Neil Helyard and His Students Exhibition Opening @ Beverley Minster

Beverley Minster’s stunning and historic interior has for once been pushed to the background courtesy of the fantastic work of Neil Helyard and His Students.

Hundreds of artists and members of the public were at the Minster on Saturday for the opening of an exhibition of art from local painters who have flourised under the tutelage of nationally-renowned artist Neil.

Work from more than 50 of Neil’s students vied for pride of place with some stunning new portraits from Neil himself, although every piece of work from artists of varying experience was set off perfectly by the Minter’s splendid interior.

Neil admitted he was surprised by the sheer number of people who attended the opening ceremony, but was less surprised by the praise that came the way of his students.

He told HU17.net: “It went really well and there were more people than I thought here. It was a very friendly and pleasant event.

“Everyone was impressed with the different styles and techniques used by the artists and with the overall standard of work.”
Asked what feedback he had on his own work, Neil was typically modest.

“People were very complimentary – I try to keep my work secret ahead of an exhibition until the last minute, and most of this is new and was painted with the setting of the Minster in mind.

“I wanted to make my portraits pensieve and classical, and chose my models with that in mind.

“We really could not have had a more majestic setting – I am flattered that we have been allowed to use the Minster.”

That Neil and his students were able to hang their paintings throughout the Minster was thanks to the efforts of Mervyn King, a pupil of Neil’s and a member of the Minster’s Parochial Church Council.

Mervyn, who’s religion-themed paintings included one of the vicar of Beverley Minster, said it had been a challenge to find ways to hang the paintings without disturbing any historic carvings or masonry.

He said: “We had to ask for permission, but the vicar is very keen we use the Minster for the benefit of the community.

“In the past we have hung paintings on boards as we can’t do anything that might damage the Minster, but it was not feasible for so many paintings.

“There are 45 arches without memorials in them, so we have hung the paintings there.

“I am very pleased with the results, the general standard is very high and a lot of that is down to Neil for bringing the best out of us.”

The artists themselves were delighted with the results.

Pat Gray, a member of the Minster, had her work exhibited near to a drawing of her late husband, drawn by Neil himself.

She was joined at the opening of the event by her daughter, Michaela Staniland, who had come all the way from Farnborough in Hampshire.

Pat said: “I have been painting for four years but this is the first time I have been exhibited. It is very satisfying.”

And Michaela said: “My dad died in February, and Neil did the picture of him just before Christmas, which is fantastic.”

Another artist revelling in the exhibition and the setting was Michael Loft.

Michael, who suffered brain damage in a car accident when he was a child, was accompanied by his mother Denise to see his paintings of a steam train and a boat in dry dock.

She said: “We are very proud of Michael and ecstatic to see his work have pride of place.

“It is a lovely setting and the quality of Michael’s and the other artists’ work is down to Neil and his approach.”

The exhibition runs until Thursday, 31 March.

Pictures and Report by Scott McHugh

HU17.net Picture Gallery: Click on the thumbnail picture below to enlarge the image to full size