Artist Statement
Nestled at the bottom of Kinder Scout in the village of Hayfield, Elephanstones Gallery is home to local landscape art created by photographer Simon Bridges and illustrator Eve Lumai Bridges (Simon’s daughter). The gallery is also home to a collection of Scandinavian vintage objet (just because we love them!), Japanese homewares (also because we love them!) and ethically sourced, handmade gifts, candles and homewares.
The gallery is also home to a permanent exhibit of original works by abstract landscape artist Harry Ousey (1915-1985), who lived in the village for a short time in 1947. Ousey’s body of work is considered significant in forging a new direction for post-war British Abstract Art, well worth a visit to see!
Each year for the Derbyshire Open Arts Weekend, both Simon and Eve, create new work inspired by the local landscapes of Hayfield especially for the event. The artworks are presented as ready to hang framed prints, so if you see something you like, you can take it home!
Eve Lumai Bridges
Eve uses a mixture or sparing linework, found photography, gestural brush marks and texture to create her digital landscape works.
Eve has recently completed a Masters in Illustration with Distinction from Manchester School of Art where she also achieved a 1st class degree. In 2021, Eve was selected to become an associate member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts after being a graduate member of the academy for three years after being awarded the MAFA Graduate Award at her Manchester School of Art BA degree show.
Eve has exhibited works in the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition and also had her work chosen for film director Danny Boyle’s launch of the School of Digital Arts in Manchester.
Simon Bridges
Simon captures photographic images of landscapes in broad vista and textural detail. Simon has little interest in photographic technology and focuses more on composition and mood.
His career began as a commercial photographer, covering product pack shots, fashion, architecture, right through to album covers for bands. He now runs a creative and marketing consultancy business and, since taking an office in Hayfield, the draw of capturing images of the local area led to the opening of Elephantstones Gallery.
Since opening Elephantstones and meeting Harry Ousey’s niece, Sue Astles, Simon has curated and hung two retrospective exhibitions of Harry Ousey’s abstract landscapes alongside his daughter Eve. First at Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery in 2018 followed by the Cooper Gallery in 2021.
Shop online!
The gallery is now online! You can now shop everything Elephantstones from the comfort of your sofa, garden or office… wherever you fancy! Visit our website to browse everything we have to offer.
