The Framers - Hand Crafted Picture Frames 

Jake recently took some more paintings and prints to The Framers to have them framed for various clients who have bought work recently. The Framers was established as one of the first businesses to emerge in the newly developed old Bird’s Custard Factory in Digbeth, during the early nineties. After many years of successful trading there, the company moved to the beautiful Hampton Works building in Stirchley.  What is special about their work is the degree of time, care and attention they give to each and every artwork that they handle, sensitively collaborating with artists over the choice of colour, size, weight and finish of particular mouldings, glass and boards.  This is bespoke, old fashioned service where you can take time to carefully consider options, secure in the knowledge that everything will be beautifully made and finished in accordance with your exact wishes.  Thank you Lawrence, Chrissie and everyone at The Framers for your skill, expertise and service. 

Jake Lever - the next generation of teachers 

For three days per week I teach at Warwick University, training teachers on the PGCE Secondary Art and Design course.  I am really fortunate to work with excellent trainees and staff who are committed to the three values that underpin the course; intellectual curiosity, creativity and social justice. 

We reflect upon classroom practice through the lens of research and theory, exploring key questions around what constitutes a high quality, relevant and meaningful art education for today’s young people.  Seminars and workshops focus upon issues and questions.  What is the role of drawing in the curriculum?  How could curriculum content become more diverse and inclusive?  How do we authentically assess in our subject?

These and many other questions are explored by a dynamic community of Artist Teachers, both face to face at Warwick and across the world through online teaching. Next summer I will be marking 40 years of continuous involvement in art education, so I look forward to sharing more in this blog and planning some events in the Autumn. 

Gillian Lever at Zuleika Gallery 

I have recently started exhibiting my work at Zuleika Gallery in Woodstock, just north of Oxford.  The gallery is housed in a Grade II listed building believed to date to 1608 in the centre of the town. The gallery is known for its focus on 20th Century British Art owing to the expertise of the founder, Lizzie Collins, who set up Zuleika Gallery in 2015. Alongside artists such as Wilhemina Barns-Graham, Patrick Heron, Sir Terry Frost and Dame Elizabeth Frink, the gallery shows “work by contemporary artists who are engaging with the legacy of Modern British art while also forging their own innovative pathways.” Jake started showing his work at Zuleika in 2023 and I have three paintings included in the current Christmas mixed exhibition.