A WEST Cumbrian art gallery will run a major new solo exhibition from ‘one of the UK’s most gifted emerging artists.’
Castlegate House Gallery is delighted to announce a major new solo exhibition by one of the UK’s most gifted emerging artists, Craig Simpson. Titled “Our Sanctuary; the familiar and the absurd,” the exhibition will run from Saturday 17th May to Saturday 7th June 2025, featuring twenty new paintings produced over the last eighteen months.
Craig Simpson draws on personal experience—placing himself, his family, friends and acquaintances in compositions that often merge a contemplative solitude with surreal twists. In this new body of work, the artist continues to explore themes of home, identity, and the absurdity of the everyday, bringing a fresh yet timeless perspective to contemporary figurative painting.
Gallery Director Steve Swallow shares: “With influences from the likes of Stanley Spencer, Craig merges the contemporary with the Modern British—a Venn diagram of the two, with Craig’s art presiding within the overlap.” “Craig is one of the most innovative and exciting young contemporary artists at work in the UK today. His progression since we began working together in 2022 has been astonishing, culminating in what I believe is the most accomplished body of work we’ve exhibited in over a decade.”
Craig has spent over eighteen months in the studio creating this series, which will fully occupy the gallery space during the run of the exhibition. A casual opening reception will be held on Saturday, May 17 from 12 to 2pm, with the artist in attendance. All are welcome.
