Artists make splash in urban and rural scenes

NICOLA Duncan’s paintings of swans are becoming something of a collector’s item.

The artist is coming to Henley town hall with Henley Art and Crafts Guild for its 72nd annual autumn exhibition.

An art teacher at Gillotts School, Nicola loves capturing scenes in nature and on the river.

“I live in Caversham,” says Nicola. “Like Henley, we’ve both got the River Thames. I work in oils but also watercolours and I love to include reflections on the water so there’s lots of nature involved in my work.

“I love interaction with the swans, they strike so many poses, from the gentle and serene to splashing around and one of my pictures I’m putting in is a swan.

“I love the way they really catch the light. I’ve got quite a few collectors who also share my love of swans.

“I had an evening swan, a paddling swan, a sparkly swan and I’ve had lots of them made into cards.

“I’m also inspired by local landscapes and I do love to capture a bluebell wood in the springtime, that kind of thing. I also like to paint still life, especially flowers and fruit and veg and I like to focus on the luscious colours.

“So, I take my inspiration from impressionist painters, both old ones and contemporary ones who work like that in a painterly style. So realistic but painted with lots of brush marks as well with light being the main thing.

“I take my paints when I go on holiday in Devon, Cornwall and Pembrokeshire. I like the sea and the changing light and the changing British weather.

“I have lots of sketchbooks full of drawings but mainly I take lots of photos when I’m out and about. I usually paint when I’m back in my studio which is tucked away under the trees at the end of the garden and is very peaceful.”

Originally from Nottinghamshire, Nicola studied graphics and illustration but decided to go into fine art. She moved to Reading to do teacher training in the Nineties. She joined the guild a few years ago.

“I didn’t get round to joining and then a friend said to me, ‘Oh, you should join because they’re so friendly’ and they really are, so I just wish I’d joined sooner.

“I open my studio for Caversham Arts Trail, in May. I’m also on Henley Arts Trail as part of the guild. I find both of them are good opportunities to meet local people and talk about my work and they are fun to do.”

Nicola, who takes commissions, adds: “I’ve painted a range of things, like people, dogs, buildings and boats.

“I sell original paintings as well as lots of prints and cards, they make nice gifts. I’ve exhibited in Reading, Wallingford, Henley and the surrounding area and the last exhibition I did was with Nettlebed Art and Craft Society in August. I do love the friendliness of the guild, that everyone is very approachable and works as a team together to help out with different skills.

“I’m on Susan’s team to put the exhibition up. It’s just nice to meet the local people and to just talk about all the work that everybody is doing and there’s so much interest and love for it.

“Henley has still got the craft, which is lovely, so we have textiles and glassware and things like that, so you might get some pottery and some bags and scarves, it’s great and they all work well as an exhibition.”

Reading watercolour artist Ashwani Verma is known for his evocative paintings of cityscapes. He will be showing three paintings and two browsers.

“I have a deep passion for art and a refined technique honed over years of dedicated practice,” he says.

“I like to capture the shifting moods of urban life, both sunlit and rain-soaked. I work primarily in watercolour, favouring a limited palette and often mix my own greys from primary colours to maintain harmony and cohesion.”

l Henley Art and Crafts Guild’s 72nd annual autumn exhibition will be held in the council chambers at Henley town hall, from Friday, October 17 to Tuesday, October 28. There will be an opening evening on the Friday. For more information, visit www.henleyacg.org