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Camden News - by DAN CARRIER and CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
Published: 26 March 2009

Singer Tony Bennett with Gillian Catto in 2005

Same name but new era for celebrated art gallery

Curator with famous friends leaves business to old colleagues

THE name above the door remains the same but, with the clink of champagne glasses, the Catto Gallery in Hampstead launched a new era on Thursday night.
The fine art salesroom has been a fixture in Heath Street for 23 years and has boasted shows by the likes of American crooner Tony Bennett and a celebrity clientele including Olivia Newton John and actor Peter O’Toole.
But Gillian Catto, the Catto Gallery’s founder and curator, who helped draw in the familiar faces and some of the world’s best and most challenging artists, has decided to call it a day.
Two of her former employees have stepped up to take it over.
New bosses Iain Barratt and Imogen Green have 20 years’ experience at the gallery between them and say, under their watch, it will be business as usual.
Ms Green said: “I had worked for Gillian for 11 years part-time so I have a good knowledge of the business. Iain has worked here for nine years. We know all the clients. He would chose the art work with Gillian and create the exhibitions.”
She added: “It was a little bit scary – the business went into liquidation and we had to buy it off the liquidators.”
Mr Barratt said they would continue to build on the gallery’s proud record.
Critics have often written affectionately about shows they have reviewed at the gallery and it has won plaudits for helping to establish Hampstead as somewhere to see fine art.
“The Catto Gallery is a very successful business with a devoted local following and a genuine international reputation,” Mr Barratt said
“We’re delighted to secure its future, and look forward to building on everything that has worked so well,”
The opening night re-launch featured works by artist John Thompson, who has drawn on Lowry-style images of northern England.
Two years ago, Ms Catto was left in mourning when her husband Peter Catto, was found dead at a holiday home in France. Ms Catto could not be reached for comment this week.

• The current exhibition runs until April 5. www.catto.co.uk

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