Allan Henderson with “Dazzleships (confuse, deceive, distort)”, a piece in UV and glow, dark paint and print. This work has been shortlisted for the Royal Academy 2018 summer exhibition.
Working in textiles and papers, Jayne Ward is seen here part way through creating “Beach Huts” aimed at ending up as a unique greetings card.
With finely observed lizards and eight hand formed hooked dividers, Lucy Lambourn’s ceramic bird bath gives new interest to the skill of throwing a large diameter bowl and stand.
Surrounded by her original prints and artworks on either side with finely printed and painted textile scarves, Rosemary Harper couldn’t resist a smile when asked to show the thought she’d put into her works. To her left the “Anemone” is a watercolour while “Iris” is a linoprint.“Teal Duck” to her right is also a linoprint.
Coniston Water” by Carolyn Beale is a reduction linoprint this one being one of a limited edition of 6. It’s a tricky technique involving cutting away more from a single lino block after each colour is printed in order to reveal part of the image. Cutting away means there’s no going back and the block is destroyed in the process so no further prints can be made, making each edition unique
Henley Arts Trail sponsor David Meadowcroft (The Picture Framer) is seen here with an example of Elizabeth Baldin’s work, “Purple Joy” in watercolour and ink, carefully framed by David
Capturing light, reflections and colours from nature, painter Helen Long is seen here with two of her oil on canvas paintings. Above is “Frosty Field, Swallowfield” while below is “November morning at Dinton Pastures”.
As painters are acutely aware, still life is a tough challenge and Shelagh Casebourne has risen to it brilliantly with this pair of oils on canvas. “Snowdrops in Blue Jug” above and “Primroses and Poetry” below are every bit as expressive as their nineteenth century Impressionist forebears, just “rather less costly”.
Photographer and Henley Arts Trail Organiser Chris Harper is pictured here with “Shin Falls” a limited edition photograph which was shot in Lairg, Sutherland. For those who don’t know where the falls are, they’re just across the River Shin from Achinduich.
“Dolphins” by Wendy Chamberlain, chair of West Forest Potters, is a new piece created in burnished and smoked ceramic, wire and wood to showcase two of these intriguing creatures at play – chasing an invisible bow wave.
As well as her well known “Torso” figurines, West Forest Potter Suzanne Needham has been working on waney edged bowls, as this colourful “Blue Spirals” example demonstrates.
Using a wooden crate as an informal stand, Carolyn Blackwell’s sea green “Tagine” in stoneware ceramic is seen here next to her “Blue Wave Bowl”, also in stoneware ceramic.
With “Promise of Autumn Colour”, Bernadette Varilone has created this giant pair of colourful acer seeds mounted on a cleaved acer trunk. The acer is a type of tree or shrub that’s more commonly known as maple.
Showing “Diamonds in the Mail”, contemporary jeweller Linda Tyler has combined this sterling silver chain-link necklace with a group of black diamonds at the focal point.
Theresa May visited the Henley Arts Trail in 2018.
Jonathan (Joe) de Mounteney with “DNA Boy” an oil on canvas painting which evokes life in the double helix as a young man stands alone, arms wide.
Jonathan (Joe) de Mounteney pictured here at the Whistley Art barn with “Quantum Navigation”, his oil on canvas painting, showing a becalmed sailor taking bearings on a super-moon.
“Horse and Riders”, a cast bronze sculpture, is a piece by Sadie Brockbank showing how interdependence and cooperation might work in nature.
“Horse and Riders”, a cast bronze sculpture, is a piece by Sadie Brockbank showing how interdependence and cooperation might work in nature.
Liz Chaderton’s “Cosmos” is a mixed media piece showcasing her distinctive style of inks, watercolours and metal leaf on canvas. Like all cats and despite the title, this particular moggy isn’t about to be launched into space, it’s just that you can see the universe in their eyes.
