer but I would not be surprised if it causes some debate – am planning to beat Samantha over the head with a painting to make my point.” Kirsteen Benson – Painter - www.bagsythat.co.uk
“Photography is art every bit as much as painting and you can see so for yourself!” Samantha Wordie – Photographer - www.wordiephotography.com
The show will be open from the 30th of November to the 21st of December for the public to view paintings and photography by the three artists. Library opening hours: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 7.00 Saturday 9.00 - 5.00
Bagsythat Art has been established for four years in Crawley and East Grinstead and this is the artists fourth Christmas show but the first time that Samantha Wordie Photography has been included.
“If we all survive we may work together next year too” Kirsteen

The show runs from the 30th of November to the 21st December.
Crawley Library, Southgate Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6HG (Opposite Crawley Mall Debanhams).
Library opening hours: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 7.00 Saturday 9.00 - 5.00
Bagsythat Artists:
Kitty 07853031693 Kirsteen 07799201417 www.bagsythat.co.uk
bagsythat@yahoo.co.uk
Samantha Wordie Photography:
Samantha 07825395971 www.wordiephotography.com
sam@wordiephotography.com

Exhibition Crawley Library

2009-11-04T12:20:00.000-08:00

Exhibition Crawley Library
Private view on Thursday the 3rd of December from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.
at Crawley's New Library.
Bagsythat Art and Wordie Photography.
Art by Kitty Atkinson MA (Hons), Kirsteen Benson BA (Hons) and Samantha Wordie.

Show runs from Monday 30th November to Monday 21st December.

Crawley Library, Southgate Avenue, Crawley, RH10 6HG (Opposite Crawley Mall Debanhams).
Library opening hours: Monday - Friday 9.00 - 7.00 Saturday 9.00 - 5.00

Please let me know if you are coming for the Thursday evening so I can buy drinks. Thank you, Very Best, Kirsteen

Bagsythat Artists:
Kitty 07853031693 Kirsteen 07799201417 www.bagsythat.co.uk bagsythat@yahoo.co.uk
Samantha Wordie Photography:
Samantha 07825395971 www.wordiephotography.com sam@wordiephotography.com

New art by Bagsythat artist Kirsteen Benson

2009-10-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

New art by Bagsythat artist Kirsteen Benson

Face painting is really popular at Tilgate Park

2009-08-30T13:53:00.001-07:00

Face painting is really popular at Tilgate Park

www.bagsythat.co.uk

www.facepainting-facepainter-potterymaking.co.uk

www.crawleycraftfair.co.uk

Learn Art

2009-06-08T12:07:00.000-07:00

Always wanted to be able to draw?

Gave up after school and regretted it?

Private lessons available for adults and children from Kirsteen Benson BA (Hons) who is a qualified artist with years of teaching experience.
“Anyone can draw or create the only part you can’t teach is wanting to!” Kirsteen Benson.
Art Subjects available: Painting, Drawing, Pottery, Calligraphy and Textiles.
Lessons are £20 per hour including materials and can be arranged for day or evenings and weekends. 6 lesson discount £100.
Contact Kirsteen Today!

Phone: 07799201417 or 01342 324738
kirsteenannhodgson@yahoo.co.uk

30B Cantelupe Road
East Grinstead
West Sussex
RH19 3BJ
www.bagsythat.co.uk

Crawley gets art but no dead sharks please!

2009-06-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

Crawley gets art but no dead sharks please!
Crawley is to have a new craft fair this year on the 21st June in the town centre. It will be handmade crafts and art by mostly local artists for the public not critics.
The fair will start on Sunday the 21st of June from 10:00 to 4:00pm and be repeated at Christmas on Saturday the 12th December.
Kirsteen Benson a potter and painter who has her studio in Crawley is organising the new fair. “This is a unique new opportunity for local artists and crafts people to show and sell work. It can be very hard for artists to make a start but once out there the public do want to buy good art, it is a real joy to be able to help. You can start to feel the only art out there is the half sharks and portraits of child murderers much talked about by critics but my experience having a gallery in Crawley has shown me that mostly the public hate that kind of art and many feel it is not really art, people are delighted to see art they can understand and would want in their home.”
Crawley Town Centre Partnership is launching this new event as part of Crawley festival.
This exciting event will combine stalls from Crawley’s permanent craft community at Tilgate Park with work from many more local artists. Visitors to Queens Square (in the town centre near the mall) will be able to browse and buy unique quality local crafts from the stalls. There will be children’s craft activities including paint your own pottery and face painting. Live music will be provided by musicians in the band stand.
Interested in exhibiting artwork?
28 3 x 3 meter spaces are available to crafts people now for only £30.
(Spaces can be split up between several artists).
Please contact: Kirsteen Benson, Bagsythat Pottery, Tilgate Park, Crawley, RH105PQ
07799201417
crawleyfair@yahoo.co.uk
www.crawleycraftfair.co.uk

Face Painting at Tilgate Park

2009-03-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

Bagsythat Pottery and Gallery have started face painting for children every weekend at Tilgate Park.

Face painting is very popular, people are looking for something to do with the children on the weekend and we have: "paint your own pottery", "have a go on the potter's wheel" and now "face painting"!

