Finding Synergy
- Hannah Tapping
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
Words by Hannah Tapping
Customs House Gallery celebrates three decades of art, thoughtfully curated.
The Customs House Gallery, on Porthleven’s harbourside, run by Louise and John Winterton, is a calm space in which to appreciate art in all its forms. Their driving motivation is to present high-quality and original art in a friendly environment with a commitment to give artists a viable platform for their work.
They believe a gallery should be welcoming, encouraging everyone to feel comfortable once they have stepped through the doors. Louise, in assessing their modus operandi says, “We feel strongly that each artist that we represent should always have work on display, and always have a presence. So, our walls and plinths are aesthetically curated to offer the best possible opportunity for our artists to have their works seen. We consciously steer away from presenting ourselves as an intimidating space.”
The selection process is organic, with Louise and John often discovering artists during travels, both geographically and digitally. They aspire to create a curatorial balance, exhibiting a diverse range of artworks and artefacts that come together to create a cohesive display. This process aims to reflect the gallery’s unique vision while supporting artists and fostering a sense of community. The couple love to build close relationships with their artists, fostering mutual trust to ensure a successful partnership. As a consequence, they are fortunate to work with a fantastic group of people.
In a rapidly changing cultural and commercial landscape, with a rise in online platforms and events such as Open Studios, it’s important to Louise and John that the gallery continues to play a crucial role in supporting artists by providing a physical space for art to be appreciated all year round.
The gallery ensures constant representation for their stable of artists, affording them the advantage of the gallery’s high footfall. As well as being active on social media they maintain a comprehensive and dynamic e-commerce website that supports the gallery space and where the majority of available work can be browsed, purchased then shipped both nationally and internationally.
ABOVE: Customs House Gallery
This year marks Customs House Gallery’s 30 anniversary. A remarkable achievement in the current economic climate and testament to the couple’s exceptional curation since they took on its stewardship 13 years ago. “We are extremely proud of our contribution to the gallery’s history and look forward to continuing to grow our reputation as part of Cornwall’s rich art heritage,” comments Louise. “Porthleven’s reputation as a creative hub continues to strengthen and we are delighted that the gallery is part of this.”
LEFT: Amanda Hoskin – Pansies in a Vintage Jug
RIGHT: Andrew Barrowman – Mawgan Creek Autumn Low Tide
TOP: Benjamin Warner – Sunset Porthleven Harbour LEFT: Heather Howe – Set In A Silver Sea RIGHT: Roger Curtis – Breaking Cloud Godrevy
LEFT: Ben Taffinder - GullyBelow Round House
RIGHT: Phil Ward - Mackerel Season III
TOP LEFT: Robin Fox – Illuminated Kingfisher TOP RIGHT: Julian Mason – Evening At Priest’s Cove ABOVE RIGHT: Simon Jewell – Churning Atlantic ABOVE LEFT: Amanda Hoskin – Flowers from a Summer Garden
