SALE AWAY!

It's hard to believe its been 8 months since we switched our blog to the website, are you following us there too? You'll find it HERE

Well it's January now and time for us to make you a seasonal offering of pieces which are all brand-new, never-before-owned and sometimes even sold out from the publisher and therefore quite sought after... 

Here are just a few of the sale images but there are almost 60 to look at... You can find ALL the bargains on our SALE PAGE !

'One Man and His Dog'
by Alexander Millar

'No, I'm Spartacus'
by Craig Davison

'Who Would Have Believed It?'
by Paul Horton

  

'Hold Me Close'
by Peter Smith

'Thumpers in Jumpers'
by Peter Smith

'The Powerful Truth'
by Paul Horton (The ICON Collection)

'The Lost Snowflake'
by Paul Horton

Never too young to start with art...

This week a new family found The Acorn Gallery and we have met one of our youngest ever customers.

Harriette is just 10years old and had been in the gallery last weekend with her parents. Whilst here she saw, and fell in love with 'Thumpers in Jumpers' by Peter Smith.

We understand that Harriette was so smitten with this print that she spent the weekend talking about it and making drawings and even a model! Finally the question came up 'Can I buy it?'. 

Now Harriette is the kind of girl who looks after her money carefully and is not prone to rash decisions! So, her parents replied that she could if she had enough. Harriette checked her savings and breathed a sigh of relief - she had just enough!

So Harriette withdrew her savings and Mum rang us to reserve the print, advising that they would call after school to collect it. Of course even the receipt would have Harriette's name on it.

And so it was that 10 year old Harriette collected and paid for her very first piece of art!

We have today received an e-mail to thank us for giving Harriette such a 'wonderful experience'! 

The print now hangs proudly in her bedroom and even the wall had a fresh coat of paint to make sure that everything was perfect! Congratulations Harriette :)

Statistically Speaking...

We always used to keep you updated with our top sellers... and you seem to have missed that!

So here is a quick run down:

Top Sellers for 2012 are as follows:-
1. Peter Smith,
2. Mike Jackson
3. Alexander Millar

Congratulations to Peter Smith for being the top artist for 2012, a place he has held almost every year in our five year history! It's also nice to see Mike Jackson there too, our longest serving independent artist! No pressure Mike but can you do it again this year?

I know there are followers of the blog who would like to know who is the overall top seller in the gallery since we opened our door in December 2007, so here is that all important information:-

1. Peter Smith
2. Paul Horton
3. Bob Dylan
4. Alexander Millar

Well done Peter on maintaining the overall top seller spot... we look forward to seeing your new releases next month! We have a feeling Paul will be a strong contender again too so lets wait and see what he tempts us with for 2013!

Catching up...

Wow! I can't believe it's been so long since we blogged! Did you miss us? Lol :)

We've had a busy few weeks and it's a shame we haven't found time to tell you about them... until now! Gosh, where do we start?

Following the success of the exclusive 'Icon Collection' from Paul Horton we are surprised and delighted to tell you that there is still some availability on three of the images! I know, we can't believe it either! It seems the summer holidays have got the better of you and maybe you think that the collection had sold out before you could bagsy a piece for yourself? Well although the collection has sold out from the publisher we at The Acorn still have three pieces so get in quick and secure your favourite... :)

'Love Shines Down' by Paul Horton (Icon Collection)

Hamish Blakely has seen some action these past few months too with some sales from the Muse Collection and a fabulous original piece which has now found a new home in Guernsey!

Some of you may be envious to know that Caroline Shotton's gorgeous original 'I Can See Moo' is also now sold, much to the delight of its new owner who had almost given up hope of ever owning one of Carolines originals!

In fact original art is really coming into its own and several other stunning original pieces have also found their way onto walls up and down the country, including work by Peter Smith, Kevin Day, Mike Jackson, Doreen Greenshields, Maureen Crofts and Harry Brioche.

I know some of you will be keen to learn who is topping the charts in the art world so just for you here are the TOP SELLERS for the last few months:

May: Bob Dylan, Alexander Millar, Drew Darcy (Originals by Kevin Day, Mike Jackson, Maureen Crofts)

June: Caroline Shotton, Paul Horton, Peter Smith (Originals by Mike Jackson, Peter Smith, Harry Brioche)

July: Bob Dylan, James Milroy, James Blinkhorn (Originals by Doreen Greenshields, Caroline Shotton, Hamish Blakely)

So, what is new and coming up at The Acorn?

