Spring Carnival

Justin Lees returns to the racing world with Spring Carnival, a solo exhibition opening at Wester Gallery on Friday 21 August. It's a subject that's been part of his life since he was a child: his late father was a trainer, his brother continues the family tradition, and Lees himself worked as a stable hand. That background gives him an intimate understanding of the discipline, rhythm and ritual behind the sport, and the series comes from being back in his family home right next to Newcastle Racecourse.

Rather than depicting racing literally, the work distils its atmosphere — the anticipation, movement, tension and moments of stillness that surround it — as an exploration of memory, place and heritage. The paintings draw on that personal history and the visual language of racing, with research images and references gathered during time in London and France informing the colour, texture and abstract gestures across the series. It's less about the race itself and more about the feeling of being around it.

Lees is also the director of Wester Gallery, so this is a home-grown show in every sense. The opening is on Friday 21 August from 6pm to 8pm, and the exhibition runs through to 5 September, so there's plenty of time to drop in if you can't make the first night. Entry is free, and the gallery is at 39 Bolton Street, Newcastle.