New Eastbourne art gallery launches for artists with a passion

Peter Patterson has set up a new Eastbourne art gallery for the very best possible reason.

Transcript

00:00Good morning. My name is Phil Hewitt, Group Arts Editor at Sussex Newspapers. Lovely this

00:06morning to speak to Peter Patterson. Now Peter, this is exciting, isn't it? A new gallery.

00:11You've set up the Patterson Gallery in the Alfredstown Room at the Lansdowne Hotel in

00:16Eastbourne. Open at the weekends, but available during the week via reception, but you will be

00:21there every weekend that it's open. Why? What's it all about? What's inspired you to do this thing?

00:26You certainly have done your research to find out all that wonderful information. I just love art.

00:34You know, I attempt to paint, not very well, but I enjoy it. I enjoy meeting the artists who are

00:42always interesting and clients. And some clients can be difficult, of course, but some of them can

00:49be very interesting. And that's part of life. And that's what I like about it.

00:54And you and galleries go back a little while, but you say you love art. What is it? What does art do

01:00to you mentally? What is it you're responding to? I'm not sure, to be perfectly honest. I look at

01:08something and think there's a feeling in it. There's a passion in it, whatever it is. And the skill of some

01:15of these artists, I have an artist that draws bees life-size with pencil. And it's incredible. I have

01:23an artist that paints portraits, and they are superb. And I've organised 12 portraits for him. And I just,

01:32it keeps me busy as well. I mean, I'm past retirement age, but I love going to work. You get

01:39up, you go to work. So there's an energy in doing that. Absolutely. And that passion that you have,

01:44you look for in the artists. You want artists to have a passion for their art, don't you?

01:49Correct. And they do. And I sense it. People look at a painting and they're not sure what it is,

01:57but they like it. And I think that's the energy and the passion coming through from the work.

02:01Fantastic. Well, good luck with it. It sounds like a really super exciting adventure at the Lansdowne Hotel

02:09weekends. Lovely to speak with.