Arts Exhibition

Arts Exhibition

Next Event | 2022 Exhibitors | Previous Exhbitors | About | Group contact

Quick Links to 2022 exhibitors: Gillian Crossley Holland | Alison Dane | Chris Evans | James Deering | Helen Dougall | Patrick Foster | Mandy Jaggard | Peter Rudderham | Jon Stewart | Rob Wheeler

Next Event

November 2023 (dates to be advised)
FREE entry
10am – 6pm
The Priory Room (next to the St Mary’s Church)
The Causeway
Walsham le Willows
IP31 3AB

  • The group produces work in a variety of disciplines and materials: painting, prints, sculptures and ceramics, jewellery, glass, weaving and batik.
  • There are usually one or two members of the group around to answer any questions.
  • Work can be commissioned if something is required for a special occasion or place.
  • Only cheques and cash can be taken for sales. 
  • All the artists involved can be contacted for commissions and sales using the details against each below.


Exhibitors 2022

Gillian Crossley Holland | gillian@crossley-holland.com

Painting in oils and pastels, Gillian enjoys painting the fens of Lopham and Redgrave and the salt marshes and empty coasts of north Norfolk.

In her work Gillian is intrigued by crossing places, reversals and in particular, those views when the earth is no more than a mirror to the sky, she often explores these themes and plays with composition, light and reflections.

Gillian works in oil pastels, which allow her to instantly build up layers and textures and even, as illustrated here, create a monoprint from a painting started in Lopham Fen.

Alison Dane | s.dane2011@btinternet.com

Alison takes her inspiration from the colours in the Suffolk countryside and her work reflects the changing seasons. As a keen photographer and gardener, she records the changes around her and enjoys experimenting with the interaction of colour. Her necklaces and earrings are lightweight, colourful, easy to wear and long lasting and she enjoys developing pieces to reflect the seasons and colours in the High Street. Alison’s necklaces are made from a variety of papers to reflect current fashion trends. They are lightweight, unique, additions to any outfit, formal or informal. The beads are robust and strung with semi-precious beads that enhance the colours. The necklaces vary in length and can be worn as short double strands or singly depending on the outfit you are wearing them with.

James Deering (Guest Artist 2022)

Helen Dougall | helen@hdbatik.co.uk | 01359 259648 | www.hdbatik.co.uk

Helen paints and draws landscape, out in the open. She is interested in describing the way light affects different surfaces shining barley fields, sparkling grasses in June and perspective patterns of stubble across fields.

Back in her studio Helen uses these observations to compose batik wall hangings (cotton stretched onto a frame). Fabric is successively dyed and painted with molten wax to define the image. This is repeated several times and finally the wax is removed.

Prints available are high quality commercial reproductions of some of her batiks. Greetings cards, also available. More can be seen Helen’s studio.

Chris Evans | evans2312@hotmail.co.uk

As a freelance illustrator the majority of Chris’ work was figurative. Now by contrast, he explores landscape and architecture in his prints. Chris’ favourite subjects are coastal scenes especially the variety of shipping from rowing boats to huge container ships.

Holiday sketches in Italy, France and the British Isles are all sources of inspiration. Etching is his favourite medium but he also likes drypoint and collagraphs.

Patrick Foster (Guest Artist 2022)

Mandy Jaggard | mandy.jaggard@btinternet.com

Mandy is inspired by natural spaces and man-made structures. Earth sciences and the movement of water frequently inspire her work. She likes to combine opaque white glass with clear glass, allowing for visual access inside the piece, adding colour before the glass is cast.

Surface tension, overspill, and the movement of the glass itself, all play a part in what is to be expected within the cast. A certain amount can be predicted, but an element of surprise is always reserved for when the piece is finally removed from the kiln!

Peter Rudderham | 01359 259 433

Peter designs and makes unique metal sculpture and apply artistic techniques to the production of functional items such as gates, weather vanes, arches etc. He is also developing an unusual method of picture painting.

