THE JOY OF SEEING an art exhibition showcasing the work of the late Gordon Snee - Artist

Artwork by the late Gordon Snee - Abstract Artist

THE JOY OF SEEING is the first retrospective of the newly-discovered abstract painter, Gordon Snee . The exhibition opens on 30th September in Halifax UK, which not only showcases Snee's paintings but also reveals an absolute treasure trove of unseen pictures saved from the bonfire by Snee's daughter, Jo Snee. 

Gordon Snee painted from the late 1940s to 2013. He rarely exhibited his work. It was only after his death that his vast legacy of paintings, drawings, sketch-books and maquettes came to light. His life's work was only saved from the bonfire by the timely action of Jo, just after his funeral.

Since then, Jo has brought together a band of supporters for her father's work. With her daughter, Rachel she ran a couple of pop-up exhibitions in disused buildings in Sheffield's Kelham Island. The sculptor, Simon Wigglesworth-Baker built a full-size sculpture from one of Snee's models. Ernest Wright and Son Ltd, one of Britain's last hand-made scissor factories, donated space for the 'Snee Studio', where the pictures can be safely stored (and viewed by appointment). Jo restored and framed the hundreds of paintings, drawings, wood and lino cuts that her father left behind.

Meanwhile, arts writer, Simon Evans read Snee's seventy note and sketch books and so began to uncover the artist's lonely struggle against a hidden 'cultural cold war', so The Joy of Seeing exhibition throws new light on the secret history of post-war European art. 

Now this team are set to open what is the first major retrospective of Snee's work, at one of the north's leading independent galleries: The Crossley at Dean Clough Mills in Halifax. Alongside the exhibition there will be talks about Snee's work, a book launch, and projects with The Brooksbank School in Elland and Longley College in Sheffield.