A MOTHER, son and daughter have opened a new art gallery in Oxford to sell works by local artists – including themselves.

Rona Marsden has launched the gallery on Walton Street in Jericho with the help of her son Chase and her daughter Rie.

She is even displaying some of her 23-year-old son’s artwork alongside her own masterpieces.

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Ms Marsden, who was born in Toronto, Canada, got the confidence to open the permanent gallery after a pop-up shop that she ran on Ship Street last year proved to be a success.

She spoke to the Oxford Mail about her new gallery as part of our Shop Local for Oxmas campaign, encouraging people to shop locally in the run-up to Christmas, and support local businesses which need help now more than ever.

Oxford Mail: OXmas Shopping campaign for Christmas 2020. Oxford Mail version with transparent backgroundOXmas Shopping campaign for Christmas 2020. Oxford Mail version with transparent background

The trained artist said she considered not opening the gallery until after the pandemic eased – but then she realised that it could be the perfect time to open a new independent business.

She explained: “People are more interested in independent shops now; people are being encouraged to shop locally, so I decided to go ahead.

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“I was planning to open at the beginning of November, but we had lockdown, so I had a month when I just worked on my window display.”

In the end, she opened the gallery the day that the second lockdown ended – Wednesday, December 2.

She said: “I had some people in and had a few sales.

Oxford Mail: Rona Marsden in her new gallery with a set of paintings by surrealist artist Desmond Morris. Picture: David FlemingRona Marsden in her new gallery with a set of paintings by surrealist artist Desmond Morris. Picture: David Fleming

“Last year I sold something every day at my pop-up store – but lots of people looking in the window is promising.”

Ms Marsden sells her own works, but is also exhibiting other works by other artists, including the renowned surrealist painter Desmond Morris.

Oxford Mail: Oxford artist Rona Marsden in her gallery on Walton Street, Ronapainting Gallery. She is pictured next to her portait of surrealist painter Desmond Morris. Picture: David FlemingOxford artist Rona Marsden in her gallery on Walton Street, Ronapainting Gallery. She is pictured next to her portait of surrealist painter Desmond Morris. Picture: David Fleming

She added: “I hope to change my exhibit every six weeks and will only be showing original work, mostly local – we don’t have enough art venues for the number of creatives in this city.”

Currently the gallery has works of six Oxfordshire artists on display, including Rona’s son.

Mr Marsden also works in the gallery while Ms Marsden’s daughter, Rie Blake Marsden, 25, helped to set up the website.

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The family have lived in Oxford for more than 20 years, and Ms Marsden has worked in several artistic venues including the former O3 gallery in the Oxford Castle, and is a member of the Oxford Art Society.

Ms Marsden said she is well known in the artistic community for her oil painting ‘Class of ‘87’, showing Oxford University's notorious Bullingdon Club, featuring Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Prime Minister David Cameron.

The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11am to 6pm.

Oxford Mail: Oxford artist Rona Marsden in her gallery on Walton Street, Ronapainting Gallery. She is pictured holding a sculpture by Frederic Chevarin. Picture: David FlemingOxford artist Rona Marsden in her gallery on Walton Street, Ronapainting Gallery. She is pictured holding a sculpture by Frederic Chevarin. Picture: David Fleming