THE ninth Palace Art-fest exhibition in the Great Hall of the Bishop’s Palace and the Palace Gardens will take place from Saturday May 24 to Sunday June 1.

As usual it will of feature an eclectic mix of paintings, sculpture and ceramics by 37 artists from Herefordshire and the surrounding regions.

The aim of the event - founded in 2005 - is not only to showcase local artistic talent, of which there is abundance, but also to support the Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust and the Friends of Hereford Three Choirs Festival with the funds raised from commission on sales.

Among the artists are Jenny Williams, brought up Muswell Hill, London, and a graduate of the Hornsey Art School, who has worked in central London as a Visual Mechandiser.

She says she moved to the "wilds of Herefordshire", with her two young children, where she has remained since.

As well as regular involvement in the Herefordshire art scene, with events such as Hereford Art Week, Jenny has opened and run two fashion shops as well as continuing to work as a freelance visual merchandiser.

Born in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, Ivan Jones now lives and works in the heart of the Herefordshire countryside. He studied art at Grammar School but it was not until his retirement from veterinary practice in 1999 that Ivan was able to return to the enjoyment of painting.

He paints mostly wildlife, animal and human portraits, and landscapes predominantly in pastels, preferring a realistic, rather than an abstract, technique. This allows Ivan to capture the subject with a subtle balance of light, colour, texture and shape.

Ivan has the additional talent of bringing to life an evocative image and portray it in a sympathetic style that never fails to capture the eye and imagination. He gathers material, for reference and inspiration for his work, from a wide range of sources.

Angela Bentley's work has featured in previous Palace Art exhibitions.

Her work as a textile artist combines Free Machine Embroidery with Hand Stitching.

She uses fabrics with different textures to create interesting surfaces on which to stitch.

Gardens and Landscapes are a great source of inspiration to her, though her main inspiration is Architecture. The architectural theme encompasses all manner of styles of building throughout the ages. Her attention to detail takes in numerous details and patterns from geometric shapes to the flowing lines of Gothic leaves and tendrils. Of particular interest are areas where the patterns have been eroded by the elements and time so they seem to dissolve into the stone or plaster.

Palace Art-fest 2014 will take place

Saturday 24th to Sunday 1st June 2014

Open 10am-5pm daily

Sunday 11am-4pm

Palace Art-fest is supported by Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust and Friends of Hereford Three Choirs Festival, a proportion of the funds generated reciprocates that support.

The opening preview is held each year in order to offer friends and supporters an opportunity to view and purchase artwork before the Palace Art-fest opens to the general public.

The 2014 preview will take place

Friday 23rd May 2014 from 5:30-8:00pm

Tickets £10

Please join us for an evening of art, refreshments and live music in support of the Hereford Perpetual Trust & Friends of the Three Choirs Festival.

To purchase tickets please contact:

Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust

5 College Cloisters, Cathedral Close

Hereford, HR1 2NG

Telephone 01432 374 261