THE owner of a Thurrock gallery which has become a hub of artistic creation for artists across the borough has spoken of how much she is looking forward to opening its doors again once the coronavis lockdown guidance permits.

Wellhouse Gallery at Horndon on the Hill is among the latest of more than 150 local businesses and venues to have signed up for the Thurrock Nub news FREE local listings service (sign up here).

The driving force behind it is Lisa Anderson, herself a talented artist with a passion for painting.

She tells how the gallery came into being in the picturesque heart of Horndon, close to the ancient Woolmarket, saying: "I opened Well House Gallery in August 2014. Prioir to that I had been running yearly pop up art events in Stanford-le-Hope and gathered approximately 30 artists each time.

"They were artists in hiding. Individuals who had buried their talent, didn't think their work was good etc. It had all started with me. That is how I had felt. I was a Mum, homemaker, there to support my family and husband in all their activities but as an artist who had those years of training I was not giving it any priority.

"After struggling to get going again and realising my paintings were wowing people, that is when I discovered people like me. So these pop up art events were quite healing.

"My family noticed how I came alive organising this event but it was just for one weekend.

"I discovered a group of artists in Horndon who were coming to my pop up event in Stanford and that led to being invited to one of their exhibitions upstairs in The Swan Pub in Horndon.

Daunted at first but faith prevails

"As we left it my husband Phil saw a house for sale opposite the Swan Pub with an empty shop. He was very keen that we went to view the property. I was daunted at first that this could potentially be a full time job!

"He has some faith in me to do that. 'Are you sure?' was my biggest question but as we walked in the front door, I immediately felt at home and I had vision to see how the dirty old house with an empty shop could come alive.

"We approached several individuals to get their reaction to opening a gallery in Horndon and one person in particular, Lata Upadhyaya, said in all of Thurrock it would only work in Horndon.

"She was right. During the last six years I have discovered so many artists in Horndon and Thurrock.

"A mixture of artists coming to the gallery wanting to exhibit and me finding them through exhibitions I have visited.

"I do have individuals and groups exhibit from other parts of the UK. One lady in particular, Alex Orgill, from wales has been part of our gallery since we opened and her work is much admired and bought. She was meant to be showing her paintings this May but has now been postponed until May 2021.

"And another of my favourites is the work by Pat Douglas, known for her pottery that is made and sold in my gallery. Her paintings are also beautiful!"

Because of coronavirus the gallery has been closed but behind the scenes Lisa has ensured that artists have kept in touch and when the doors are able to be opened again that their work will be ready to go on display.

Lisa adds: "During lockdown it has been a shame to have closed the gallery doors and put on hold all the exhibitions that were lined up.

"This year particularly would have been a great peak in terms of seeing some of these artists work at its very best and them having their confidence boosted but I have been in touch weekly virtually with a lovely group and we have been painting and encouraging each other that way.

"We have also become better cooks and my daughters have even taken on an allotment during this lockdown."

Check out the Well House Gallery on our listing pages here.