Well the next big thing is happening this Bank Holiday Saturday when we are inviting anyone and everyone to come along dressed up as a character from Batman and Robin... we are expecting a good spattering of each and if we're lucky, perhaps even a Poison Ivy... There will be a prize for everyone who dresses up :)

Holy Dash Batman by Craig Davison

And the occasion? Well we have four brilliant new pieces from Craig Davison who loves to draw from childhood make-believe for his work... Of course if any grown-ups fancy getting dressed up too then there will be a special prize for you ;)

Are you game for a laugh? Fancy dressing up? Go on... We Dare You!

Apologies!!

Well, apologies are in order, I have been lacking in my duties to keep you fantastic collectors, fans and customers updated with the stats of our top sellers.

I hadn't realised that I had been so lazy and therefore if when you next visit us and you have the urge to chastise me then please do!!!!

Our top sellers for January are as follows:-

1. Paul Horton

2. Peter Smith

3. Paul Kenton and Sarah Graham

In January we sold a fantastic original piece by Paul Kenton - it was simply stunning and attracted alot of attention - especially as we kept it on the wall here for a few weeks until the customer was ready for it! We could have sold it four times over :-)

Anyway, back to business: Our top sellers for February are as follows:-

1. Peter Smith

2. David Bez

2. Joanne Panayi

Our top sellers for March are as follows:-

1. Peter Smith

2. Keith Proctor

3. Alexander Millar

In March we sold 5 amazing original pieces by Peter Smith, John Wilson, Mike Jackson, Nick MacKay and Bob Barker!!

Our top sellers for April are as follows:-

1. Alexander Millar

2. Peter Smith

3. Mark Edwards

In April we sold 2 stunning originals by Peter Smith and also a superb piece by Mark Edwards! Peter Smith is really on a roll - I wonder if it has anything to do with The Bimps? ! 

It is always good to see who is hot but it is good to see an independant artist in the top three along with a sculpturist too!

So, what's hot at the moment you may ask... Alexander Millars Working Man Collection - that's what! The two top sellers are 'Big River' and 'Evening Song' which are almost entirely sold out across the country! The demand for these two pieces is unprecedented and speculation about the secondary market is already spreading!

Watch this space!

NEW from Peter Smith...

Wow! What a weekend!

John and I have been to the ICC, Birmingham for the Washington Green Spring Fair - a chance for us to see the BRAND NEW images from all of their top artists!

None of the images have been released to the galleries yet for on-line viewing but Peter Smith has just updated his blog and included his fabulous five NEW images which we were priviledged to see this weekend.

Follow this link to read his blog and see the images:
http://petersmithartist.blogspot.com/2011/02/strangeland.html?spref=fb

Pre-ordering is recommended as this release is very strong - ring us for details on 01759 307652

Immortalised In Oils!!

'I Never Touched Him' by Peter Smith

Once upon a time there was a huge fan of Peter Smith... his name was John Wass. He loved to buy the prints and soon had quite a collection... Whenever Peter was due to do an appearance John and his wife Diane (also a huge fan) would attend to say 'hi' and have a chat about the latest releases!

One year Peter brought out a series of prints under the banner of 'Smithy's World Cup' and one of the prints was called 'I Never Touched Him'... The image was taken from a famous incident between David Beckham and the referee in an England vs. Argentina World Cup match .

John learned that he was the person being thought of for inspiration when Peter was painting the referee... with that larger than life character towering above the footballer...

Armed with that information John set about tracing the original to the print and finally managed to aquire it for his own collection!

This is the dedication on the reverse of Johns copy of the 'I Never Touched Him' print - showing the naming of the characters!

John is immensely proud of these two pieces and we both continue to be big fans of the work of Peter Smith!

With all the excitement surrounding 'The Bimps' Peter Smith is going to be a bigger name then ever so watch this space for news...

Top Sellers For 2010!!

