A WOMAN who moved to Hatherleigh almost 25 years ago and helped form a local art group is exhibiting a collection of paintings, etchings and prints inspired by the unique market town. ?Hatherleigh As I Saw It? by town artist Eileen Gold is on show at the Salar Gallery in Bridge Street, until October 21. Eileen moved to Hatherleigh in 1982 from Sussex, where she trained as an art teacher. She became involved with the artistic life of the town through the formation of the Hatherleigh Art Group two decades ago. The group still meets regularly and has recently been busy interpreting various aspects of Hatherleigh ? its old buildings, market and its farming life ? over 4ft square boards, which it is hoped will find a permanent siting somewhere in the town shortly. Eileen said she was delighted to have been asked to design the market panel ? which is on display at the exhibition ? as she has spent many hours sketching and taking photographs in the livestock market, mostly prior to the foot and mouth outbreak five years ago. Eileen said she set out to represent the market as she remembered it, ?so that a real County Cattle Market should not be forgotten.? The current exhibition features town, market and local landscape paintings, plus pictures of friends and neighbours, flowers in the artist?s garden, Dartmoor, boats in Sussex and the stunning North Cornish coast. For several years, Eileen was also involved in the running of the Salar Gallery, where her exhibition is now on show. Since it opened in 1991, her paintings, ceramics and especially prints and cards of town landmarks in the local artwork display ? have been admired by hundreds of visitors. The gallery is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, and on Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm. Further information can be found on http://www.salargallery.co.uk">www.salargallery.co.uk
