Natural Connection- Emerson Mayes, James Naughton & Jo Taylor - 15 -29 November 2025

We are delighted to be having a group exhibition of Emerson Mayes, James Naughton and Jo Taylor, all former students at Leeds Metropolitan University. 

A residency at the Department of Veterinary Science at Liverpool University allowed Jo Taylor to make intense studies of the skeleture and musculature of the horse, following the example of Stubbs. This forms the starting point of her work, allowing her to build the horse from within. Her assured and intuitive line allows her to express movement in her inimitable style.

 

Emerson Mayes is also a master of the flowing line, whether his subject is wildlife or landscape, or his medium is painting or printmaking. Colour plays a major role: he uses vibrant hues in his landscapes or delicate tones in his intimate portraits of wildlife.

 

James Naughton’s methodology is different. At first sight his landscapes seem entirely representational. However, closer scrutiny reveals an extraordinary lightness of touch – he thins his paint down to a consistency that allows him to push it around and to layer his colours to create an almost divine luminosity.

 

This exhibition illustrates three artists at the height of their interpretive skills.

Preview Saturday 15 November 2-4pm - all welcome