AN Inverclyde art gallery's record-breaking summer has been hailed as a 'huge success' after it displayed a fantastic array of works from more than 100 local creatives.
The Beacon Arts Centre’s 2026 Annual Summer Exhibition saw its highest-ever number of submissions, with 131 pieces entered by artists from across Inverclyde and 18 works sold during the exhibition.
Garth Ivan, exhibitions curator at the Beacon Arts Centre, said: "It was wonderful to see such a diverse range of work on display and such a positive response from visitors.
"[I'd like to give] a heartfelt thank you to the artists of Inverclyde for sharing their talent with all of us."
The popular open exhibition offers artists of all ages and experience levels the chance to display their work.
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Ian Boyce, one of the exhibiting artists, said it was his first time showing his artwork alongside other local creatives.
He said: "Taking part in the Beacon Summer Show was an ideal opportunity to show my work alongside other artists from Inverclyde, as I hadn’t done so before.
"Paradise only exists in the imagination. For centuries, artists have attempted to recreate lost worlds such as the Garden of Eden.
"In my painting The Gardener, I have attempted to depict Adam, the first gardener in paradise, tending to the plants, including the Tree of Life, which he holds in his hand."
The exhibition also provided an opportunity for artists to explore personal connections to the local landscape.
Doris Walker, who exhibited Sunset over Gourock, described her personal connection to the scene.
She said: "Having lived across the road from the Admiralty Jetty on Cove Road until I was ten years old, and then spending the first ten years of my married life in a flat across the road from Battery Park, this area has always been special to me.
"I have witnessed many magnificent sunsets from the park and really enjoyed capturing one in paint.
"I love the idea of an annual open exhibition at the Beacon. It is a wonderful opportunity for local artists of all abilities to showcase their work.”
A spokesperson for the Beacon said they look forward to welcoming artists and visitors back next year.
They added that the record number of entries highlights the 'depth of creativity in Inverclyde', while the sales demonstrate growing public interest in collecting locally-made art.
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