January is here and we have reviewed the stats for the past 12 months. We can now reveal that the top sellers for 2010 are as follows:-

1. Keith Proctor
2. Peter Smith
3. Paul Horton

Congratulations to Keith Proctor - not bad for the new kid on the block! Top spot in his first year!! It was a close run race however with only 4 sales between 1st & 2nd place and only 2 sales between 2nd & 3rd places!

Our overall Top Sellers (since we opened in December 2007) :-

1. Peter Smith
2. Bob Dylan
3. Paul Horton

Peter Smith is still proving he has what it takes and we believe that he has lots more to follow! We are very excited about the 'Bimps' - new characters which Peter has shown us on his blog and on Facebook. We love them all, especially the dog and as soon as we know more about them then we will of course let you know!!

Not shown in the overall Top Sellers, but just biting on the heels of Paul Horton is Alexander Millar, who has a massive publicity push this year for his museum exhibition. This will be a fantastic show for Alex which will feature his famous Gadgies and Gals and rumours are afoot that he is planning a tour and a book! Watch this space for news...!

It looks like this year could be an interesting one and it will be very interesting to see if there are any changes in the overall Top Seller for 2011.

Whatever news there is you can be sure to find it here first - stay up to date by following the Acorn Gallery Blog!

You can also Find us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!

Keith & Jack Proctor Artist Appearance

We are sooo excited!!

As you know we are looking forward to welcoming Keith Proctor on Saturday 13th November between 12-3pm... but now we are delighted to announce that Keith will be bringing a very special person wth him...

JACK will be coming too :-)

Since Keith was launched in February 2010 he has taken the art world by storm and we are very lucky to secure an appearance as he will only be doing 7 appearances this year!!

The prints of these charming childhood scenes are totally engaging and the market for original oils is very keen! In fact the three pieces we have for this event sold in less than 12 hours!!

So come along and meet Keith and Jack in person! Come and chat about his inspirations and ask Jack what he thinks about being famous!!

Keith Proctor has consistently been in the top three for each month since he was launched here at the Acorn and shows no signs of slowing :-)

It was a forgone conclusion that Peter Smith would take top spot for September and October though as we always have a fabulous time when he is here and we are hoping for the same with Keith.

So, mark the date in your diary and come along and remember Keith, and maybe even Jack, will be signing anything bought on the day!

If you can't make it then ring and reserve your piece and we can have it dedicated in your absence!

We look forward to seeing you then!

International Deliveries...

Box-building is always a matter for care and consideration and we take just as good care with the packing of anything but we worry just a little bit more when the parcel is going overseas!

The box we built today had to contain a framed canvas print and a mounted print and so had to be carefully constructed to keep them both in prime condition during travel - not that we're saying couriers are careless but accidents do happen and we'd rather be safe than sorry!

With double thickness corrugated cardboard front and back and thick wads of polystyrene all around we think that these items are extremely packed but just in case there is any doubt... we've plastered the outside with FRAGILE tape - just to remind the courier that what they are handling is precious!

So, how many miles will this parcel travel...?
Over two thousand miles because it is headed off to CYPRUS!

Happy Travelling :-)

Cupcakes and Caramels...

Wow! Peter Smith really knows how to pack them in!

Saturday 2nd October and we were expecting Peter here at The Acorn Gallery between 12-3pm so we busied ourselves with final preparations including collecting 100 cupcakes... :-)


Baked by Becky Mackenzie of Pocklington

We gave the gallery a last sweep through and dusted the prints... we laid out the glasses and put the champagne on ice...

Peter arrived early to check-in and say hi and so that he could pop into his favourite coffee house for a coffee and cake... Pocklington is fabulous for foodies ;-)

But fear not, he returned in plenty of time for his devoted public and they came in droves... Fans old and new and some who didn't even know him yet... They all came to see his work and hear his stories and to choose which piece or pieces they would have for themselves...



Peter Smith - Storyteller Extraordinaire



All of the images were much loved but slightly in the lead were Forget-Me-Not and Opposites Attract... The Lovers Sculpture is staggeringly beautiful and the quality is second to none...

The Lovers Sculpture by Peter Smith

With stories being told and heart strings pulled, emotion was high! One lady was almost in tears as Peter dedicated 'Baby on Board' for the child she carried within her...

Dedication after dedication followed and Peters pencil case really came into its own when he was presented with an Impossiphant from the recent Elephant Parade Charity Event. He touched it up superbly and we all watched with avid fascination!

