As Oxfordshire Artweeks continues and venues prepare to open across North and West Oxfordshire, Wise Investment in Chipping Norton presents a rainbow of talent under one roof, with paintings, photography, ceramics, woodworking, stone carving, glass, eco-printed clothing and millinery – the perfect microcosm of the art festival, and open to all.
Here are just some of the treats you’ll find there:
You’ll find work by Louise Regan – best known for her architectural montages of Cotswold buildings, local towns and places further afield. Her latest works include a montage of Europe, spanning the architecture of a continent to celebrate the diverse culture, history and national identities evident, alongside a montage of 16 interesting buildings from across the Cotswolds.
Jane Stillwell’s dreamlike abstracted photography, which she creates by layering multiple exposures, is inspired by the natural world. She calls it her photographic metamorphosis, having entered the exciting world of creative abstraction. This process involves layering up to nine images and adjusting the exposure or temperature between shots, followed by detailed editing. Each composition is an exploration of the unknown—a journey into creativity without boundaries.
Selma Stagg’s striking handmade jewellery in silver, black, red and turquoise is created from precious metal clay and porcelain, which is both strong and lightweight. Each ‘stone’ is individually shaped and moulded by hand, before being fired in an electric kiln.
Vivien Sieber throws her natural organic pots by hand, blending white and textured clays to create round and generous shapes with variation across the glazes. Her domestic stoneware is also deigned with practicality in mind, so expected to be used and enjoyed.
Caroline Nixon is an eco-printer who uses the natural pigments and tannins in leaves, bark and flowers to infuse textiles with colour and pattern. The fabrics she uses for her wall art, clothing and homewares are all made with natural fibres.
Melissa Keskinklinc is showing colourful blown, fused and lampworked glass art inspired by nature. The glass and enamel artist creates handmade decorative yet functional glasswork to add colour to any space. Each piece is designed and created by hand and aims to make people smile.
Bethany Hughes’ quirky, whimsical counted cross-stitch and ‘counted thread’ embroidery designs are inspired by the beautiful English countryside, stately homes and historic textiles, and a lifetime spent in art galleries and museums.Â
Hugh Grant’s large stained glass windows are influenced by ideas from Africa, Australia, mysticism and nature, to ensure maximum colour and light, making his work ideal for all locations.
With an elemental beauty Rosie Colvin’s silver jewellery often incorporates fossils, pebbles, shells and semi-precious stones found on the sea shore, largely influenced by her time living in Senegal with her Senegalese family and friends.
Judith Yarrow – has continued to expand her work on temperate/Celtic rainforests with new paintings of the woods in spring, when light filters through early bright leaves onto the small flowers that embroider the woodland floor.
Millliner Verna Wass creates colourful and unusual hats entirely by hand using traditional couture millinery techniques. She works predominantly in natural fibres such as felt, straw and silk using wire and buckram to create the underlying structures before embellishing them with beading, ribbon work and feathers. This year’s collection is inspired by the theme ‘Causes Célèbres’.
And because Oxfordshire Artweeks is all about celebrating art in the community, Wise Investment is presenting the work of  talented GCSE and A level students at Chipping Norton School, sitting perfectly alongside the offerings of the established artists exhibiting there.
Oxfordshire Artweeks at Wise Investment runs from Saturday May 9 – Sunday May 17 at The Great Barn, Chalford Park Barns, Oxford Road, Chipping Norton OX7 5QR
