21 May 2026 sees the opening of a specially curated art exhibition at The StaJon Gallery in Richmond, titled “INTO OVER BEYOND”. The extensive body of work on show has been created by internaJonally awarded local Artist Martin Lever and curated in collaboration with the Festival, to celebrate both Swaledale and the 2026 Festival programme. The show runs until 3 June 2026.
At the heart of the show is a unique artwork titled “Vivaldi Meets Swaledale”, the result of a one-of-a-kind collaboration between Lever and acclaimed violinist Fenella Humphreys. The paiting is simultaneously inspired by the landscape of Swaledale and the much-anticipated Festival performance of Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ by Humphreys.
By transforming a musical stave from Vivaldi’s sheet music into the iconic geometry of Swaledale’s fields barns and hills, Marrick-based Lever’s abstract contemporary artwork maps sound onto landscape and captures a chronological journey through the seasons in this unique part of the world. Humphreys chose a much-loved and well-known section of the sheet music for Lever to bring to life visually…with her notes on the stave being transformed into Swaledale’s iconic barns.
Lever talks about his inspiration behind the piece: “My motivation is to create something that’s not been seen before – specifically a beau'ful harmonious marriage of music, painting and the landscape of Swaledale. The magic of listening to a piece of music performed live for the first time is the same as when you set out to explore a new environment for the first time – that exciting sense of anticipation, not knowing where the journey will take you!”
“This notion of a magical journey is something both Fenella and I both hold dear in our work…and my artwork will hopefully take viewers on a memorable, colourful journey across the ‘canvas’ and through the 4 seasons.”
Fenella adds: “Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ was the perfect piece of music to choose for this collaboration. As we all know, any given day in the Dales can be a celebration of all 4 seasons! It’s also one of my favourite works to play live – despite being so very well known, this music remains eternally fresh, and is full of surprises every time you perform it - just like the seasons themselves”
Swaledale Festival Director Fraser Wilson: “We are very excited about this collaboration as it embodies the spirit of the Festival – connecting people and place through a love of music and art. To have a visual piece of artwork that beautifully and effortlessly combines so many key elements of the Festival is something we hope can become a symbol of everything we are hoping to achieve for 2026 and beyond. We are sure it will capture the imagination of audiences from near and far”.
In addition to “Vivaldi Meets Swaledale”, Lever’s solo show will feature a wide body of his work inspired by Swaledale and beyond, including:
- The powerful sweeping vistas of his “Northern Light” collecJon
- The characterful animal portraits of his “Icons” work
- The atmospheric aerial perspectives of “What the Angels See”
Lever’s paintings will take viewers on a colourful and captivating journey through time and space, people and place, light and shade, energy and calm.
The exhibition takes place at The Station Gallery, Richmond, North Yorkshire from Thursday 21 May (Opening Night – invitation only) to Wednesday 3 June.
The show is jointly curated by the Artist and the Festival to celebrate “An Abstract Journey through Swaledale” – and is free to all art lovers.