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Cathy Smale

@cathy.smale

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Artist and painter of many things, mostly birds - paintings, prints, puzzles - and calendars :)

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NO KINGS

a little bird standing in solidarity with American friends, concerned about the overreach, power grabbing and insatiable greed that is having a worrying global impact on all our lives

NO KINGS DAY - October 17 2026 - USA

No Kings. No billionaires.
More Votes. More democracy. by @cathy.smale

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2 days ago

CELEBRITITS

New birds with famous connections debuted last weekend, and proved pretty popular. Some of these have already flown the nest but more are inbound

Other ideas are currently queuing in my brain awaiting easel time to paint, so do follow for updates if you enjoy these little guys

christopher WREN
florence NIGHTINGALE
jack SPARROW
JAY z
ringo STARRLING
ROBIN hood

#littlebirdpaintings
#littlebirds
#birdsofinstagram by @cathy.smale

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3 days ago

TANQUERJAY - SEVILLE

The latest addition to my boozey bird series, TanquerJay - Seville shows the orange infused gin with a Jay atop a soanish orange and some angelica root patterned in the background.

I revisited this one for my latest show, TanquerJay having been the very first in the booze meets birds titles. The new painting sits amongst prints of the others, one of which is the original version - it's interesting to see the difference ten years has made to my birds.

Cards and prints are available if you like this one (as is the original) and you can find it in my 2027 calendar too - cheers 🙂

@tanqueraygin
#boozeybirds
#tanqueray
#tanquerJAY by @cathy.smale

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5 days ago

THE BUTCHERS, THE BAKERS, THE OLD STOCKING MAKERS

super niche local triptych currently on show over in Baldock

My exhibition at the Arts and Heritage Centre runs until 20Dec - open 11-3 Wed/Fri/Sat

@baldockahc
@chapmansbutchers
@days_bakery taken in Baldock by @cathy.smale

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5 days ago

THE BUTCHERS

An artisan butchers at the heart of Baldock High Street - These guys have long queues during summer BBQ season and of course for all the festive family meals (the orders for Christmas turkeys have already begun)

A tricky subject for a vegan like me (if anyone asks the sausages and ham I painted are actually all plant based 😬) but I do appreciate the respect and heritage of such businesses.

My brother was part of the sausage making team when we were first hitting the job market (fishy Taylor's for me)

The first in an incredibly niche triptych for my Baldock exhibition, a three painting collection of building portraits @baldockahc

@chapmansbutchers
#baldock
#butchers
#localartist taken in Baldock by @cathy.smale

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8 days ago

THE BAKERS

A lovely local business and impressive generational tradition with a good few stores in the local area - I'm not exactly sure when they opened up in Baldock but Days is definitely a gem on the high street.

I remember buying lunch here when we were sixth formers and trusted into town, great to still see it busy all weekend, and a cute building portrait to include in my local exhibition (just across the road)

While painting this I was watching a programme about foundation of America and the declaration of independence (1776) - crazy to think of these guys already making and baking over in Ashwell since 1741!

@days_bakery
#baldock
#localartist
#bakery
@baldockahc taken in Baldock by @cathy.smale

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8 days ago

THE OLD STOCKING MAKERS

Before the almighty Tesco came to town, there was a stocking makers at the top of Baldock High Street.

In a time before mass production and tights, Kayser Bondor employed many locals and brought people to the town to help, great employers apparently - even had a swimming pool for staff and local kids

The 'temple' was originally commissioned by another local firm Kosmos, with enormous plans for photographic paper productions.

I worked here several times back in the days between uni years, and it's one of those places you can't fail to bump into people you know.

@tesco
#baldock
#tescobaldock
#kayserbondor taken in Baldock by @cathy.smale

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8 days ago

BALDOCK EXHIBITION

Thanks so much to everyone who visited for the opening weekend of my Baldock show, it was so very lovely to see you all. Special thanks to Mandy for the photo of me looking all smart and proud, to mum for inviting everyone she knows (which is a good amount of Baldock folk) and to Emma and Ray for the post show Guinness and games.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been invited to show my work here again, ten years on from one of my first solos, in this beautiful space, back in the town where I grew up.

You'll recognise some of the work and prints, but there's some new ones too. Some portraits of Baldock businesses, some special new birds, and the latest addition to my boozey birds series.

The exhibition runs all the way through to 20 December, open 11-3 Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays.

Oh, and I've left the London puzzle out for you to enjoy and help with - it's a great way to revisit this painting that I finished just in time for the first exhibition here.

@baldockahc
#baldock
#localart
#boozeybirds taken in Baldock by @cathy.smale

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8 days ago

OK 2027 - LETS GO!

wall and desk calendars now available to order online (message/email/website)

or collect from studio/gallery/exhibition
HITCHIN - @shopsmallstudios
LETCHWORTH - @wyndgalleryartists
BALDOCK - @baldockahc

#artistcalendar
#2027calendar by @cathy.smale

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10 days ago

CALENDARS

2027 has arrived and filled my hallway with boxes!

Let me know if you want one - wall and desk versions available

message | email | website

or visit my Baldock exhibition (arts and heritage centre) - Letchworth (Wynd Gallery) - or Hitchin (Shop Small Studios) to pick one up

will all be stocked up by the weekend

let's go!

#2027calendar
#artistcalendar
#localartist
@shopsmallstudios @wyndgalleryartists @baldockahc by @cathy.smale

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12 days ago

REVISITING - BALDOCK

NO SPOILERS for this one, I'm keeping secrets for those who join me and visit on opening weekend - I'll be there friday and saturday (9th+10th)

OPEN 11-3 both days - baldock arts and heritage centre

FULL TRANSPARENCY - there aren't as many new originals as I'd planned. Mostly due to a super busy summer at the new Hitchin studios.

BUT - there are some fun ones, some birds, some Baldock themed, plenty of prints and celebrating an old favourite in puzzle form!

AND a whole years worth in calendar form 😁

@baldockahc
#baldock
#localartist by @cathy.smale

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12 days ago

WINDOWS AT THE WYND

At The Wynd gallery we rotate the left side windows every few weeks and showcase one of our artists, the last two weeks have been my turn!

If I'm honest, it was a bit of a squeeze between a busy summer at the new studios in Hitchin, and an upcoming autumn exhibition in Baldock - but the windows are shiney and newly refurbished so I couldn't miss the opportunity

Paintings, prints and puzzles is my happy pursuit - and great to share it with those who walk past and try to tempt viewers inside the gallery

We've got some lovely artwork in here, about 30 of us working together, showing a bit of what we do and taking a turn behind the desk each month

@wyndgalleryartists
#letchworthart
#Letchworth Garden City taken in Letchworth by @cathy.smale

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15 days ago