The two larger pictures on the wall here are (upper) “Beach Huts, Dorset” on a very tranquil day and (lower) Burano, an island in Venice, well known for its colourful homes. Painter and Henley Arts Trail Organiser, Jo Keiller, created these pieces using Acrylics on canvas.
Painter and Henley Arts Trail Organiser, Jo Keiller, is pictured here with a pet portrait commission of “Bertie”, a Welsh Terrier together with the union jack bone he’s guarding so intently. In acrylics, it’s an example of Jo’s work which shows near photographic realism.
In this commission of acrylics, on clay, on canvas, Julie Adlard’s “St Ives” is a bas-relief form of painting which is due to be exhibited later this year in galleries in Devon and Cornwall.
With her “Egyptian Head” in crank clay and Angel in terracotta with multi-coloured slip, Dawn Carroll showcased a range of techniques at the URC hall in Twyford.
Jill Chadwick’s abstract circles in glass with patterned textures looked good enough to eat, certainly the mosaic heron in the background looked like it was eyeing them up, “lit” by a mosaic sun and mirror alongside.
Connie Fielder’s kingfishers in bas-relief and full 3D showed a deftness of touch in ceramic with hand painted underglazes to give a soft matt finish to these beautiful birds.
With a pleasing view of the rolling Dorset countryside and distant sea, hand painted on silk, Stephanie Gay demonstrates an accomplished technique in this hard-to-master art form.
In a move away from conventional 3D ceramics, Holly Louise Inglis has been experimenting this year with these examples of “Calligraphy Cat”. Based on 3D lines to give impressions of form and movement, the pieces are created in terracotta paperclay then fired with resists and glazes.
Sam Knight’s close observation of local roads in these pieces “Road I” up to to “Road VII” have been created with acrylics and spray paint, together with inks and plaster on canvas to give a richly textured image. They’ve then been surrounded with inset frames by Ralph Spearpoint.
Agata Szymaniec’s bold use of the tendency of watercolour to form long runs has been put to good effect to create this image of St Michel in Paris on a wet day just after the sun’s come back out.
In this semi-abstract “Sky of Dreams” in acrylics on panel, framed, Jayne Leighton Herd has created a form of colourful seascape which positively glows with light when illuminated well from above.
As an accompaniment to her better known outdoor abstract towers, ceramics creator Helen Ormerod shows here the colourful “Cockerels” that she’s created using stoneware ceramics with botz and scarva brush-on glazes.
Demonstrating fine lines with these pen and ink drawings, Heather McAteer is pictured here with “Charlotte’s Thackeray Dress” together with “The Dark Hedges” from Ballymoney, County Antrim below it.
With an impressionistic style verging on the abstract, Satu Vartiainen uses acrylics to depict “St Paul’s London” in a new light.
Elaine Martin’s beautiful “Ginkgo torque” in silver clearly shows this jeweller’s skills to good effect.
“Skater’s Waltz” is a shot of a Dalmatian Pelican who’s having a hard time landing cleanly on this frozen lake. Pictured in northern Greece, Anne Whiteley has created this framed print from one of her original photographs.
With “Woosehill Summer”, artist Mick McNicolas has used oils on board to show the tranquility of this footpath through the trees close to the centre of Wokingham.
Charvil artist Este MacLeod has created “Springtime” using acrylics on linen canvas to produce an original painting commissioned for textiles and homeware products in the USA. “Laika”, a young Lagotto Romagnola breed of truffle hunting dog, wanted to share in the creative credit.
Emma Boote here shows “Wave” using inks on acid free paper with “Curl” in a similar medium on the easel in the background.
Photographer Jamie Samson put his Canon 7D camera with 70-200mm lens to good effect to create “Follow the Leader”. Taken in South Africa, he’s used this along with other examples of his work to create the book “Jamie Samson Photography” shown to the left of the triptych.
Aimed at raising funds for the Alzheimer’s Society, here we see water colour artist Rob Harrison with “Lovebirds” a card created from one of his paintings taken from life and from pictures.
