Yorkshire Dales Landscape Inspires New Art Exhibition at Low Wood Bay Resort
The rugged and breathtaking landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales take center stage in a captivating new art exhibition now on display at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa. This Spring 2026 installment of the "Art in the Atrium" gallery series is dedicated to celebrating the artistic contributions of two highly acclaimed artists with deep-rooted connections to the Craven district of North Yorkshire.
Showcasing Local Talent and Heritage
The exhibition prominently features Katharine Holmes, an artist who currently creates from her studio in a Malham cottage, a space previously inhabited and used for painting by her mother and grandmother. Alongside her, the display honors Anna Adams, whose watercolour paintings of Ribblesdale, along with her ceramics and poetry, have earned widespread recognition and praise over the years.
In collaboration with Lancaster-based Gavagan Art, English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues has transformed the "Art in the Atrium" gallery at Low Wood Bay into a quarterly exhibition program. This initiative aims to introduce a diverse array of contemporary and historic fine art to new and broader audiences, enriching the cultural experience for visitors.
Katharine Holmes: A Painter of Yorkshire's Essence
Katharine Holmes is renowned for her dedication to painting outdoors in all weather conditions, capturing the essence of her native Yorkshire landscape. Her work is celebrated for its vivid depictions of the distinctive limestone environments around Malham Cove and Gordale Scar. One of her most notable exhibitions was "A Malham Family of Painters," presented in conjunction with Leeds University, and her pieces are held in numerous private and corporate collections.
The centerpiece of the current exhibition is her large oil painting titled "Limestone and Rain," which powerfully conveys the atmospheric beauty of the region. Holmes employs a range of media, including ink, watercolour, gouache on paper, and oil or acrylic on canvas. Beyond Yorkshire, her portfolio includes drawings and paintings of other wild locations across Britain and Ireland, such as the Scottish highlands and South West Cornwall.
Anna Adams: A Multifaceted Creative Legacy
Anna Adams, who lived from 1926 to 2011, was a versatile artist educated at Harrow Art School and Hornsey College of Art. She worked as a designer, freelance artist, and art teacher before focusing on writing prose and verse in the 1960s. Her first poem was printed in 1969, and Peterloo Press published her debut book, "A Reply to Intercepted Mail," in 1979.
Adams served as poetry editor for The Green Book from 1989 to 1992 and was an active member of the Poetry Society and the Piccadilly Poets Committee. She collaborated with her husband, painter Norman Adams RA, on several publications, including "Life on Limestone: A Year in the Yorkshire Dales," which combined her writing with his watercolours.
In this exhibition, a special ceramics showcase section highlights Adams's sensitive figurative works in clay, particularly her ceramic birds, which exemplify her ability to capture the essence of the natural world. The display also includes small-scale paintings, prints, and a selection of her poetry books.
Community and Cultural Impact
Simon Berry, executive chairman at English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues, expressed enthusiasm for the exhibition, noting that this marks the eighth independent, free, and open art exhibition hosted in the atrium at Low Wood Bay over the past two years. He emphasized its popularity among both guests and visitors, drawing parallels between the inspiring landscapes of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales.
Mary Gavagan from Gavagan Art added that the exhibition offers much to marvel at, presenting Holmes's work to new audiences and highlighting Adams's artistic versatility. She praised Holmes's fascination with light and atmosphere in her paintings, which go beyond mere physical depictions of the landscape.
The "Art in the Atrium" exhibition at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa will run until late May, providing an opportunity for art enthusiasts and visitors to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of the Yorkshire Dales.
