From Newbury Weekly News, 10th February 2011:
"New gallery has an eye on the contemporary:
Former director of London dealer brings affordable art to Kingsclere
A new art gallery opened in Kingsclere at the end of last year. Jenna Burlingham Fine Art specialises in 20th-century British paintings, prints, sculpture and ceramics, as well as work by selected contemporary artists.
Artists on show include top names such as John Piper, Mary Fedden, Julian Trevelyan, Elisabeth Fink and Barbara Hepworth. The upstairs galleries feature less expensive work by 20th-century and contemporary artists that Jenna Burlingham believes have real potential. Among them are former Aldermaston potters Laurence McGowan and Andrew Hazelden, André Bicåt's prints, and new work by Madeline Floyd, Tony Scrivener and Jane Skingley.
Jenna, who lives with her family in Little London, was a director at London dealer Offer Waterman & Co and felt there was a gap for a gallery in the area specialising in this kind of work.
'There are many dealers operating at the very top end of the market, but it can be quite intimidating,' she said. 'What I wanted to do is to use my knowledge and contacts in the London art market and give people both locally, and through our website, further afield, access to art with real pedigree. 'We are friendly and approachable and wish to provide local people with the opportunity to invest in top quality art, much of it at affordable prices.'
The gallery is housed in a Grade II listed building in historic Kingsclere. It was painstakingly refurbished by Jenna, her husband, and colleague Anthony Greayer, uncovering a wealth of beams and period features. The gallery is planning a varied exhibition programme for 2011, kicking off with a mixed spring exhibition of 20th-century British paintings, prints, ceramics and sculpture, priced from £50 to £20,000. This exhibition includes work by Elisabeth Frink, Mary Fedden, Patrick Heron and Craigie Aitchison among others.
June's exhibition is inspired by the famous Watership Down views on the gallery's doorstep. Newbury artist Jane Skingley and Tony Scrivener and will be showing oil paintings of the famous view created especially for the show and photographer Elizabeth Vickers will exhibit some of her photographs. The gallery also plans to hold an exhibition of artist Madeline Floyd's work. Floyd is best known for her Birdsong range of mugs, bags and textiles for the National Trust. She paints, draws and illustrates and is an artist of remarkable depth.
Another feature of the gallery's programme is a series of evening art history courses. The first course begins on February 1 and is entitled Ways of Seeing. It is run by art historian, Adam Rattray and looks at how to interpret art, architecture and sculpture. Further courses will be run throughout the year"
