Gertie, the lost goose, was just one of the fascinating inspirations behind works on a bank holiday arts trail.
The young greylag goose arrived on artist Liz Chaderton’s doorstep out of the blue.
She explained: “The person who found her just said, ‘I know you like animals, can you help?’
“I took Gertie in, thinking she was domesticated and put out pleas to find her owner but no one answered. Gertie, who couldn’t fly, spent the night in our downstairs loo.
“By morning she’d gathered her strength and it was clear she was a wild goose. I took her to Swan Lifeline at Eton in a cat box. They looked after until she was old enough to fly away, free.”
Gertie’s brief visit inspired Liz of Hurst to paint her portrait which joined Liz’s other bird and animal pictures on the Henley Arts Trail. Artists from all over Wokingham borough took part in the trail at Hurst, Twyford, Charvil and Wargrave venues.
Joe de Mounteney’s Hurst studio loo became a mini-exhibition room. His sculpture of a family under an umbrella perched in the shower cubicle. A kite man picture hovered over the basin. And above the loo was his colourful and self-lit cupboard door.
Also at Joe’s studio were sculptor Sadie Brockbank of Mortimer and painter in oils Catherine Ingleby of Shurlock Row.
At Twyford’s Orchard Estate, manager of Wokingham’s Oxfam shop, Imogen Waller, revealed that some of her delicate silver jewellery was inspired by beachcombing.
She joined neighbours Rebecca Howard and Lucy Keeble. Rebecca’s painting of her daughter on a distanced walk with her friend was a moving reminder of covid restrictions. Lucy’s pictures featured the sea, light and landscapes.
Three generations of one artistic Charvil family exhibited for the fourth year. Grandad Rob Harrision included a scene of Lviv station in Ukraine and fundraised for Ukraine.
His daughters Emma Boote of Charvil, and Claire Burriss of Earley, displayed their work. Claire’s daughter Chloe, nine, sold her paintings and poems. Her brother Charley, 11, exhibited last year.
At Charvil Village Hall the skills included enamel on copper art and jewellery by Andie Ayoubi of Barkham.
Wokingham artist Mick McNicholas’s portraits drew praise. He runs a life drawing group in Molly Millars Lane and portraits sessions at The Duke’s Head in Wokingham.
Two more Wokingham artists took part. Sarah Abell displayed her ceramics and polymer clay beads. One of Jayne Leighton Herd’s abstract paintings bore the words ‘just open your eyes’, a message from lockdowns.
Twyford artists Lorna Minton with her botanical paintings and Lisa Elliott with her resin craft inspired by the sea brought joy.
At Woodclyffe Hostel, Wargrave, work by three Wargrave Theatre Workshop friends included: Sheila Williams’s Camelot panto set design; copies of Canaletto Venice scenes by Ann Roberts, a WTW director; and costume maker Judi Rowlands’ silver jewellery. Twyford stained glass teacher, Vanessa Beresford’s work included an elegant heron sculpture.
