Artists John Dyer, Ted Dyer & Joanne Short exclusively exhibit online with The John Dyer Gallery. This is their history of founding Beside The Wave Gallery and the reasons they moved away from the gallery. Inspired by Cornwall's rich coast, you can buy the latest paintings and prints from all three artists online from The John Dyer Gallery.
In 1989 the Dyer family of artists founded Beside The Wave Gallery in Falmouth, Cornwall. The gallery served well for many years until the demands of a commercial gallery outstripped the benefits and the gallery was eventually sold to a third party allowing John Dyer to build the acclaimed online and by private appointment John Dyer Gallery where the founding artists now exclusively exhibit.
The landscapes of Cornwall, including its towns and villages providing a significant source of inspiration, have deeply influenced the gallery's art works.
In 1989, Ted Dyer faced a dilemma: to continue exhibiting his artwork with the increasingly demanding and poorly run gallery he exhibited in Newquay or look for representation with another gallery in Cornwall. Ted Dyer lived at Holywell Bay on the North Coast of Cornwall but had a longing to live and paint on the South Coast of Cornwall, so he started to look for potential properties in which to found his own gallery on that coast as he had a strong national and international following. Working with the entire Dyer family, a decision was made to focus on Falmouth, a thriving seaside town with poor art representation, rather than adding yet another gallery to St Ives, and in 1989 the family acquired the ‘Bits and Bobs’ shop in Arwenack Street in Falmouth. After some research into the Cornish name ‘Arwenack’ revealed it meant ‘Beside the Wave’ the family decided to adopt the name for their new gallery and Beside The Wave Gallery was founded.
The building needed significant repairs and refurbishment. John Dyer drew up plans to convert a door to a new window to increase the street presence and created the original brand identity for the new gallery, and the design for all the catalogues and prints. After many months of refitting, the gallery finally opened with an exhibition by artist Robert Jones and ceramic artist Paul Jackson.
The inspiration for the gallery was to have an ongoing mixed exhibition space for Ted Dyer's paintings alongside other Cornish artists so that during a visit to Falmouth, people would be able to view a wide selection of artwork, poster art prints, paintings, jewellery and ceramics.
Once a year Ted Dyer would hold a major exhibition event that the gallery would host and in the early 1990s was joined by John Dyer who had graduated and was now painting full time alongside designing for the gallery and running all the gallery marketing.
By 1992, John Dyer and Joanne Short lived and painted together above the gallery. The three artists, Ted Dyer, John Dyer & Joanne Short, became three of the best-known artists at Beside The Wave Gallery with many exhibitions, art posters and prints launched between the early 1990s and 2006 when John Dyer and Joanne Short left the gallery to found The John Dyer Gallery.
The Dyer family is predominantly rooted in the arts. The family name even goes back to the colourists who dyed cloth, and the family has a history of tailoring in Bristol and Somerset.
Each family member was an artist, with Ted Dyer being the best-known at the time. Ted's wife, Vivien Dyer, who painted under the name Angela Dyer or just Angela, painted bold modern paintings, often with acrylic and palette knife, up until the founding of the gallery. She then focused her time on running and managing the new venture.
Lesly Dyer, the daughter of Ted and Vivien, was also an artist. She focused on watercolour and mixed-media pieces of the landscape, particularly flowers.
John Dyer, now the family's best-known member, trained in design in London and returned to Cornwall to pursue his lifelong dream of painting immersed in the Cornish landscape.
In 1997, John Dyer married fellow artist and lifelong friend Joanne Short after she returned from training in art after her degree in Italy.
Beside The Wave Gallery, through the work of John Dyer, was committed to engaging with the local community through a variety of art events, workshops, and collaborations with local schools and organisations. The gallery’s exhibition calendar showcased a wide range of artworks, including paintings, prints, ceramics, and jewellery, which were predominantly rooted in Cornwall’s rich coast, countryside, towns, and villages. This diverse collection not only highlighted the region's beauty but also celebrated its cultural heritage — this way of working moved from Beside The Wave to The John Dyer Gallery when it was founded, and John Dyer runs the most extensive online arts and educational project in the UK - Last Chance to Paint in conjunction with The John Dyer Gallery.
The gallery’s unique and traditional designs created by Ted Dyer on canvas showcased with beautiful and unique jewellery, statement pieces, ceramics and everyday wearable items, were showcased in exhibitions and events throughout the year when the Dyer family ran Beside The Wave. These artwork pieces, crafted with care and creativity, added elegance and individuality to each collection, making them highly sought after by both locals and visitors alike.
Cornwall Arts Marketing was set up in 2000 in response to the lack of marketing and promotion of the arts in Cornwall after a successful bid for money from the EU through the European Objective One programme. On the surface, this was a great idea for Cornwall as it would create a lively and exciting schedule of exhibitions, promote evening viewing events, attract collectors, and promote Cornwall's rich coast and art. However it quickly created far too many pop up galleries, trade shows and exhibitions and reduced the quality of the art being exhibited as funding would be paid to galleries for each exhibition they held, creating a huge churn of low-quality exhibitions and artists. Beside The Wave had to engage with this new process, even if the art didn't sell or find a market as the gallery was still paid. Eventually, artists John Dyer and Joanne Short stopped exhibiting at the gallery, and they founded The John Dyer Gallery, which was better able to represent their art, host exhibitions with their working partners and support the wide range of art residencies and education work they did.
Ted Dyer remained the gallery owner and exhibited until 2007 when he and his wife Vivien sold the gallery and moved his artwork to the new John Dyer Gallery, which was founded in late 2005.
Founded in late 2005 as an online first gallery, the gallery quickly built working relationships with many of Cornwall's most prestigious and international organisations through the residencies and educational work of John Dyer.
The gallery has grown over the years and is now one of the best online galleries in the UK. It represents the work of all the artists in a professional, clear, and accessible way.
The Gallery arranges exhibition events across Cornwall and abroad. Clients are also invited to view original paintings by private appointment with the artists in Falmouth at the beautiful Edwardian residence that houses the gallery and the artists' studios. Full details of the gallery can be found on johndyergallery.com
Looking to beautify your home with flowers - artwork such as original paintings, prints, posters, and botanical illustrations is the way to get started. Our guide explores stunning floral paintings and prints that capture nature’s essence. From classic pieces by renowned artists to contemporary interpretations, discover how floral art can elevate your decor.
Are you curious about the top local art galleries in Cornwall to visit this year? This quick guide highlights the must-visit spots where you can see extraordinary artworks, from contemporary masterpieces to traditional paintings. Discover galleries that showcase famous local artists and hidden gems that offer a unique cultural experience. Many of these galleries host regular exhibitions, showcasing a variety of art from established and emerging artists.
If you want to bring the beauty of Cornwall into your home this guide to Cornwall colours will show you how. Learn about the distinctive hues and how to use them to create a serene, vibrant, and cohesive decor inspired by Cornwall’s landscapes.
N.B. If you don’t see your confirmation email shortly, please check your spam or junk folder.