Mission Impossiphant...

And so the afternoon went on... chilled champagne, fresh orange or Bucks Fizz, cupcakes and caramels... Caramels? Where? Well maybe next time... ;-)

 

Peter Smith 2nd October 2010

OMG its the end of the month and in 24hours we will have the fantastic Peter Smith in the gallery.!!

Peter is here to promote his fantastic new tour 'It's A Stripe Thing' and we can't wait!! The wall has been hung, the originals have arrived in time and look fantastic.

The Gift is absolutely stunning and is a bargain at £2250!!

As I sit here typing this entry I am looking at the wall and thinking to myself what a fabulous collection and we have already started pre-selling!! There is no clear leader but we have three pieces tying for top spot. It's all very exciting :-)

We have ordered, from Becky Mackenzies in Pocklington, freshly made cupcakes... thinking back to 'I Eat Cake' and of course the one on the fabulous free print 'Keep Calm and Have A Cupcake'



We are so looking forward to having Peter and Jayne back with us again. Peter is on top of his game and it is an honour that he will be with us for the third year in a row.

And finally just a quick update on the top sellers for August are as follows:-

1. Paul Kenton
2. Keith Proctor
3. Alexander Millar

Diane and I will be pleased to see you on Saturday, there will be bubbles and nibbles and one or two cupcakes will be floating around.

I know Peter and Jayne will be pleased to see you and Peter will be happy to tell you the stories behind each of the pieces in the tour and remember if you purchase a print or sculpture from the tour you will be entitled to the print 'Keep Calm and Have A Cupcake' as a thank you from Peter :-)

See you on Saturday... :-)

Shop Local ...

Shop Local is a phrase which has been banded about for years, probably without a proper understanding of what it actually means!

The local economy depends on local support for the businesses who choose to set up in the area. Passing trade and the tourist pounds obviously make a valuable contribution but the lifeblood of a local business is the local people.

Now, as dramatic as that sounds, it can actually be used for illustration purposes: Money can be seen as the lifeblood of the community, flowing between the businesses, keeping them all pumping and supporting each other... keeping the Community alive!

Once money is spent outside the local economy then it never makes its way back, it seeps away like blood from a wound, slowing the pulse and potentially leading to the death of the local economy.

Now this black picture seems very dramatic but it is the chain of thought that goes through the minds of local businesses everywhere.

We look to support local economy whether it is here in Pocklington or away on Holiday in Scotland. We know that our choices will have a direct effect on the local community and it makes us feel good to know that we are doing all we can to support them.

Business in Pocklington has been tough this year however we are looking onwards and upwards to the Autumn Fair in early September where we will see all the latest work by your favourite artists!

We know you like to know everything as soon as we do so we'll be sure to get a newsletter out promptly telling you everything you need to know :-)

It won't be long before Peter Smith makes a welcome return to The Acorn Gallery! This will be Peters third visit here and although we will be sending out invitations nearer the time, we'd be delighted if you would pencil us in for Saturday 2nd October from 12-3pm :-)

We've not got around to telling you about the top sellers for the last two months so we've combined them together to show you the Top Summer Sellers:

1st Place ... Storeyteller Paul Horton
2nd Place ... Impossimalist Peter Smith
3rd Place ... The delicious Sarah Graham

So, watch out for the newsletter and look out for our new adverts in the Yorkshire Ridings Magazine, the regions fastest growing, paid for, quality magazine!

Oh and by the way... Think Local!
Thankyou :-)

Elephant Parade London 2010

At The Acorn Gallery we have been following this fantastic cause on Facebook and took a keener interest when we found out that Alexander Millar, Jeff Rowland, John D Wilson, Louise Dear, Paul Kenton and Peter Smith had been asked to take part.

WHAT?
The Elephant Parade was the largest outdoor art exhibition, displaying 258 life sized baby elephant sculptures, in locations all over the city of London. Created to support leading charity Elephant Family, each elephant is a unique piece of art hand painted by renowned artists and designers.

