Cupola Contemporary Art: Solo exhibition by founder Karen Sherwood

Cupola was established in 1991 and has since become one of the most respected contemporary art galleries in the North. Based on Middlewood Road in Hillsborough, the gallery covers two floors and has a unique, award-winning outdoor space.

We've recently had a look around Cupola's current solo exhibition Imperfect, which shows work from founder and director of Cupola, Karen Sherwood.

Karen graduated from Sheffield Hallam in 1990 and established Cupola Gallery shortly after. She has work in public collections in the UK and in private collections internationally. The exhibition has been running since 7 February and is set to close on Saturday 14 March.

"My paintings are an attempt to express the diversity of my experiences through the qualities of colour, light and texture found so readily in the natural world. They are inspired by specific places, although are rarely topographically accurate," Karen said.

Blue is a big feature in the exhibition, with inspiration often drawn from the sea. Karen says the paintings are as much about herself as the places from which she draws inspiration.

"I do not attempt to mimic the perfection of nature. Many of my marks are accidental and unrefined. However, I believe that these imperfections are a clear indication of what it means to be human."

Karen will be exhibiting around 30 oil paintings on paper, canvas and board. Works will be available for sale with prices from £95 to £2,000.

Visit the Cupola site for more information or get down to the gallery and have a browse yourself.

Emma Bowers