The new activity is a big success and lots of fun for the kids!

It is good to provide a kids activity in Sussex.

Visit: www.bagsythat.co.uk to see how to find us.

Crawley Craft Fair (Queens Square)

2009-02-10T13:09:00.000-08:00

Crawley Craft Fair

Crawley is to have a new craft fair this year

The fair will start on Sunday the 21st of June from 10:00 to 4:00pm and be repeated at Christmas on Saturday the 12th December. Crawley Town Centre Partnership is launching this new event as part of Crawley festival.

This exciting event will combine stalls from Crawley’s permanent craft community at Tilgate Park with work from many more local artists. Visitors to Queens Square (in the town centre near the mall) will be able to browse and buy unique quality local crafts from the stalls. There will be children’s craft activities including paint your own pottery and face painting. Live music will be provided by musicians in the band stand.

Interested in exhibiting artwork?

28 3 x 3 meter stalls are available to crafts people now for only £30.

Please contact: Kirsteen Benson

Bagsythat Pottery, Tilgate Park, Crawley, RH105PQ

crawleyfair@yahoo.co.uk

www.crawleycraftfair.co.uk

Tilgate Park Views

2008-10-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Free Children’s Art in the Park

2008-10-05T04:43:00.000-07:00

The Big Draw at Tilgate Park

Free Children’s Art in the Park
Bagsythat Pottery and Gallery and Tilgate Park hosted a Big Draw activity.

On Saturday the 4th of October Bagsythat Pottery and Gallery and Tilgate Park in Crawley hosted this free art activity as part of the big draw.

The big draw is a national campaign to promote drawing which takes place every year.

Find out more about the big draw at: www.campaignfordrawing.org

More about Bagsythat Pottery and Gallery at: www.bagsythat.co.uk

More about Tilgate Park at: Tilgate Park

Christmas shopping in the Park

2008-10-02T04:30:00.000-07:00

Christmas shopping in the Park

Tilgate Park Crawley

Saturday 6th December

from 4:00 to 8:00pm

Handmade Crafts;

jewellery, woodwork, pottery, paintings, cards, crystals, candles, vases, oils, gifts, soaps, clocks, toys, children’s crafts and more!

Food and Drink.

Tilgate Park,

Crawley,

RH10 5PQ

Wilson & RobertsBespoke handmade soft furnishings.

Tel: 01293 553202

Earthchild Shop and School

shanegadd@shanegadd.com

http://www.shanegadd.com/

Bill's Workshop

For the Love of Wood

Furniture and Turning

07956211554 / 01293 541 566

Bagsythat Pottery and Gallery

http://www.bagsythat.co.uk/

bagsythat@yahoo.co.uk

Bramblee Designs Jewellery

Tel: 01293 528486 / 07968 195433.

lhickey@eurobell.co.uk

Vue Photography and Mosaics.

Tel: 07778 935476

email: info@allanstone.com

About Tilgate Park

New Painintings By bagsythat Artists

2008-09-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

First image: Painting By Kitty Atkinson. Acrylic on canvas. (90 x 60 cm)
Second image: Painting By Kirsteen Benson. Acrylic on canvas. (90 x 60 cm)

Here Be Monsters!

2008-02-28T09:10:00.000-08:00

Tilgate Park has a new sculpture added to the growing collection and artists Kirsteen Benson and Kitty Atkinson from Bagsythat Pottery got to make it's eyes!

Artist Rafael Berrio and students from Desmond Anderson School have been working on the “Tilgate Monster” for the last seven months.
Today the huge monster was unveiled. It looks like it has just crawled out of the lake and is resting on the shore before returning to the deep waters to scare The Loch Ness Monster.

The amphibian is one of a collection of sculptures around Tilgate Park in wood metal and stone.

Artists Kitty Atkinson and Kirsteen Benson of Bagsythat Pottery made the monster's multicoloured pottery eyes.

“It was a real honour to be allowed to help create such a lovely piece of community art and I know lots of visitors to Tilgate Park will enjoy seeing the monster” said Kirsteen Benson from Bagsythat Pottery.

Tilgate Park is already and great place to take the kids or have a day out but with the increasing sculpture collection it is fast becoming an important exhibition site too.

Bagsythat pottery is just up the hill from the new sculpture next to the walled garden. Children can paint pots or have a go on the potter’s wheel and adults can buy vases, bowls and other gifts all hand made in the workshop.

View Bagsythat pottery at: http://www.bagsythat.co.uk/

New pottery at Tilgate Park Crawley

2008-02-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

Bagsythat Pottery is a contemporary pottery based in Tilgate Park, Crawley, West Sussex .

Bagsythat Pottery shows work by Kitty Atkinson MA Hons, Andrew Hodgson BA and Kirsteen Benson BA Hons, working to create contemporary ceramics and art which is also affordable and of high quality.

Our studio in Tilgate Park is open from 10:00 to 4:30pm (later in summer) Saturday and Sunday. Pottery demonstration and children’s activities every weekend.

Come and paint your own pot!

Please feel free to visit or email us for commissions and orders by mail.
Bagsythat Pottery
Tilgate Park
Crawley
West Sussex
RH105PQ

E mail: bagsythat@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://www.bagsythat.co.uk