NEW ART AND SCULPTURE GALLERY FOR TEDDINGTON
The Beach is a new community-based arts gallery and studio development in Waldegrave Road, Teddington.
Portrait sculptor Mark Vellacott, Teddington-born and a pupil at Teddington School is the man behind the exciting new project – the only fine art gallery in town.
The former aeronautic engineer for British Aerospace, who moved away to live in Australia with his family, has returned in an energetic mood and with a clear and ambitious plans for the former antiques shop just along from the Waldegrave Arms.
“I think I’ve spotted a gap in the market and I think I can fill it,” he cheerily told Teddington Town.
There will be a private view this Wednesday at 6.30pm, 20th November ( all are welcome) when the gallery will showcase local artists in an event themed ‘Christmas @ The Beach.’
The new premises has already announced its creative arrival in Teddington with a metal sculpture on a wire mesh frame of Lady Godiva mounted on the outside wall, made by Ukrainian artist Alex Lidagovsky, who has a studio in Kingston.
Mr Lidagovsky, a close friend of Mark, fled Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022 and his gallery was bombed leaving him to salvage the few works left in Kyiv.
The big garden at the rear of the premises is packed with terracotta sculptures created by Mark, including one of former PM Boris Johnson (slightly cracked by the weather) Princess Diana and James Bond complete with his Royal Navy ribbons.
“I am very conscious of creating sculptures with distinctive features because it makes it easier for those with impaired vision to feel the real detailed character of the work,” he said.
His late mother Avril was a famous sculptor in her own right creating the bust of Sir Noel Coward (who was born on Waldegrave Road) which can be seen in Teddington library and a famous bust of former notorious Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, which is still in the Houses of Parliament permanent collection and was much loved by Mr Thorpe.
His plans include a high-scale coffee shop to help inspire a friendly environment for art classes, life drawing as well as sculpture and pottery and ceramic classes and special support for unpaid carers, who he empathises closely with because of his caring role for his late mother and a close friend who died of breast cancer.
Mark is also hosting a book launch party at the gallery at 6.30pm on Wednesday 27th November for local author Sara Challice who wrote the self-help book ‘Who Cares’ for people caring for loved ones when Sara will talk about her personal experiences and advice for carers.
His unlikely choice of name for the gallery comes from his love of Australia and north Devon where his father was born especially the glorious beaches around Woolacombe Bay.
As Mark reflects: “Who doesn’t like going to The Beach?”
The gallery is showing various exhibitions of the work of established British, American, Australian and Ukraine artists, with plans to run regular mixed shows of local artists, as well as nationally and internationally renowned solo artist shows.
The Beach is offering ‘La Marzocco’ produced espresso and milk coffees to visitors of the exhibitions.
Mark describes his project as a ‘labour of love’ and feels Teddington ‘is a very special place.’
He said: “I love it here. It’s one of the best places to live in the world.”
You can read more about the background to the gallery and Mark here: About (the-beach.uk) and read about the artists here Artists
Or Instagram account @the_beach_197