WE are in for a white Christmas if the Mayor of Henley’s Christmas card is anything to go by.
Lorraine Hillier’s official card is by local artist Camilla Dowse and depicts New Street covered in a thick blanket of snow.
Looking down the road towards the River Thames, the image shows snow settling on the rooftops and pavements while in the foreground flakes are still falling.
Camilla, who lives in York Road and runs a studio in the town, painted the winter scene after taking photographs and making sketches of the street earlier this year.
She says she is “inspired” by Henley and regularly makes sketches as well as exhibiting her work in venues such as the Old Fire Station Gallery in Upper Market Place.
Just over a year ago she was voted artist of the year in Artists and Illustrators Magazine’s annual awards and it was this that prompted Lorraine to ask Camilla if she could use the picture for her Christmas card.
The Mayor said: “I know Camilla through her mother. She’s an excellent artist who has won all these awards and holds exhibitions in London. She specialises in buildings and street scenes and because this one was local I thought it was really lovely. It’s always nice to support local artists.”
In previous years the Mayor’s card has featured designs by local primary school children.
Camilla said: “The picture is looking down towards the river. I remember on that day there was a deep shadow so I made a few quick drawings and went back to my studio.
“I love Henley. I live here and work here and every now and again something in the town inspires me.
“Lorraine and I are very good friends — she’s a very kind and lovely lady. She is a great person for the town and does a lot of work which she doesn’t always get recognised for. I’m delighted she asked to use my picture for the Christmas card.”
The card will feature Ms Dowse’s painting on the front and a personalised message from the Mayor inside.
And with some weather experts predicting we could have snowfall on Christmas Day for the first time in five years, perhaps that image will come to life in 21 days’ time.
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