An 82-year-old artist is staging her first solo art show at a gallery in Bishop Auckland.
Catriona Stewart is a highly regarded painter and designer. Her first solo exhibition will be debuting later this month at the Pineapple Gallery in Bishop Auckland’s North Bondgate.
Catriona says that when she turned 80, she started creating the best art of her life.
“I’m 82 now, and something funny happened when I turned 80. I had this realisation or the feeling that I’d finished my life,” she says. “I looked after my children, I’d got married, had a big business, and I was finally free.
“It’s a bit like how you feel when you’ve done an exam. I couldn’t change it or make it any better or worse. I felt that from now on, it’s free time.
“Parallel with that, I realised that I was the only me who’d ever lived or ever would live. And then I thought that the only value I have in life is to be myself.
“I was liberated. I felt I could do what I liked. I could paint what I liked. My only contribution would be if I’m true to myself and wasn’t trying to do anything to please anyone else.
“The funny thing is that realisation did liberate me and now I’m doing better work than I’ve ever done before. My art is more genuine and authentic.
“I’m really looking forward to five years of doing good and interesting work, and this show is the beginning of it.”
Catriona’s solo exhibition launches at The Pineapple Gallery in Bishop Auckland on 22nd May with an open evening from 6 to 8.30pm.
“It’s my first solo show, which is really exciting,” she adds. “I’ve had a lot of shared exhibitions in London and Yorkshire.
“The Pineapple Gallery is outstanding. It’s run by Tom Gibbons, who I think is an extraordinary gallerist.”
Situated in the heart of Bishop Auckland, the Pineapple Gallery was founded in 2016. It was awarded the Prestige Art Gallery of the Year for the North of England in 2020 and the Northern Enterprise Best Contemporary Art Gallery of the Year in County Durham in 2023.
Tom Gibbons, founder of the Pineapple Gallery, said: “We are thrilled to be exhibiting Catriona’s work. I’m really excited by her new collection.
“I’m a fan of hers and I’m proud of the fact that she has chosen the Pineapple Gallery for her next exhibition.
“I think opening night is going to be an enjoyable evening for everyone.”
Catriona’s solo exhibition runs from Friday 23rd May until Saturday 28th June.
You can follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/catrionamarystewart.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