Here in “Une Jolie Ruelle à Sion”, Claire Burriss has used oils on board to get a natural look in this pretty lane in the small town of Sion in north west France.
A work in progress, artist Claire Burriss is creating a portrait of her son Charlie, aged 7, in this oils on canvas picture, showing her skills in portraiture painting from photos as well as life. Charlie’s patience in posing for the camera, whilst this photographer made repeated attempts to capture portrait artist and son all in focus, is a credit to him and his family.
Roger Smalley was showing a range of 3D works in various media. Here we see “Neptune” carved in green soapstone with “Pipes” in the foreground. Roger’s admiration for W. Heath Robinson can be seen from the smaller sculptures in the foreground, all created from ‘found materials’ (that’s bits and bobs to you and me).
In this monotype on fine tissue paper titled “Ing @ Moel y Geifr”, Carole Stephens created the piece after making a series of drawings to start with. Moel y Geifr is a mountain farmhouse just above Harlech in the Snowdonia National Park.
Using a collage of watercolour textures on 300lb paper, Linda Saul has produced a series of images of cottages. “1, The Wharf, Harbour Wall, Polperro” shows here the effect which this unusual and interesting technique can create
Sitting outside on a beautiful sunny afternoon, here we see Kathy Drogemuller undertaking a basket weaving commission in Sonning using locally sourced willow withies which are kept pliable by being stored in the damp towelling on the ground nearby.
Sitting outside on a beautiful sunny afternoon, here we see Kathy Drogemuller undertaking a basket weaving commission in Sonning using locally sourced willow withies which are kept pliable by being stored in the damp towelling on the ground nearby.
New to portraiture, here we see two of Diane Everitt’s friends who’ve been persuaded to participate in this creation “Glastonbury 2002” in acrylic on canvas. Diane’s enjoyment of the work is evident from her expression as a first timer on the Henley Arts Trail.
On the stage in Sonning and surrounded by a fellow artist’s work, Susan M Wallis is pictured here with her “Hope and Contemplation” chaise longue. Using a photo-montage of original paintings that tell a story, the piece is created with digitally printed upholstery fabric and is accompanied by a storybook.
Aiming to out-Hockney David Hockney himself with what were arguably the biggest, boldest and brightest images on the trail, Ollie Perry has created a set of abstract and semi abstract pieces which are hard to miss. Fortunately, he was persuaded to take his own sunglasses off for a few minutes to pose beside this piece titled “Disguising the Window of Opportunity”, a mixed media creation using pen, ink, acrylics and art on canvas.
The beauty of Sonning was clearly on view in this aerial shot taken from a drone above the village. Meryem Parker was showcasing the work that husband Phil undertakes for people who are looking for overhead photography or videos, whether it’s a private occasion like a wedding or a commercial one like an outdoor survey for example.
Babs Hughesdon here demonstrates that it is possible to sew and pose for the photographer at the same time as she successfully avoided sewing her fingers to the exquisite fabric “Button Brooch” she was in the middle of making. Babs went on to comment that the skill was in the choice of co-ordinated fabrics, but for the fumble-fingered like me, just not sticking a pin in one’s finger is rated as ‘a result’.
Children’s book creator and illustrator JJ Vizern here shows his observational skills with a fine pen and ink study of Sonning High Street. Supplemented by Letraset pigment pens, he’s added vibrant colours to draw the eye to the centre of this piece.
Holding one of his plainer walking sticks in contrasting core and surface woods, woodworker Chris Hughesdon is seen here chatting with two visitors who were admiring his work – particularly the spiral turned multi-colour walking canes.
Meeting Sarah Pye at The Big Plant Nursery in Twyford was an opportunity to observe the artist-at-work, while she was creating this painting of a hare. Using a small palette knife in an impasto style, Sarah was having to work fast as, due to the heat, the acrylics were drying up quickly on the disposable paper palette she’d put them on.
