A new exhibition titled SwipeRight4Art has opened at Artizan Gallery in Torquay, running until 4 May. Inspired by dating apps, the show invites visitors to engage with artworks as if swiping through profiles, using “matchmaker cards” to indicate which pieces they would “pass” or “match” with. The exhibition is the first project from Sienna Editions, a publishing and art venture co-founded by charcoal artist Hannah Leadbetter and landscape photographer Kevin Cowell, with backing from local studio Print2Wall and funding from Innovate UK. It features works by local artists including Szabotage, David Norman, Francesca Lawrence, Rosie Rowell, Peter Blakesley, and Sally Loxton, alongside pieces by the founders.
This exhibition matters because it represents a grassroots effort to transform Torbay into an art hub, drawing a parallel to the artistic transformation of St Ives. By blending digital dating culture with physical gallery viewing, SwipeRight4Art experiments with new ways to engage audiences and support local talent. The venture also explores innovative printmaking techniques, signaling a broader ambition to revitalize the region's creative economy and community identity.