Claire Bentley-Smith
Unmanaged Reproach

Holbeck In Doom.jpg

PREVIEW
Friday 17th May | 7:30pm - 9:30pm

  • Sunday 19th May | 2pm - 4pm
    Monday 20th May | 11am - 2pm
    Thursday 23rd May | 11am - 2pm
    Sunday 26th May | 2pm - 4pm
    Monday 27th May | 11am - 2pm
    Thursday 30th May | 11am - 2pm

    Exhibition Remains Open By Appointment until…

    Monday 10th June

    Lunchtime Conversation: Claire Bentley-Smith

    Monday 3rd June | 12pm - 3pm

  • Claire Bentley-Smith is an artist who lives and works in South Leeds. Examples of her work as a prop maker and commercial artist have been seen centre stage at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the form of a life size replica of The Duke of Wellington statue and her murals and window paintings can be found at many bars, events and eateries across Leeds and beyond.


Unmanaged Reproach looks at the more personal aspects of the work of Claire Bentley-Smith. Over the last year she has focused on making a series of paintings and sculptural objects in response to the societal challenges affecting the Holbeck & Beeston community which in turn became a contemplation of her own experiences of life, growing up abroad then living, working and raising a family in South Leeds. This body of work looks at the debate, dilemmas and difficulties around inner city living in the 21st Century. 

Unexpectedly, this process became a catalyst to dredge the remnants of my own challenging childhood and 20s and I found many common themes between my experiences and those of the girls trapped in the street sex trade . . .Claire Bentley-Smith