Seated in front of “Hollyhocks”, an oil on calico commission piece, Richard Conway Jones takes “created in Twyford” to another level by constructing the wooden frames, then stretching the fabric over them, then preparing the surface, and and finally painting the picture.
This photograph doesn’t do full justice to Robert Baldwin’s huge oil on canvas panorama titled “The Thames in London, 1982”. Taken from three 40 inch square original drawings, Robert took lots of time working out how to get the width, depth and detail he wanted in this challenging composition. The end results is simply fantastic.
Experimenting for 2018, Steve Batty created his “Portrait of Mademoiselle L” as a collage using magazines and a pritt stick to hold everything together before applying paints to create this stunning image.
Here we see one of the Henley Arts Trail Sponsors, Jenny Buratta, with her “Garden in Lorgues”, an acrylic and mixed media creation on canvas. Anyone who’s visited Buratta’s at The Royal Oak in Ruscombe will know that as well as creating excellent food, Jenny also loves working with fabrics – as the Mad Hatter’s headgear to her left shows.
With the sunlight ‘just right’, as well as illuminating Sofie Eddols’ face, it’s thrown her William Morris textured bangles into high relief for once. This year Sofie’s also putting her energy into another creation, but he or she won’t be appearing for another couple of months.
With this black edged horse chestnut coffee table, woodworker Guy Philp demonstrates his skills in combining a fabulous piece of wood, together with paint and steel to create this imaginative piece.
In making floral headdresses, whether for adults or children, Jo Budden’s happy to model her own work during the Henley Arts Trail and father Dick is happy that photographs of her work stay on the walls as a reminder for the rest of the year.
In standing in front of this set of mosaic mirrors, ceramics creator Caroline Budden was not only putting the J and C letters behind her, she was also giving the photographer a bit of a challenge – not to be pictured in his own shot.
With “Kind Tiger” and “Mischief” the cat, Helen Holroyd took time to describe how these limited edition prints are created. Starting from an original pen and ink line drawing on paper, Helen then uses a computer to add areas of colour. She prints the end result onto archival paper (acid free) with archival pigment inks to provide a picture which will last for years. “It’s like screen printing, but without the mess” says Helen.
As a commercial, as well as a fine art sculptor, this year Dick Budden stood beside “Dragon”, a large sculpture which he’d created for Sleeping Beauty at the Windsor Theatre for the Christmas 2017 pantomime season.
With the hottest May Day holiday weekend on record since it was introduced in 1978, if anything it was verging on too warm, as thousands of us visited the various venues around the Henley Arts Trail on the Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The A to W of the Trail
With an even wider mix of creative talent than last year, there were abstracts, baskets, ceramics, drawings, enamels, films, glass, headdresses, illustrations, jewellery, knit-works, landscapes, mosaics, novelties, outdoor-artworks, prints, quilts, refreshments, sculptures, textiles, urban-sketches, videographics, and workshops on offer.
Not quite an A to Z of techniques in art, and while I had to cheat on a couple of the letters in the above list, even an absence of X’s Y’s and Z’s still left many choices for most of the other letters.
Art in the Borough
While there were 15 venues on the Henley side of the Thames, we’re The Wokingham Paper so the photographic tour matches the paper’s focus, and keeps to the 17 venues on “our” side of the river.
Everywhere was free to get in, so you could wander round and look (gawp in my case) at what was being shown. You could meet the artists and learn how and why they’d created their works.
Pieces to appreciate
The level of skill on display ranged from “I could to that” (in my imagination at least) right on up to “wow”. The other plus point was that the you could buy almost all of the items without needing a second mortgage and some of them were really very inexpensive indeed.
I’m indebted to all the creative people for taking time to chat and share their interests and their works.
All the works photographed have been created since the 2017 Trail and are a testament to the talent and sheer hard work that the participants all put in.