Jon Stewart | (Guest Artist 2022)

Rob Wheeler | rob@robwheelerpotter.com | 01359 258 167 | www.robwheelerpotter.com

Some of Rob’s work has its roots in nature. The forms and textures often taking their inspiration from fossils and sea life. Other influences antiquities, classic Chinese forms such as balluster vase, Roman and Greek shapes and decoration.

Most of this work is produced in white earthenware and then put through the Raku process. Some of the more sculptural work is fired to stoneware.

Rob also produces a variety of  blue and white earthenware and honey glazed commemorative slipware plates. Commissions are always welcomed.

Previous Exhibitors

Diana Calvert | dianamartineau@btinternet.com

Diana paints in oils. Her favourite subjects are landscapes, predominantly in the Walsham area, still life and flower paintings. She is a member of the New English Art Club which is based at the Mall Galleries in London.

Diana particularly enjoys painting landscapes although the changing light and weather can be challenging as she paints on the spot over three or four days, and not from photographs.

Hilary Evans | evans2312@hotmail.co.uk

Hilary worked as a freelance illustrator before exploring the pleasures and surprises of printmaking. The inspiration for her prints comes from the variety of the natural world, building structures and landscapes. Hilary loves colour and patterns and printing gives her the opportunity to explore different colour combinations, and consequently she rarely editions her work.

Gill Grimes | gill.wagner@live.co.uk

A knitted cardigan depicting four images, two each side to the middle and bottom of the garment of a red tractor, a blue house, sheep and two human figures. Across the top of the cardigan from arm to arm are coloured lines giving the impression of a rainbow. The ends of the sleeves are tinged with a similar pattern and well as a chequerboard pattern in the same colours.
Child’s Cardigan hand knitted by Gill Grimes

Gill learnt to spin and use natural dyes when her children left home. She found it a fascinating hobby. and also started knitting. As her husband was exceptionally tall and could never get socks long enough to wear for walking or fishing, Gill knitted him a pair with a fancy top. She now knits jumpers, hats and scarves in her hand-spun wool but sticks to commercial wool for all her socks to make washing easier!

Mary Jane Toulson | iandmj@tiscali.co.uk

Mary Jane weaves hard-wearing floor rugs using wool and jute. Each one is unique, with colour contrasts and blends being her speciality.

She, also weaves small-scale pictorial wall hangings using hand-spun wool and natural dyes.

“The importance of bees has been so much in the news recently as pollinators for the successful growth of our food crops and all living plants. Many of the ideas for my rugs and wall hangings come from nature, and the inspiration for the colour”.

“Mixes for this weaving developed from a small early autumn field which had been sown with sunflowers, Phacelia and other nectar rich, bee friendly plants. The colours were soft but luminous and the field was buzzing in the sunshine with the bees doing their vital work”.

About the group

The Walsham Arts and Craft Group are a small group of artists and makers who live in and around Walsham le Willows. Organisational tasks and expenses are shared among the group members.

The group holds an annual exhibition in the Priory Room in November starting with a private viewing followed by three days of public exhibition. Admission is free.

The group produces ceramics, glass, jewellery, batik, metalwork, photography, printmaking and paintings in oil, watercolour, pastel and gouache and all members are pleased to accept commissions.

Exhibition space is limited, therefore only one guest artist can be accommodated each year and given the number of applicants only those living or working in Walsham le Willows can be considered. 

At the annual meeting in January, one guest artist is selected for the following November exhibition. If you would like to apply to become the next guest artist for one year, please prepare your application with your name, postal address, phone number and the medium you work in. We would like to see examples of your work, either images sent by email or prints to the address at the top of the page and a short statement which describes your work.

Group Contact

For information about future exhibitions:
Helen Dougall | helen@hdbatik.co.uk | www.hdbatik.co.uk | Lacons Barn, Wattisfield Road, Walsham-le-Willows, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 3BD

No tracking or advertising cookies are placed, only cookies required for proper functionality. By continuing you agree their use. Find out more. ☒ OK
SideMenu Skip to content