25th May 2016

Those who have visited The Grand Tour which has been in the Cathedral since early April will already have come across the work of Danielle Stevenson. As a twenty-first century response to the eighteenth century monuments in the Court and Cavendish areas she has used their sculptures as the basis for four portraits in traditional oil painting style with the background unfinished as though the work was still in progress. Throughout June you will get a chance to see the paintings she produced for her BA degree last year, work which impressed me when I made one of my regular visits to the University of Derby degree show in the Art and Design Faculty. The title she has chosen, Creative Encounters, sums up her attempt to combine traditional portrait painting techniques with contemporary imagery in the form of familiar technology.

In her artist’s statement she tells of the chief influences on her work, portraits by Joseph Wright using candle light to create chiaroscuro and the unfinished portraits of Sir Thomas Lawrence which inspired her to leave her portraits of her contemporaries unfinished to give a sense of continuity between the past, in the oil painting technique, and the present. She says of her work, ‘For this exhibition I have used a bright background colour and traditional ornamental frames to emulate Victorian display practices. For the audience I would like there to be a sense of confusion as to the time period of the painting or which time is more important in my work.’

It has always been a policy of the Cathedral to encourage young artists by giving recent graduates an opportunity to display their work. This year we are fortunate in having been able to do so in both the Cathedral and the Sir Richard Morris Lounge.

Geoff Robson (Exhibitions Officer)

18th May 2016

Did you know that, every Friday lunchtime from now until July 15th, you can enjoy a free concert in Derby Cathedral – and you can bring a packed lunch? From Shakespeare to Bach, talented singers from the Voicebox to Derby Arts Festival winners – Derby Cathedral’s Lunchtime Concert series is a varied weekly programme of free concerts in the Cathedral nave featuring some very special performers.

Designed to inspire, and to make the last lunch break of the week extra special, the Lunchtime Concert series is a hidden gem of the city. With an expanded offer of 10 concerts this year, there's a broad spectrum of music to appeal to a variety of tastes. This Friday sees Derby-based professional pianist Carolin Hlusiak present a programme of music including Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet in this Shakespeare anniversary year.

The Cathedral's Director of Music, Hugh Morris, said: "These concerts are a great way of spending a lunch hour at the end of the week. We have some first-rate musicians lined up to play; do come and discover this gem of an opportunity in Derby. Why not bring your sandwiches and join us?"

Concerts begin at 1.00pm, and last 45 minutes. Lunches and drinks are available from the Cathedral Café to bring over to the Cathedral, or attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch. Admission is free, with a retiring collection.

Image: Director of Music, Hugh Morris, tests one of the Cathedral pianos in readiness for the Lunchtime Concert series