UP CLOSE: The man behind Teddington’s new fine arts gallery

The Beach gallery is holding a Private Viewing of its latest exhibition latest exhibition 'Transitions', commencing at 6:30pm 24 November. It will be open to the public from the following day until the end of January 2024.

Slightly off the well-trodden high street, is Teddington's newest fine art's gallery: The Beach.

Previously an antique shop, The Beach has been renovated and transformed into a bright, white-washed walled gallery.

Created by local artist Mark Vellacott, he calls The Beach his "labour of love". It is a passion project which has been years in the making. And is still developing.

Whether it's the Lady Godiva sculpture on the front of the building, or the endearing coffee machine inside, there is something je ne sais quoi about the place.

Inside The Beach fine arts gallery. (Photo: Instagram/ The Beach 197)

Teddington born and bred, Mark boasts he is the fourth generation of locally based artists from his family. Having travelled around, including living in Australia and a brief stint in Russia, Mark still feels Teddington is a "very special place".

He said: "I love it here. It's one of the best places to live in the world."

Those unfamiliar with Mark's work, may be more acquainted with his mother: Avril Vellacott.

A portrait sculpture, she was a leading member of Teddington's arts community. Her career as a sculptor dated back to the 1960s, and over the years her work included many portrait sculpture commissions – not least a bust of Jeremy Thorpe, the former Liberal leader, which is part of the Parliamentary Art Collection.

When his mother got sick, Mark flew back from Australia to look after her. Sadly, Avril passed away November 2021.

During this time, and afterwards, Mark says he "immersed" himself in the art of portrait sculptures. He completed 10 pieces of work in 12 months. From this, he decided to create a fine arts gallery and studio space. "My plan was to create a place which feels like a creative space," Mark says. "It is nothing without people."

In his former career, Mark worked for British Aerospace before moving to Australia and taking various director roles for aerospace and engineering companies.

Although Mark's move from aerospace engineer to portrait sculpture seems more like a conversion than a transition, it makes perfect sense to him. "Scupturists have to think through dimensions and visualise things." Although, he adds, his mum was more instinctive in her approach to sculpture art.

Why portrait sculptures? "Portraiture captures the essence of a person," Mark says. "It reminds you of the person."

He shows me a portrait of his grandmother on the wall in the gallery, painted by his grandmother. Mark describes how portraiture creates an emotional attachment which allows one to re-engage with the person.

Mark says a good portrait "captures the essence of a person and their personality". Citing his mother's portrait of Jeremy Thorpe, he explains she was able to trap his "impish character".

Mark hopes to turn the back garden of The Beach into a large gallery space with a cafe. (Photo: Instagram/The Beach 197)

At the back of the gallery, there's a large garden filled with somewhat demented heads. Some of the portrait sculptures are Marks, some are his mothers. I spot a younger version of the late Queen, and Mark points out sculptures of him from an infant. His plan is to extend the gallery into the back garden, creating a space for a café and workshops.

He shows me a portrait sculpture of James Bond he created; Mark had researched techniques in how to recreate bond's medal and military bands on his chest for the portrait. He said it would be useful for partially sighted people to feel the shape of Bond and connect it with Ian Flemming's work.

"Inclusivity is of vital importance," Mark says. He outlines he wants his gallery to be wheelchair accessible, with a disabled toilet, and subsidised art courses for carers.

He explains he has a personal connection with caring for family members, and is very aware of the day-to-day demands. "I remember I kept thinking: 'Who cares for the carers?'"

Mark hopes to put on courses: both arts workshops' classes like Pilates and life drawings.

Plans are in place to extend the gallery and studio spaces, as well as opening a cafe in 2024, providing a vibrant fine arts venue and creative space where local artists can develop their talent and exhibit, alongside the work of established local, national and international artists.

Mark Vellacott and his work-in-progress portrait sculpture. (Photo: Emily Dalton)

A project he is currently working on is a portrait sculpture of Ukranian sculpturist and friends, Alex Lidagovsky.

After his studio in Kyiv destroyed in the early hours of the Russian invasion, Mr Lidagovsky chose to continue his work in the UK. Many of Alex's works remain in Kyiv and Ukraine, but some of those which he managed to bring out, along with recent creations, are on display at The Beach.

The clay model of Lidagovsky's head stands in the centre of the small studio, with Mark moving around it. Photos and measurements pinned up behind him help keep Mark on track. "I'm trying to make his concerned look reflect concern for his country," Mark says.

Larger than life, the portrait head must be a greater size than a real human. "Otherwise, when it goes into the furnace it will produce a shrunken head," Mark added with a chuckle.

I ask if Mark ever gets freaked out by looking at a model head all day. He says no, but added the worst bit is when you take the initial coverings off and there is an uncanny eye peeping out underneath.

As Mark uses clay to sculpt his portraits, it must be so easy to keep shifting and smudging and moulding the material to alter his faces slightly to get them just right. I ask him: When do you know when to stop? "When I look at it from three different directions and feel content," he says.

Mark explains: "It feels like creationism...It's a god-like experience; re-creating an image of a human being, bringing it to life and it looks like a person...it brings a strange sense of contentment."

Mark at work in his studio. (Photo: Emily Dalton)

'Transitions' explores the juxtaposition between the literal and abstract ocean. It is inspired by works of Twickenham based artist, Sophie Coe, and Italian sculptor and print maker, Livia Spinolo.

The works reflecting 'Transitions' of the turbulent beauty of the oceans, the life they support, and artefacts found within them.

Having grown up around exhibitions with his mum, he says he knows what 'good' art is. "It's my taste," Mark says. "My reputation is on the line as to what people will like."

Although everyone is welcome to view the art as a gallery, Mark emphasizes the works are for sale. "Art is a good investment," he says. "Especially if you can see a lot of potential."

He shows me around the gallery, paintings of waves the size of your wingspan, explaining how each piece could work well as "part of the home" and "statement pieces of art".

Currently using the gallery as his office, Mark is welcoming anyone to drop in for free and he will get the coffee machine fired up.

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The Beach Gallery at 197 Waldegrave Rd, Teddington TW11 8LX