A collective of 26 talented local artists has successfully transformed a former Sweet Home Alabama shop on Fawcett Street into Twenty-Four North East, a new fine art gallery dedicated to celebrating local talent in Sunderland. The gallery officially opened its doors after months of careful planning and dedication, featuring walls adorned with artwork spanning multiple styles and mediums.
The artist collective shares a unified goal of bringing a new fine art gallery to the city center while providing an affordable platform for local talent to showcase their work. Unlike traditional galleries that charge hefty commissions, this community-focused venue offers artists a chance to display and sell their work without the burden of high fees, ultimately keeping costs down for customers as well.
The gallery features an impressive range of artistic styles and subjects, from pieces celebrating the city's passion for Sunderland Association Football Club (SAFC) to unique screw art and abstract masterpieces. Notable artists include Dr. Ron Lawson, who created the famous Molly sculpture on St. Peters Riverside, Darren Timby, well-known throughout the city for his striking screw art pieces, and Chris Cummings, whose paintings vividly depict SAFC fan scenes.
Curator Julie Poulton explained the gallery's community-focused approach, stating, "Some galleries can take up to 50% commission on sales, but the artists don't have that here which keeps the cost down for the customer, too." She emphasized the abundance of creativity in Sunderland, noting that local artists previously had to go elsewhere to have their work properly displayed and recognized.
Poulton highlighted the significant progress in Sunderland's creative arts scene over the past decade while acknowledging the ongoing need to retain local talent within the city. Much of the artwork on display draws inspiration from the city's rich heritage, incorporating references to local music and heavily featuring the distinctive local landscape that defines the area.
Ken Devine, one of the collective's artists and co-founder of the gallery, emphasized the community aspect of the venture. "This gallery is for the community and our message is to use it or lose it," Devine said. "The creative arts in Sunderland is buzzing and it's great to be a part of this family of creativity."
The gallery operates Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM, offering visitors the opportunity to purchase original fine art starting at $90, as well as prints and cards. Moving forward, the space will also host workshops, providing additional opportunities for community engagement and artistic education.
Twenty-Four North East represents one of several new additions revitalizing Fawcett Street. The area has seen significant development with the opening of The Korean Spoon, the city's first Korean restaurant, located next door to the gallery. Further down the street, opposite the Post Office, Asian superstore Sunbucks has opened, offering a wide range of products including sit-in noodles, steamed buns, and bubble teas.
Additional new businesses include Pepes Piri Piri chicken shop, which plans to move into a newly refurbished unit on the corner of Fawcett Street and High Street West. Work is also ongoing to transform the former Havershams Café building into the Art Cafe, which will offer tea, coffee, sandwiches, and cakes while providing space for local artists to sell their work, conduct workshops, and host events. The Art Cafe will also house pottery wheels and sewing machines for community use.
The 24NE Art Collective features 26 diverse artists: Ken Devine, Craig Scott Knight, Conrad Milne, Darren Timby, Ron Lawson, Richard Buckley, Michael Elliot, Alan Morley, Ben Backgroundcamel, Dale Hardy, Barrie Watson, Keidi Sejdiu, Danny Gilchrist, Robert Myers, Jayne Johnson, Hally Mason, Graham Hodgson, Mick Connor, Catherina Chin, Debrah Perry, Darren Mundy, Pauline Alldis, Graham Bowes, Pamela Ormston, Chris Cummings, and Victoria Tanner. The gallery's opening was celebrated with attendance from the Mayor and Mayoress of Sunderland, demonstrating official support for this grassroots artistic initiative.
