New beginnings with exhibition for arts festival

THE re-opening of the Crown Inn was partnered with an exhibition in the barn, displaying artworks by creatives in the area, as part of Oxfordshire Artweeks.

Five artists displayed work at the exhibition, which ended on Sunday 10.

Jane White, from Turville Heath, was showing her ceramics. She said: “I pit fire them in a huge, outdoor pit on our farm, which we created with diggers. I burn organic material to make a huge fire with fallen wood, which creates a beautiful pattern.”

Ms White created vases, salt pots and a sculpture in the shape of a toy horse from the third century BC which she saw in Pakistan.

Rachel Wallace, a photographer from Frieth, exhibited her pictures which were taken in woodland areas in Turville, Marlow, Henley and Hambleden.

She said: “I call myself a creative photographer. I use alternative methods, I stitch all my prints and I fold all my prints but it is all to do with nature and making people aware of the benefits of the environment.”

Marie Robinson, from Benson, displayed her still-life oil paintings of food, most of which took a fortnight to produce. They were produced in her space at Turville Studios.

She said: “I work from life so had the subject in front of me for each painting. I work in oil because it holds colour so beautifully.”

Marnie Watson, from Pishill, exhibited acrylic landscape paintings.

She said: “The sketches were done in Cornwall when I was there for two weeks. I was down there in September at the Penwith Peninsula and I’ve been working on them since then.”

Jackie Hughes, from Watlington, showed acrylic paintings made at home.

“I paint anything,” she said. “I want to experiment more so that work can develop.”