Remember how good things used to taste? I am transported back to those memories this autumn as we celebrate a bumper apple harvest. I don’t know if my favourite apple of the day is the one picked in the early morning, fresh, crisp and crunchy, and still cold and covered in night dew; or the…
Not only is her dog company in her studio, but dog-walks provide Bronwen Coussens with the ideal excuse to ramble through the local countryside collecting grasses, seeds and wild flowers to inspire her beautiful ceramic vessels. Bronwen is originally from South Africa but currently lives in the picturesque riverside town of Henley-on-Thames. Preferring to hand-build…
As the abundant autumn harvest comes in and larders are flush with fruits, pickles and preserves, it appears artists are inspired too, to paint the feast of plenty. Thick oil paint, rich colour tones and a tumbling profusion of fruit and flora fill these canvas boards by Cape artist Sonja Nel, coming up on our…
I recently had an email requesting a card. Not a large purchase, and we did not have the exact one available. But I pursued the matter and obtained the request. This is the reply we had back;- “Thank you so much for remembering me and my love of that card. What a lovely way to start…
As we steam towards our winter exhibition in November, the art begins to roll in. Whilst most work flies in by air, sometimes it chugs into our local train station. As was the case this week, when I met Chris Nel, husband of talented SA artist Sonja Nel, on the 13.36 from Solihull to London.…
“Christmas Kaleidoscope“ a winter exhibition of contemporary paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewellery and craft by artists from Africa Saturday 14th – Saturday 28th November 2015, daily 10am to 4pm at Fillingdon Farm, Piddington, Bucks HP14 3BL, UK www.fillingdon.com Christmas is coming with its usual raiment of visual sparkle, sensuous aroma and glow of goodwill. As we snuggle into winter, we luxuriate in the rich…
The West Wycombe Art Group chose Fillingdon Farm as the venue for their first outdoor painting class of the season this month. A beautiful windless, warmish spring evening presented itself, and a dozen or so talented local artists enjoyed the panoramic views as well as tea and biscuits and a good chat! The nearby bluebell…
“Roots & Wings” an exhibition of new paintings by Mandy McKay, Everett & Frances Duarte, Sheena Chadwick, Jenny Parsons, Nadia Kisseleva, Zoe Mafham, Sharleen Boaden, Mary-Jane Alexander, Elva Palombo, Yvette Molennar, Derric van Rensburg and Lisette Forsyth; as well as a new collection of outdoor stone sculptures from Zimbabwe. Saturday 13th – Saturday 27th June…
It is an art show, but with daffodils down the drive; daisies in the field; magnolia in the garden; cowslips in the paddock; hyacinths in the flower beds; primroses round the pond; jasmine on the pergola and lily-of-the-valley in the yard – it may be the prettiest yet! We are expecting spring sunshine tomorrow too,…
Did you hear the one about a vase made by a South African, selected by a Zimbabwean, exhibited in Britain, bought by a Spaniard and exported to Belgium? No, not a joke but the real story of this gorgeous ceramic vessel fresh from the Gauteng kiln of talented artist Christine Williams, which we chose as…