Torbay’s art scene swipes right on creativity in bold new exhibition

A new art exhibition in Torquay is aiming to help visitors find their perfect match—not with a partner, but with a piece of art.

SwipeRight4Art, which runs until 4 May at Artizan Gallery on Fleet Street, is the first exhibition from Sienna Editions, a new publishing and art venture backed by local print and framing studio Print2Wall.

Inspired by dating apps, the show reimagines the gallery experience, inviting visitors to engage with artworks as if swiping through profiles. On opening night, guests were given “matchmaker cards” to note which pieces they’d like to “pass” or “match” with.

Sienna Editions was co-founded by charcoal artist Hannah Leadbetter and landscape photographer Kevin Cowell. The duo secured funding from Innovate UK, enabling them to experiment with innovative printmaking techniques and explore new ways of presenting visual art.

Part of their broader ambition is to help transform Torbay into an art hub—something they compared to the transformation of St Ives into an artistic community. 

The exhibition features a range of local talent, including works by Szabotage, David Norman, Francesca Lawrence, Rosie Rowell, Peter Blakesley and Sally Loxton. Pieces by both Kevin and Hannah also appear in the show.

The launch was well attended, with even a surprise visit from Simon Singleton, otherwise known as the bay’s running storm trooper. 

Street and mural artist Szabotage praised the event on social media, saying: “A brilliant night bringing artists together to celebrate creativity and community. A huge thanks to Hannah and Kevin for curating such a powerful collection of contemporary art and photography—and to Artizan Collective for their incredible support.”

On Facebook, Hannah wrote: “Last night we finally launched our joint venture, @Sienna Editions, and the SwipeRight4Art exhibition—and I couldn’t be prouder. Kevin, those late nights framing, mounting and stretching canvas while blasting Rudimental and drum & bass have finally paid off!

“The journey here had its challenges, but seeing it all come together last night made every moment worth it. To everyone who came: thank you! The exhibition is open until 4 May at Artizan, 74 Fleet Walk, Torquay, and features some truly phenomenal local artists who believed in our vision from the start.”