A new exhibition at the LAKE Gallery in West Kirby runs throughout July. 'ANIMATE' is an extraordinary portrayal of our natural world and the animals within it by four artists concerned with the spiritual as well as the physical. Featuring delicately-coloured tempera paintings from John Elcock, Louise Pallister’s dynamic drawings and prints of birds, animal-inspired sculptures and paintings by Kim Harley-Griffiths and impressions of the landscape by printmaker Vidah Roberts. The exhibition opens on Thursday 3rd July and runs until Saturday 9th August. Opening times: Thurs – Sat, 10am – 4pm John Elcock - John is a visual artist based in Liverpool whose work explores symbolism, birds and the numinous in a multidisciplinary practice centred on painting and conceptual sculpture. His work has been exhibited nationally with paintings featuring in the ING Discerning Eye and Wales Contemporary. He is a founder member of the Material Matters collective. Louise Pallister- Brought up to respect and take an interest in the lives of other animals, Louise has found her niche making work that concerns relationships with our animal kin. Following BA degree studies in sculpture Louise Pallister worked in museums, galleries and design studios around the country before returning to her own work. She completed an MA Fine Art at City and Guilds of London Art School in 2014. Since then, her practice has expanded to include drawing, printmaking, photography, animation and writing. Vidah Roberts- Vidah Roberts, a Wirral based artist, is best known for her figurative drawings and etchings. In all of her pieces, whether of individual trees, landscapes or portraits of people, the overall feeling is of a focussed, attentive, stillness. Kim Harley-Griffiths- Growing up on the edge of an ancient woodland in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, Kim was immersed in the sounds of nature and the otherworldly calls of animals from the nearby Welsh Mountain Zoo. As night fell, these primeval soundscapes sparked vivid dreams and fuelled her imagination, leaving a deep and lasting impression on her creative spirit. This early connection to the natural world, tinged with mystery and mythology, continues to shape Kim’s work today.