As many of you know, I always try to do a few different events each year, as well as those I support regularly, and 2024 has been no exception. Although the year started with a first for me…!
AppArt Exhibition
In February, I was delighted to have two of my landscape pieces accepted for the AppArt Exhibition. In case you haven’t come across, AppArt, they have been curating exhibitions for over twenty years. They hold an annual exhibition at Priors Field School near Godalming in Surrey as well as smaller exhibitions at Grayswood, the studio where founders Evelyn and Gwyn, are based.
It was one of the larger exhibitions I have taken part in so it was great to see my work displayed alongside so many other talented artists – and pieces that didn’t include animals, which made a change for me! Here’s one example of my work on display.
Although I didn’t sell anything it was great to take part of a larger exhibition and see so many other talented artists. It also made up for the Downton Cuckoo Fair not happening this year (although I understand they will be going ahead again in 2025 on the first May Bank Holiday Saturday.
August was a busy month…!
Trout ‘n About took place the first weekend of August in Stockbridge. If you’ve never been, it’s a similar ‘vibe’ to the Downton Cuckoo Fair, with lovely traders spread down the whole length of Stockbridge High Street. This year they even closed it to traffic, which was fortunate as I was really amazed to see so many people there. It was really busy and lovely for the public to have more space to wonder. I gained a commission for a double iPet (still to be completed as the client is finding it hard to find the right photos!)
Hampshire Open Studios
Once again, I was delighted to be part of the Hampshire Open Studios annual opening 22nd to 26th August. This year, I took the plunge and decided to open my garden studio at home (although we
still raised money for St John’s Church in Farley Chamberlayne, where I often exhibit with other artists and makers!).
I turned too and made mountains of cake for visitors, and I was delighted that friends supported me by donating home grown produce, flowers and books, all to sell to raise funds for the church.
I had ninety-six visitors over the whole weekend, despite rain on two days. It was lovely to be able to display all of my work, making use of my trade stand gazebo as well as my studio. It will be a difficult decision whether to go back to Farley Church next year: more space or to be a part of the wonderful Farley Artists group? (Watch this space!) My sales were just as good too, selling many ceramics, which are also a first this year, and one of my paintings. Since it finished, I have also been asked by one of the visitors for a painting commission! (It was also a good excuse to use the event to host our annual networking BBQ.)
Winchester Art Club Exhibition
I was also pleased to have some work accepted for the Winchester Art Club (WAC) exhibition at The Arc (formerly the Winchester Discovery Centre on Jewry Street).
Founded in 1919, WAC encourages the practice of Fine Art and exhibition entries are judged by a specialist panel. I entered five pieces of art (one of which sold during the exhibition) and was able to have a large selection of greetings cards on sale too. Again, unusually for me, my pieces were all oils and not all of animals: ‘Hursley Trio’, a large canvas trio of horses’ heads; ‘Morning Ride’ a woodland scene; ‘Winter River’ SOLD; and two African head studies.
Also in Winchester, six other pieces of my work are being exhibited in the Butterfield Wing of The Royal Hants County Hospital in Winchester until 4 January 2025.
Romsey Art Group Autumn Exhibition
Hot on the heels of the Winchester event, for two weeks at the end of October, I was delighted to have a couple of pieces in the Romsey Art Group’s exhibition at Lee Church. Now called the Mountbatten Gallery and no longer used for services, the light and space in Lee Church is just joyful and a great place to see any artwork.
The artwork that was accepted to exhibit had a theme, they were all hunting related, being a gallery well placed for this theme being in the countryside. They included a watercolour of ‘HHH huntsman and his hounds’, an oil painting of the Hursley Hambledon Hunt hounds and an oil landscape painting entitled ‘Going Home’, the hunt at the end of the day silhouetted against a winter sun set. I didn’t sell any paintings but also accepted were four of my slate trivets with different oil painting images on each and I sold one of these (Colourful Horse).
Christmas Fairs
To round off the year, I was pleased to be part of two Christmas events. The first was a new venture for Hambrooks Garden Centre at Titchfield – a lovely venue with such friendly staff! In spite of it
running over the weekend that Storm Bert hit the UK, a good number of people wandered through the door, browsing at the dozen or so stallholders who had been invited to attend. I was delighted to take a commission (and the deposit) for it over the weekend.
Then, before packing away my easels for the Christmas break, I was pleased to have a table at the Rookwood School Christmas Fair in Andover. It ran for just one day, a Saturday, but despite Storm Darragh it was well supported and a very festive day with some ceramics sold, meeting some lovely people and a wonderful choir!
Happy Christmas to all of you!
Looking forward to 2025…
I do find that events are a great way to get my artwork in front of new people so I shall look to do a few new things next year again. As always, Hampshire Open Studios will be in my diary – dates to be confirmed but usually the fourth week in August, up to the Bank Holiday weekend – so keep your eye out for updates on that.
Thank you for your support this year Happy New Year and see you soon.
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