WHY?
With an estimated audience of 25 million, the campaign aimed to raise over £1 million for the endangered Asian elephant. It was an innovative fundraising and awareness campaign that shone a multi-coloured spotlight on the urgent crisis faced by the endangered Asian elephant. Elephant Parade’s mission is to become the world’s largest financial support organisation for elephants saving the Asian elephant from extinction in the wild.

AUCTION
After going on display in London, a select number of elephants were auctioned by Sothebys at a glittering event on Wednesday 30 June. The remainder were auctioned online and in a public event on Saturday 3rd July in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

We can now update you as to the amounts raised by our own Washington Green artists:-

Lover by Jeff Rowland £26,000

Iconic London by Paul Kenton £21,000

Tinkle by Louise Dear £18,000

Impossiphant by Peter Smith £13,001

Young At Art by John D Wilson £12,250

Nana by Alexander Millar £5,530

So, the 6 pieces donated by our artists raised an amazing total of £95,781 for a very worthwhile cause.

Congratulations to all the artists from Washington Green and we would just like to say WOW to the fantastic price paid for Jeff Rowlands elephant!!

Lover by Jeff Rowland

We are pleased to advise you that the sale of all the elephants at auction raised a total of £4,148,675 which far surpassed the target of £1 million which they were hoping to raise!

Long live the Asian elephant!

Excitement is building...

Well at last the images have been released from Keith Proctors debut collection 'Jack the Lad'! Follow the link in the title (above) to see his charming studies of childhood...

 Interest in this new work is building and we have had more requests than usual for original work by this artist! Original oils are very scarce and even pencil sketches are hard to get hold of but we will have one of each on the wall on the day of the exhibition! If you have an interest in these original pieces then we recommend that you let us know as soon as possible!

Also released this week are the images for the fantastic new Spring Collections by all your favoutite artists!

One piece which is long-awaited is 'I eat cake' by Peter Smith - those of you who read Peters Blog or who follow him on Facebook, will be well aware of the excitement created by this subject!

Another piece we'd like to mention is the Charity piece painted jointly by Alexander Millar and Jeff Rowland. These two are great friends and when Washington Green asked them to work together they were delighted. Jeff, who needs regular dialysis, was keen to try and use the venture as a fundraising exercise for charity and Alex happily agreed.

The image which they created is called 'Singing in the Rain' and features Alexander Millars classic gadgie with his umbrella, splashing his way happily down the road in the pouring rain!

Artist royalties from the sales of this print will be donated to the Renal Ward at Birmingham Childrens Hospital and Washington Green are delighted to match this sum which means a sizeable donation if both editions sell out!!

The print is available on paper for £375 or on canvas at £425 and looks stunning!! (For now the website image for both options shows the paper version as no canvas image has been provided but it will be updated as soon as we have stock in the gallery.) One of each will be displayed for you to admire!

  
All in all an amazing selection of new work for you to enjoy - including this stunning Paul Kenton piece entitled 'London Red'...

... and the Caroline Shotton classic 'Shit Happens' shown below... so follow the link in the title (above) and have a click around the website :-)

Hello February!!

Its February and we can finally waive goodbye to the January blues!! We even had sunshine this week already!

January was a fairly quiet month but we can still let you know the top artists were:-

1. Alexander Millar/Govinder Nazran/Paul Horton
2. Peter Smith/Caroline Shotton
3. Mike Jackson

A three way tie for first spot and a two way tie for the second spot!! Congratulations to all the artists!!

We have alot to fit into February - it's going to be a busy month!! Starting with our sons birthday on Friday - he will be 14!!! (I think he sleeps in a growbag as I swear he is getting bigger every day!!)

Its is also the Spring Fair event held by Washington Green to launch the latest work by all of their top artists! This is the first chance for us to see what they have been up to since their last release in September. We'll be able to chat to them first hand and get the run down on the background ideas for their new work.

We are hoping to be good on Sunday and not spend to much but we say this at every one of these events and end up buying lots of great pieces to display in the gallery.

Diane and I are very excited to see that an artist who we have had our eye on for a while will be launched at this event! When we approached him about taking his work at The Acorn he advised us that he had just signed with a major art publishers! Fortunately for us Washington Green have snapped him up - and we think you will too!! Look out for news of a LAUNCH EXHIBITION to be held here soon!!

