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Gallery defies police and puts more nudes on show

Val Harris Gallery wall featuring both canvas and framed life drawings of men and women. Val Harris
The gallery includes 50 nude artworks of both men and women

A gallery asked by police to remove a nude painting from its window display has now opened a nude exhibition to "celebrate life drawings".

Police responded to objection from locals in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, about a painting of a naked female cowboy displayed in the gallery's window in September.

But Val Harris, the owner of The Chair Gallery, is keen to normalise nude drawing and said "life drawing is the life blood of any artist".

The gallery walls are now adorned with 50 images of naked men and women from 30 artists, including a full-frontal male nude which has been placed in the window.

Ms Harris described the display as less of a protest and more of an "educational tool" in support of artists and life drawing, which intends to help "normalise" nudity.

Nudes are often considered standard for galleries, arts schools and life drawing classes, but Ms Harris said commercial galleries tend to avoid them.

"Most artists do life drawings. Life drawings are the life blood of any artist," she said.

Val Harris Picture of Val Harris, shop owner, facing a life drawing of a nude woman wearing knee high boots. Val Harris
Val Harris hopes to open up conversations around the natural body through artwork

In September, police asked Ms Harris to remove a painting by student Poppy Baynham, 22, which depicted a woman wearing cowboy boots with her legs spread, revealing a black triangle with pink wool on top, rather than genitals.

Speaking of the incident in September, Ms Baynham said: "It just shows how closed-minded people are, and let's say if I was a famous artist I don't think anyone would say anything."

Police told Ms Harris that some members of public had made reports of abuse about the image, titled "This is not pornography".

The gallery owner said nude images were always shown in her gallery and she "didn't think anything of it".

Ms Harris refused to remove the display and instead placed a sign next to the painting urging passers-by to come in and share their views in a visitor book.

A painting of a naked woman with her legs spread in a gallery window, with a small notice in front of the painting telling visitors they could leave comments in a book.
The painting of a woman wearing cowboy boots with her legs spread sparked complaints by locals in September

"I think people were uncomfortable about the position of the woman but support for this exhibition has been really positive."

The display now features a male full-frontal life drawing in the window, which Ms Harris said had sparked a very different response to the female drawing.

"People are fascinated by the female body in particular."

"You hear the odd snigger [at the male drawing] but I have not heard a parent or child talk about it or be offended by it," she added.

Val Harris Picture of the gallery window display, one large canvas in centre of a woman's bare back, a framed line drawing of a naked man (right) and a framed image of a hunched over naked woman (left). Val Harris
The exhibition will run until the 9 November

Ms Harris is aiming to widen the conversation around the natural body, with an opinion book also available for viewers to leave their comments about the recent exhibition.

The exhibition, called Slay Hay, features work from 30 artists who were selected from an open submission.

It will run until 9 November but Ms Harris hopes to make the exhibition an annual event.