A new Creative Hub in Leeds, ‘UK ArtSpotlight’, bridges international perspective with local talent.
LEEDS, UK — UK ArtSpotlight, a new Leeds-based gallery and workshop space dedicated to promoting local artistic talent and making art genuinely accessible to the public, has announced its first solo artist spotlight.
Founded by husband and wife Ghazal and Daniel Newton, the platform brings a fresh perspective to the UK art scene — combining Ghazal’s love of British art as an Iranian-born painter, with Daniel’s background as a working UK illustrator and his desire to create a space where people can connect with their own creative spirit.
The duo launch their first major solo exhibition, Beyond the Human Divide: The Marvellous Fantastical, featuring Leeds-based artist Holly Louise Tomlinson (main image), with an opening night on 15 May at 6:30 PM.
“We want to create a place where artists share their ideas with the public and engage with them in workshops,” say the founders. “The UK has a rich tradition of innovation and excellence in the creative world — we want to help emerging artists find their voice and connect people with their own creative spirit.”
Building a Community for Practice and Networking
Since its launch earlier this year, UK ArtSpotlight has quickly established itself as a gathering point for Leeds creatives. The project began with an opening event exhibiting a range of local artists’ sketchbooks, drawing 150 attendees and sparking an ongoing networking movement for the City’s arts community.
Central to the platform’s mission are its bi-weekly Drawing Clubs, which take place every Tuesday and Saturday at 2:00 PM. These self guided, fun and friendly sessions provide an environment where people can socialise, draw and develop their practice — without the intimidation often associated with formal galleries.
“Our goal is to create a space where artists can network and grow, but also where the public can engage with UK art in a way that is accessible and communicable,” says Ghazal. “We want people to walk away from UK ArtSpotlight feeling they have truly connected with the work, rather than just observing it from a distance.”
The First Artist Spotlight: Beyond the Human Divide
For its first solo exhibition, UK ArtSpotlight presents Beyond the Human Divide: The Marvellous Fantastical, featuring the work of Holly Louise Tomlinson.
Tomlinson invites viewers into a world of “satirical ecologies” — a space where smooth, luminous oil surfaces reveal a theatrical evolution of the human form. Populated by hybrid creatures that exist in the fluid margins between human and animal, her work playfully subverts our place in the world.
“I am interested in the strangeness of human existence. By blurring the line between us and the natural world, we are forced to remember exactly where we came from.” — Holly Louise Tomlinson
Bold colours and crisp, dreamlike scenes challenge our understanding of social hierarchy and ecological balance, making this exhibition a fitting debut for a platform committed to work that communicates on its own terms.
Event Information
- Opening Night & Private Artist Talk: 15 May, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
- 7:00 PM: The Mechanics of the Marvellous – An intimate talk with Holly Louise Tomlinson on the intersection of curation and creation, her historical inspirations and achieving “theatrical clarity” in oil. Drinks included.
- 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Free Public Visit.
- Open Exhibition Days: 16–21 May, 16:00 – 18:00
- Drawing Clubs: Every Tuesday & Saturday, 14:00 (Ongoing)
- Location: 30-34 Aire St, Leeds LS1 4HT, UK
- https://www.ukartspotlight.org/exhibition
###
About UK ArtSpotlight: UK ArtSpotlight is a Leeds-based arts initiative founded by Ghazal and Daniel Newton. It aims to highlight UK-based artists through curated exhibitions, networking events and communal drawing sessions. The platform focuses on making the UK art scene accessible and fostering a community where creatives can develop their professional practice.
