London 113 Upper Street Islington London N1 1QN tel: 020 7704 1131 fax: 020 7288 2922	Nottingham 23 Main Street Linby NG15 8AE tel: 0115 963 8707 fax: 0115 964 0743	Hart South-West Brea Near Sennen St Buryan Penzance TR19 6JB tel: 01736 871 940
E-mail: info@hartgallery.co.uk    Website: www.hartgallery.co.uk

Hart Gallery was established in 1989 with the personal commitment and drive of John and Katherine Hart. The gallery now has its flagship gallery in London with two other galleries in Nottinghamshire and Cornwall.

The Hart's interest in contemporary art is long standing as they have been collecting paintings since the end of their university degrees. John had studied Medicine at Liverpool University and Katherine had studied Marine Biology. After graduation they purchased works by David Blackburn, an artist they now represent internationally. During the years in which John worked as a family doctor and Katherine taught science they added other artists to their private collection including works by Kenneth Draper R.A. and Jean Macalpine.

In 1986 the Harts bought a disused listed agricultural barn in the village of Linby in Nottinghamshire and converted this into a home. The conversion won The Harry Johnson Award (This award is presented by The Nottinghamshire Building Preservation Trust and The Council for the Preservation of Rural England for the best conversion or new building in a village setting.) Hart Gallery started in 1989 in converted stables adjacent to the Hart's home.

From its Nottinghamshire origin the gallery attended international art fairs and published its first books and catalogues. In 1993 the Gallery acquired premises in Islington's Upper Street. This lively and increasingly fashionable part of London has been the home of the Hart flagship gallery since. Nine special exhibitions are held each year and the stockroom always contains a selection of work from Hart Gallery's stable of artists. The gallery exhibits contemporary painting, sculpture and, unusually in a fine art gallery, studio ceramics.

A third gallery was soon to follow. Sutton Taylor is a ceramicist of international repute. Whilst staying at his beautiful 16th century manor house in Cornwall he suggested to the Harts that they should buy the adjacent ruined granite barn. They laughed at the idea but after a visit to the local pub and an excellent meal in Sutton's cosy kitchen they had decided it was a good idea. This huge building not far from Land's End is now the site of Hart South West. They also have holiday accommodation in the complex which houses many major pieces of contemporary art

The next year sees the usual busy activity of the gallery. They will be in Chicago in the autumn at the prestigious SOFA fair for Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art, held at Navy Pier. The London exhibition programme continues apace, including an exhibition in November by Professor Bryan Kneale, the sculptor who was in charge of the hanging for this years Summer Exhibition at The Royal Academy. January will see an exhibition by Dorset artist Brian Graham. Sutton Taylor's spectacular ceramics can be seen in February. There will be an exhibition of Jean Macalpine's unique and very beautiful hand toned photographs in March followed in April by an exhibition of the important Canadian artist John Hartman. Jake Atree, a painter based in Leeds, will receive his first one man show at the gallery in May. In June the mysterious and exciting sculpture of Steve Dilworth will be exhibited in his third one person show with Hart Gallery. In between exhibitions will be selected mixed shows by gallery artists and a fine selection of work can always be seen in the Nottinghamshire and Cornish galleries.

The gallery has already published 5 monographs on the work of artists as well as innumerable catalogues. A 6th monograph will be published this year. This book will be on the sublime visionary landscapes of David Blackburn the artist who started it a all!