New Exhibition Showcases Local Landmarks Including Beverley

A Russian born architect is using her a fine art skills and attention to detail to create drawings honouring some of the region’s most picturesque landmarks in her latest exhibition which has opened at Pocklington Arts Centre (PAC).

Tatiana Gilks (nee Chudinova) first visited the UK over a decade ago for a two-week coach trip and says she fell in love with the country, so much so that she moved to Pocklington permanently four years ago.

And with a change of country, has come a change of career for Tatiana who has a PhD in architecture and was a university lecturer in her home city of Kazan.

“I just fell in love with the country, it’s such a beautiful place and the people are so friendly,” said Tatiana, who is married to UK citizen Robin Gilks.

Now she is pursuing her dream of becoming a professional artist, a move spurred on when she went in search of greeting cards featuring views of Pocklington to send back home to her family. Failing to find something suitable Tatiana decided to create her own.

And so her first pen and ink drawing of ‘Market Place in Pocklington’ was created, sparking the start of a promising career as an artist, one which Tatiana juggles around working as a kitchen assistant at a local primary school.

“I have drawn as a hobby my whole life, but in Russia I was working a lot, it took up most of my days, so I only ever managed to complete a couple of pictures a year.

“But since moving to Pocklington I can now complete one picture a month, so it’s easier to make progress,” she added.

Her new exhibition, which opened at PAC this week (Wednesday 9 May), features around 50 mixed media drawings, created using pen, ink, colouring pencils and watercolours.

Among the pieces are several well-known buildings and landmarks from the region including Beverley Minster and Beverley’s Saturday Market; The Shambles, Saint Helen’s Belfry, and Clifford’s Tower, in York; Howden Minster; The Madhyamaka Centre, in Kilnwick Percy; Bridlington Harbour; The Deep and Victoria Square, in Hull; and Burnby Hall Gardens, Canal Head, and Pocklington School, in Pocklington.

Tatiana’s work has been reproduced on a series of greetings cards, under the banner ‘Gilks Gallery’, which can be purchased from Tourist Information Offices in Beverley and Hull, and at Pocklington Arts Centre.

Alternatively, you can purchase an original work of art during the exhibition which runs until 18 June.