Of course February is the month of St. Valentine and The Acorn Gallery has prepared a few suggestions in our 'Valentine's Day' Gallery (14th February just in case you couldn't remember the date!!) AND we are offering a FREE box of chocolates when you spend £100 or more in store with one lucky customer winning a bottle of bubbly too!!

As if all of that isn't enough... we are also really pleased to be showcasing the work of new artist Phil George, a North East painter who's characters, Norman and Reggie, reflect the ups and downs of post recession Britain. We are sure you'll be enchanted with this charming new work - we think he is one to watch!

It's all going on at The Acorn! More news coming soon!

Happy New Year !!

It's the start of a new year for The Acorn Gallery and we are kick starting it with our January Sale!

We have over 40 pieces in the sale including a few stunning originals at unbelievable prices. These prices are temporarily reduced so this is your chance to aquire a stunning piece of art for less than you would expect!

December was a good month and the top sellers are as follows:

1. Paul Horton
2. Peter Smith
3. Caroline Shotton

'Paul Horton Mania' is still in evidence as he beat his fellow artists with ease!! Well done Paul No. 1 for a second month in a row!

I can also reveal the overall top sellers for the gallery in 2009 are as follows:

1. Peter Smith
2. Paul Horton
3. Alexander Millar

It was a one horse race, Peter Smith romped to the overall top seller slot with Paul Horton coming out of nowhere to push Alex into 3rd spot!! Congratulations Peter - you have retained your 2008 title as top seller at The Acorn Gallery!!

Diane and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for your continued support and we would like to wish you all a very Happy & Prosperous 2010!

Thank You

Well it took two years to get him here but Paul Hortons first visit to The Acorn has been a huge success!

Paul's latest collection of nine stunning limited edition prints and a beautifully proportioned sculpture, is entitled 'Love is Life' and the interest in this work has been incredible!

We could tell by the number of advance orders that we could be in for a busy evening but you surprised and delighted us by keeping us busy all night!

Paul arrived early at 4.30pm and turned down a cuppa, eager to get a head start on the advance-order dedications we had waiting for him but we soon had our first customer arrive to pick up his copy of 'When The Circus Comes To Town' which Paul duly dedicated... and so it began...

There was a steady stream of people coming in, happy to stay and enjoy a glass of bubbly whilst listening to the tales behind the work. Paul was kept busy throughout the night, answering questions, signing dedications and generally being the star of the show!

Paul has been 'on tour' since September and we were his 33rd appearance! Many galleries have already sold out of some images and he knows already that some of the remaining pieces will not last for his few remaining appearances!

Eventually about 7.45pm we managed to put the kettle on and make him a cuppa!! A couple of times we had enough of a breather to look around a share a grin but the rest of the night was just buzzing! To have so many people in at once, chatting, comparing and admiring his work was amazing - the atmosphere was great!

Some of you knew exactly what you wanted and some of you waited to chat with Paul before making your choice.

Several of you were left disappointed at the lack of availability on the piece entitled 'Love is Life'. This is the image which gave its name to the tour and it has been incredibly popular - so much so that we had sold out of it last month and many galleries were already sold out before us!

We have it on good authority that another seaside piece will be coming at some point so do register your interest with us now if you want advance notice of this.

Paul told us that he enjoyed his visit to the gallery immensly and would love to come back if we want him - you  can guess our answer! Paul you are welcome back anytime :-)

And before I forget - I can now update you with the top sellers for November, sorry they are late!!

They are as follows:-

1. Paul Horton
2. Peter Smith
3. Tim Fowler

I can already predicte that Paul will be top seller for December too!!

Thank you all for coming along on Thursday evening - we know Paul had a fantastic night and we hope you did too!

November Already!!

I cannot believe we are already into November!! Where did October go?

October was a busy month with Peter Smiths appearance and we are hoping that November will continue at the same pace :-)

Well, whats new this month? The NEW Fine Art Collector is now in the gallery!! It's packed with all the latest work and has some great articles and fabulous new accessories - perfectly in time for Christmas!!

The fantastic new Paul Horton cufflinks and keyrings have now arrived and seem to be leaving just as quick! We are also expecting delivery of the new cufflinks and gifts by the late Govinder Nazran, Simon Claridge and of course the cheeky Drew Darcy!!!

