Plympton Ridgeway’s high street is now home to a brand-new fine art hub: The Mad Cow Gallery.
Named after one of the most recognisable paintings of its owner, Lara Phillips, the gallery celebrated its grand opening in June. Dozens of local business people, artists, buyers and passers-by dropped into The Mad Cow Gallery during the launch, for a chance to experience the best of Plymouth’s up and coming artists.
Lara, a former art student and lifelong Wembury resident, took a leap of faith earlier this year in setting up her own gallery.
For many years the 26-year-old worked at HOST Galleries, an independent gallery based in Plymouth city centre which closed down last summer.
Since the closure of HOST, Lara has been trying her hand at other industries, while painting in her spare time for leisure, and producing bespoke commissioned portraits for friends and family from her Wembury home. Though most well known for her lifelike animal and pet portraits, in 2018 she was commissioned to paint a family portrait for the family of Grammy award winning singer Dua Lipa
Lara decided to pursue her longstanding ambition to run her own gallery this year, showcasing not only her work, but also her father David Phillips, a talented artist himself who inspired her to paint at a young age. Though she recognises that the arts have struggled in recent years as a result of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, Lara is determined to make viewing, buying and owning art a more accessible activity for all. To that end, The Mad Cow will soon be offering payment plan options.
The culture hub hosted a successful opening evening, with sales on the night making some welcome room in the packed gallery. The business has already been positively overwhelmed by requests from local talent to exhibit their work.
The gallery currently features a variety of original and print works by artists, including Josh Bygrave, Alyson Howard, Neil Pengelley, Tamsin Pearce, Hellen Allen, Killixn, and Lara herself.
Commenting on the grand opening of The Mad Cow Gallery, owner and artist Lara Phillips said: “It was a pinch-me moment to welcome my friends, family, local artists and residents to the opening night of The Mad Cow Gallery. Plympton is already a vibrant, bustling community that is rich in history and culture, and I hope our gallery adds to that in the years to come.
“The Mad Cow offers both residents and visitors to Plymouth a unique cultural experience, where people can immerse themselves in the local art scene, attend exhibitions, art classes and other events.
“It is an inclusive space where everyone is welcome, whether you are an art collector, an enthusiast who enjoys browsing, or someone who hasn’t been involved in the art scene before.”
Thanking those who made the launch a success, Lara added: “I’d like to thank all the talented local artists who have put their trust in me to showcase and sell their work, and my family for supporting me in fulfilling a lifelong dream.”
She also thanked her friends and local tradespeople, ‘for spending many days and nights helping me paint walls, fit electrics and prepare for The Mad Cow’s launch.’
The Mad Cow Art Gallery is located at 96b Ridgway, Plympton. Contact lara.phillips@themadcowgallery. com for further information.
