HAVERFORDWEST’s VC Gallery will host an exhibition of works inspired by the French artist Henri Matisse.

The gallery’s volunteers and staff worked with schools, community groups, the elderly, veterans, professional artists and others, asking them all to create works of art in the style of the French artist.

“We are looking at Matisse and the colours he used and putting them into the Pembrokeshire landscape,” said gallery founder Barry John.

The gallery works to teach people about the theory and history of art, focusing on a different artist or movement every season of the year.

Matisse was chosen over the winter of last year as a contrast with the muted colours of the season.

“I chose Matisse because over the winter months when it was dark, we would all engage in looking at Pembrokeshire through a more bright set of colours.”

“Colours can really lift your mood – we were using it as a way to do that,” said Barry.

The exhibition of Matisse-inspired art will go on display from 7pm on Friday, May 4, at the VC Gallery’s building on High Street, Haverfordwest.

The exhibition will also tie in with the continuing efforts of a group of ten cyclists who plan to ride a 200 mile journey from Tenby to Cardiff and back again on May 11 and 12.

The VC Double CarTen cyclists will be meeting with anyone who visits the exhibition and will be helping to draw winners for the huge variety of prizes on offer at the charity raffle on the evening.

All funds from the raffle will go towards aiding the VC Gallery’s charitable work.

Henri Matisse was born in 1869, and died in 1954. He was renowned in several artistic movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, including post-impressionism, fauvism and modernism.

He was a painter and a sculptor, and was known for colourful, non-realistic portraits and landscapes, as well as bronze figures.

For more information about the VC Gallery’s Matisse Exhibition visit its Facebook page.