We have also taken delivery of some fantastic Lawrie Williamson original pieces including oils, watercolours and a superb pencil sketch!!

'Pregnant Bitch' by Lawrie Williamson

Original Watercolour

Washington Green have just released 8 fantastic new pieces by four of their top artists! The new release are by Caroline Shotton, Paul Kenton, Paul Horton and Peter Smith, checkout http://www.theacorngallery.co.uk/. These superb items have been released just in time for Christmas!!

Speaking of Christmas The Acorn Gallery are very proud to be hosting the very first visit by Paul Horton on the 10th December between 5-8pm to showcase his new work entitled 'Love Is Life', put the date in your diary and if you would like a complimentary brochure and invite then just ask :-)

Anyway, moving on ... I can now update you with the top sellers for October. They are as follows:-

1. Peter Smith
2. Alexander Millar
3. Paul Horton

Congratulations Peter, you stormed to first spot with ease and we can all see why as your latest releases are superb...

..... And finally, please note that the Gallery will be closed on the 21st & 22nd November as Diane is tackling her Triple Whammy Adrenaline Rush (!) which includes a 250ft zip wire, 250ft indoor parachute jump and an abseil!! This is not likely to be repeated and so I need to be there to capture this crazy moment!!

No doubt I could be pursuaded to post an entry after the event... :-)

'Twas the best of days...

11.20am on the morning of the BIG DAY! Peter Smith had agreed to an exclusive visit at the Acorn Gallery! Back by popular demand! The invitations and the press releases had all been sent, the fabulous new work adorned the carefully hung walls... so where was everyone?

We'd had a couple of people in, looking around and chatting, there'd been a gentleman with his little girl, busy on the Saturday kids clubs runaround, keen to pop back but couldn't be sure... and not a sign of anyone else!

Pocklington was quiet, not many souls about, although at least we knew Peter and Jayne had arrived because they'd popped in to say 'hi' before going next door to The Deli for a coffee. (They have great coffee at The Deli!).

Let's just say John and I were getting a tad nervous, looking round at the beautifully spick and span gallery, carefully dusted, hoovered and mopped and with plates and bowls of carefully chosen nibbles located at suitable intervals!

Peter and Jayne arrived, suitably refreshed after their journey, they had made good time and the traffic was good! We welcomed them with open arms and then it began!

A steady trickle of savvy collectors came through the door, keen to get here early for anything special! For one very special couple they were suitably rewarded for being so prompt! Following their wedding just one week ago, this very lucky couple came along to choose a gift from their wedding guests!

They were able to say 'yes' to two fantastic brand new pencil sketches made available to The Acorn Gallery at the very last minute on Friday!

Champagne flowed and the people just kept coming! Sometimes in two's and sometimes they just poured in! The gallery got pretty full at times and we were kept busy not just chatting and topping up glasses... but selling too! Peters latest work proved incredibly popular with 'Hug Me' and 'Cuddle Me' taking an early lead! 'For The One I Love' caught up quick and 'Sofa Loafers' and 'Together We Make A Family' made a good stand too!

The gallery got very full indeed - so full that I just didn't get chance to take any photos until after it quietened down!

You think this is busy? This wasn't the busiest!!

Peter was fantastic - he spent good quality time with everyone who wanted him and his stories were told over and over again!

John and I were kept on our toes with sale after sale. Peter was signing and dedicating left, right and centre!

Good job he brought a good selection of markers with him - they were put to very good use!

Here are just a few of the lucky people whose chosen images were remarqued on the day!

Two fantastic originals found a home as a result of todays event too - here are the proud owners of 'All You Need Is Love' who came over to Pocklington especially to meet Peter and collect their brand new piece!

Sales came fast and furious and we even had a queue at one point - many thanks to those who waited so patiently :-)

About 2pm we had a lull for 5 minutes - just long enough to catch our breath and bring down some fresh glasses!

We loved it! It is great to see so many people happily chatting and enjoying the work on display! I'm sure the sunshine and the champagne helped but everyone was in good mood and the gallery was buzzing!

Finally, long after the 3pm finish time had passed, Peter and Jayne were able to take their leave. They had seen and spoken with a significant number of collectors! It is always nice to meet up again with regular customers and collectors but it's lovely to meet new people too! There had been plenty of both that day!