New show in Lindfield encourages the next generation of artists

Jackie McGahan, recently opened the Toll House Gallery in Lindfield High Street, where numerous artists and craftspeople rent wall and floor space to display and sell their work. The building also houses local artist Leesa Le May’s The Six by Four Gallery, the smallest art gallery in Sussex.

Now, Jackie is giving over space at the Toll House to exhibit 11 artworks from students at Oathall Community College.

The theme of the exhibition is ‘union’ and the pieces include several different types of media with two prizes due to be decided next Friday.

The first winner will be selected by three professional artists whose work is among those on sale at the Toll House. The second will be awarded as voted by customers of the shop.

Each prize-winner will receive a £20 voucher donated by art material suppliers, Artyfect, based on the Lindfield Enterprise Park in Lewes Road.

Jackie, who also owns World Coffees in Lindfield, is also running a blind auction for all the works on display with all the proceeds going to the student artists themselves.

Jackie said Oathall Community College had embraced the idea of the contest with the help of head of art Jo Smith-Hashim, and it had been hard to choose the finalists from a very high standard of entries.

The exhibition runs until the end of the month.