Artistandalucia was formed in 2008 by Ray Gilronan, Joe Gilronan and Alan Pearson. Ray was already an established artist in England with prints and originals sold world wide. Joe, his son, had a BA in fine art. Alan Pearson is an amateur painter who was an engineer before retiring.
Later the same year they were joined by Les Burrows also retired and Frank Hair, an amateur photographer. Alfredo Lopez Peral, our Spanish artist, joined at the same time.
All paint in oil and acrylics but each have a very different style
Early in 2009, they began selling their work in Ronda, where there is an artists’ market at the Paseo Blas Infante, next to the Plaza de Toros in summer, or the Convento de Santo Domingo in winter. They still meet there now on the first two Sundays in every month to sell paintings.
Pauline Emmens joined Artistandalucia in 2009. She has City and Guilds in design and embroidery and is also a member of the Embroiderers Guild. She has studied contemporary and traditional techniques of embroidery. Her style brings bright colour and texture to her work.
In 2009 Patricia Lane also joined the group, bringing her vivid watercolours.
Latest to join our group are Christine Ellingham and Ron Morley, her partner. Christine studied illustration at Hornsey College of Art, London in the 1960s. She has worked as a press illustrator for over thirty years and is now retired. Christine and Ron paint in oils, acrylics and watercolor.
Alan made local headlines by winning the Olvera competition for the Carnaval poster for 2010. This led to an offer for an exhibition in a local bar of all his works and a subsequent offer to Alan, Ray and Joe to have an exhibition at the Sierra Y Cal Hotel in Olvera in January 2011
