Our first Holmfirth Artweek exhibition in The Long Wall Gallery presents Bren Head and her evocative portraits and figural works.

SIMULACRUM

                 (a slight, unreal, or superficial likeness)

Bren recently moved to West Yorkshire and works from her studio in Slaithwaite. Her haunting portraits and figures, both real and imagined, balance between figurative and abstract, focusing less on accurate likeness and more on emotional presence. Often solitary, her subjects appear slightly unreal, connecting with the viewer through a direct gaze. Exaggerated lines, tones, and colour heighten this effect.

After a career spent running catering businesses Bren made the decision to swap her pans for paintbrushes culminating in a degree in fine art from the University of Hull.

A move back to West Yorkshire has meant a pause from exhibiting but she has continued to develop her unique style of portraiture and figurative art from her home studio in Slaithwaite, drawing inspiration from her surroundings and experience.

Bren has shown work widely in U.K. galleries but SIMULACRUM at Globe Arts, Long Gallery will be her first major exhibition in West Yorkshire.

As a mature artist Bren’s portraits result from a wealth of life experiences, not focusing on exact realism but more on emotional presence.

Almost invariably the subjects are portrayed alone, inviting contemplation and interpretation while challenging traditional expectations of portraiture and ensuring a lasting impact on the viewer.

The process is not tightly controlled. Instead, it is the marks and textures that guide what ultimately emerges on the canvas with a distinctive use of colour, composition and unexpected palettes.

Artweek Gallery opening hours: Wednesday 8 – Saturday 11, 12:00–15:00

Regular Gallery opening hours:
Mon 10–5 | Thurs 10–5 | Sat 9.30–1