Member Article

79-year-old artist’s first ever exhibition Opens Its Doors Today!

A 79-year-old Tyneside artist and model maker will take a bow for his first ever exhibition this week thanks to a North Shields Arts Collective who recently spotted his rare talent.

Three Tanners Bank will present Kenneth Harkis, who, due to illness, has returned to his passion of painting.

For many years Ken was an accomplished model maker, exhibiting hand produced stone buildings of great detail. Sadly, Ken is now often house bound and can no longer use his wood working equipment - but he likes to paint landscapes from his imagination as well as from local scenes.

Tanners Bank Artist, Mark Taylor Gregg, explains: “Ken’s a natural. I’ve learned an awful lot from him. We’re delighted to be presenting this - his first ever show.”

“Thanks to Ken, the studio has acquired a new wood workshop as he has donated his extensive woodwork tools to us. I’ve been working with Ken for some time now, when he wandered into my studio and asked if I would teach him to paint. He didn’t need much instruction I can tell you!

“We hope as many people as possible will come along and see his work.”

The professional artists at Three Tanners bank are said to be delighted to exhibit Ken’s oil paintings in this unique event and visitors will be able to enjoy a selection of his never seen before and completely rare models.

The Kenneth Harkis Exhibition previewed at the weekend at 3 Tanners Bank, North Shields, from 6pm-9pm and is now open to the public for free from 8th December until 14th December, 6pm-9pm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jon Corbett .