Castlegate House Gallery

Castlegate House Gallery Castlegate House Gallery exhibits the best of 20th Century and Contemporary British art and studio ceramics, all within a stunning Georgian House setting

Just to let folks know, the physical gallery will be closed from this Saturday, 27th to Saturday 11th July, inclusive. A...
24/06/2026

Just to let folks know, the physical gallery will be closed from this Saturday, 27th to Saturday 11th July, inclusive. As always, we remain fully contactable via phone, messaging, social media and email over the two weeks.

As mentioned a few days ago, but now properly cleaned, photographed and listed online (and on show in-gallery), Tenement...
20/06/2026

As mentioned a few days ago, but now properly cleaned, photographed and listed online (and on show in-gallery), Tenements - Winter circa 1952 by the late Joan Eardley.

Illustrated in Christopher Andreae’s book, Joan Eardley, published by Lund Humphries in 2013, page 28.

Tenement – Winter was in Joan Eardley’s cottage at No.1 Catterline when she died in 1963. The cottage (and painting) were purchased from her Estate by Mrs Jean Martin, from whom it was thence purchased by Mrs Gladys Eileen Lewis in 1967, the painting thus remaining until recently.

As Christopher Andreae states in the aforementioned book:

“Why … was she so attracted to the last, vanishing … vestiges of Victorian working-class Glasgow? She described it as a community vitality and indeed it was disappearing fast… [the] … tenements amongst which she chose her two studios (first on Cochrane Street by the City Chambers and later on the corner of McAslin Street and St James Road in Townhead) had not yet been demolished or cleaned up, though it was only a matter of time. These buildings were the children’s rough and ready, familiar playground … She said … she headed instinctively to these areas”.

Housed in its original frame and with an incomplete Glasgow urban scene painted verso.

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/joan-eardley-rsa/

In readiness for our exhibition, Landscape, which begins on 18th July, Stefan Orlowski brought us “The velvet evening, l...
19/06/2026

In readiness for our exhibition, Landscape, which begins on 18th July, Stefan Orlowski brought us “The velvet evening, lowland farm” today. I’m not quite sure how to convey just how truly wonderful this painting is; without doubt Stefan’s career tour de force, to-date.

At a commanding 125 x 180 cm it has a presence, for sure, but when you sit and fall into it, it has an almost mysterious air; a painting embodying the history of the area and its impact on emotions and nature. As a viewer you’re taken in subtly from the darker brooding outer areas of the composition as it lightens in tone, strength and feel, through to the light striking the farmhouse gable end, with its adjacent and contrasting cast shadow.

We’re very much looking forward to hanging this and sharing it from the 18th July, along with the other seven works from Stefan as well as paintings from Martin Greenland and Sheila Fell (RA).

We mentioned yesterday we were releasing from our home collection to the gallery a landscape painting by the late Sheila...
11/06/2026

We mentioned yesterday we were releasing from our home collection to the gallery a landscape painting by the late Sheila Fell (RA). Well to add to that we’ve also just brought from our personal collection Mother in Bed c 1953 by Sheila Fell.

It’s most likely that this painting is the same one titled Mother and Child, submitted by Sheila to the Royal Academy in 1953 as part of her unsuccessful application for post graduate art study.

The painting depicts not Sheila’s mother, but a new mother with swaddled newborn, in bed.

A great painting that has a little of the influences of her friend of the time, Frank Auerbach, about it.

Now in-gallery and online.

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/sheila-fell-ra-frsa/mother-in-bed-c-1953/

As part of our exhibition, Landscape, opening on July 18th, showcasing the painting talents of Martin Greenland, Stefan ...
10/06/2026

As part of our exhibition, Landscape, opening on July 18th, showcasing the painting talents of Martin Greenland, Stefan Orlowski and Sheila Fell (RA), we’ll be releasing a Sheila Fell painting from our own personal collection.

Snow on the Mountains dates to 1958 and was extensively exhibited in its day, at Beaux Arts, London in 1958, thence Crane Kalman, London in their 1960 “Mood of the North” exhibition, followed by a showing at the New Vision Centre Gallery in 1964. It subsequently spent many years in the famous collection of Monty Bloom before making its way to us some fifteen or so years ago.

A typical 50s Fell with the Cumbrian three storey buildings at a jaunty tilt and the snow and cloud swirling around the fell top.

On the 18th July we’ll open up the Castlegate doors to a new exhibition; Landscape will showcase works from John Moores ...
06/06/2026

On the 18th July we’ll open up the Castlegate doors to a new exhibition; Landscape will showcase works from John Moores winning artist Martin Greenland, the talented and recently BBC featured Stefan Orlowski together with six works by the late Sheila Fell (RA). More news to follow in the next couple of weeks.

Just in, our latest acquisition, Standing Models from 1948 by the late Dorothy Mead. Dorothy Mead studied under the vene...
02/06/2026

Just in, our latest acquisition, Standing Models from 1948 by the late Dorothy Mead.

Dorothy Mead studied under the venerable David Bromberg and was a founder member of the Borough Group. A painting created during her time of study at the Borough Polytechnic, it shares much with works of the time by Bomberg and other group members such as Cliff Holden, Miles Richmond and Dennis Creffield.

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/dorothy-mead/standing-models-1948/

29/05/2026

I know this is a “marmite” painting, but for me it’s truly beautiful. Painted circa 1958 by a young Ken Howard (RA), a time when he was still signing his name J K Howard, it’s a sublime portrait of a woman who just exudes the fortitude and strength of a generation who lived and worked as adults during the war years.

The composition, painted looking down at the sitter, creates both visual interest (something also a tendency of Carel Weight (RA) ) but also allows us to see more of the surrounding room; the tapestry, the chair behind… I understand why some may walk past this, failing to see the qualities, but for me it’s a wonderful 50s portrait with a strength and beauty all of its own.

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/ken-howard-ra/lady-in-a-red-dress-circa-1958/

Acquired and arriving at Castlegate this week. Frank Auerbach’s Reclining Figure 1 dates to 1966 and is a vibrant screen...
26/05/2026

Acquired and arriving at Castlegate this week. Frank Auerbach’s Reclining Figure 1 dates to 1966 and is a vibrant screenprint from a series of seventy, this being number forty. Signed and numbered by the artist, this is only the second example we’ve personally come across in the last fifteen years, the prior one finding its new home in 2017. An example of this edition is held by Tate and can be viewed online.

The printed image measures 57 x 78 cm (paper-entire 89 x 101 cm) and has just been listed online, priced at £6,000, framed.

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/frank-auerbach/reclining-figure-1-1966/

This should definitely be worth a visit for all fans of the work of the late Norman Cornish (MBE); the third exhibition ...
23/05/2026

This should definitely be worth a visit for all fans of the work of the late Norman Cornish (MBE); the third exhibition of works by the artist at the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle in the last six years, this time a focus on his working methods, from preparatory sketches through to the finished drawings or paintings.

We’ve represented the estate of Norman Cornish for eleven years now, encompassing four exhibitions and many works into the gallery between. Gosh, the time has flown by. All available works by Norman Cornish at Castlegate House may be seen here

https://www.castlegatehouse.co.uk/paintings-for-sale/norman-cornish/

Address

Castlegate House
Cockermouth
CA139HA

Opening Hours

Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5am

Telephone

+441900822149

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