Upcycling expert is exhibiting his wares

REMENHAM-based salvage dealer Gary Wallis is mounting an exhibition at Henley’s Old Fire Station Gallery that runs until Tuesday (October 18).

A self-confessed petrolhead, Mr Wallis has designed and built a special centrepiece for the show at the Upper Market Place exhibition space — a vintage touring car assembled from scratch that he has christened “The Chief Ten”.

The distinctive-looking vehicle will be displayed alongside a selection of Mr Wallis’s wares from his unit at Whitehill Farm in Remenham Church Lane.

Titled Art and Reclaim, the show is billed as “an exhibition of redesigned elements for interiors” and is sponsored by British paint manufacturer Farrow & Ball.

A public preview evening is being held tonight (Friday) from 7pm to 9.30pm.



The show then runs from tomorrow (Saturday) till Tuesday. Opening hours are 10am to 4pm daily. Entry is free of charge and all are invited to attend.

Mr Wallis said of his planned centrepiece: “The car has been in the back of my mind for some time. I have a passion for all things automotive and in particular the design and development of anything that moves.

“I had slowly been accumulating elements with this and other projects in mind and over a period of months the Chief Ten evolved. A lot of my time is spent sourcing for interior projects for other clients, so it was nice to indulge in a personal project.”

With 30 years’ experience to his name, Mr Wallis has previously supplied Conran, the Beckhams, Guy Ritchie, The White Company and American event designer and decorator Ken Fulk.

Writing on his website, he characterises his approach to design as: “Upcycling interesting elements for interiors and exteriors, for those who desire individual character.”

Also set to feature in the exhibition alongside The Chief Ten are vintage car grilles that have been converted to create ambient light.

Mr Wallis added: “I am always trying to push the boundaries to incorporate modern design and reinvent the old to sit together in the modern home. My hope is that this showcase will illustrate this.”

Long renowned as an architectural salvage and interiors expert, Mr Wallis has featured in the Henley Standard on several occasions — most recently in February when he was filmed for a TV show called Salvage Hunters on Freeview channel Quest.

In April last year he sold a jacket worn by Brad Pitt in the 2014 Second World War drama Fury for £3,500 — parts of which were filmed at Shirburn near Watlington — though he didn’t reveal what he had paid the production company for it.

For more information on the exhibition, visit www.henleytowncouncil.gov.uk.

Mr Wallis’s website is www.garylwallis.com.