Budding artists receive prizes for highlighting their passion

YOUNG people in and around Henley have been recognised for their artistic talent.

A prize-giving ceremony for seven award winners took place at Henley Rugby Club on Thursday last week, hosted by The Arts Society Henley as part of national competition for sixth formers.

Entries were received from Shiplake College, The Henley College and The Piggott School.

The winners were all awarded a certificate by society chairman Robert Gurney and £100 cash.

Sophie Woodeson, 19, who lives in Pyrton and attended Shiplake College, won with two pieces, Infinite New York City, a tessellated composition inspired by the “energy and diversity” of the city, and Venice in Two Lights, which featured paper-cut pieces with LED lighting.

Miss Woodeson said she has been creating art for the last seven years, mainly abstract pieces.

She is now taking a gap year to work, travel and ski before studying an interior design course at the University of Bath.

Miss Woodeson said: “I’ve been interested in interior design since I was little, I was always moving my room around. I just love the colours and the concepts and I’m looking forward to taking it further.”

Tilly Crocker, 18, who lives in Twyford and attended The Piggott School, used reverse and pour painting techniques to create her painting Over Fished.

It involved painting first on to Perspex and flipping the image on to a collage of newspapers. The pour painting technique saw Miss Crocker tip paint from a cup on to her canvas, which created the effect of an ocean.

She said: “The technique was new to me in sixth form, I don’t know if I would come back to it again — it’s very time-consuming!”

Miss Crocker said it was the first time she had been awarded for her art, adding: “I feel quite accomplished.” She is going on to study fashion communication at university in Brighton.

Beatrice Fraser, 18, of Luker Avenue, Henley, also attended The Piggott School and won with two pieces — The Waiting Room and Lady Stuffing Chicken with Tights.

She said: “The Waiting Room is about how distant we are from each other these days. It was about connection and exploring the different ways people connect in relationships. I find it quite interesting when you’re in a big place and everyone ignores each other.

“Lady Stuffing Chicken with Tights is about feminism and women’s traditional place in the home, to see how it’s evolved over time.”

Miss Fraser said she was inspired by Dutch Masters and the artist Sarah Lucas. Currently studying a fine art foundation course at the University of Arts London, she hopes to go on to earn her degree.

Sophie Barnes, 18, who attends The Henley College and lives in Maidenhead, created a piece called Crowded Chaos, inspired by the Where’s Wally? book series and artist Kay Jackson.

She said: “It’s an acrylic painting about overcrowding and the overwhelming atmosphere of a crowd. I used bright colours and a busy composition to reflect that. I wanted to look at overcrowding — I’m quite interested in people and using them as a subject.

“I just really enjoy painting. I think I find it really relaxing and I enjoy creating visually as well. I like that my art has been recognised.”

Other winners included Polly Hart, a former Shiplake College pupil who won with her submission You don’t know what you have lost until it is gone, Katie Gleave, a former pupil at The Henley College who won with Our Plastic Ocean and Layla Thompson, a former student at The Piggott School whose submission was Hidden Histories.

The prize-giving was followed by a lecture on the birth of political satire, given by art historian Rupert Dickens.

The Arts Society Henley is a regular supporter of schools in the community and has contributed more than £7,000 in grant money to fund events, materials and workshops this year.

The winners of The Arts Society’s 2025 A level art competition will be announced in the spring.