THE WHITKNIGHTS Studio Trail returned to Reading for its 24th iteration, bringing the work of artists to the public in venues and homes around the town.
Next year will mark the silver anniversary of the event in which artists open up their homes and invite members of the public to get an up-close look at their work, ranging from visual arts, sculpture, and digital media.
This year’s roster saw beadwork from Heide Jenkins, paintings from the Abbey Artists, furniture by Mark Ripley, published works by Two Rivers Press, ceramics by Martin Andrews, and audio-visual work by CTFAC.
Therese Lawlor, one of the artists exhibiting and a member of the Reading Guild of Artists, said: “I just love doing so many different projects.
“I love Reading and its history, so some of my pieces include some history, and as an artist I’m free to explore those kinds of things.”
Her work included a range of cards depicting recreations of businesses from Reading’s history, such as Millward & Sons, which feature information about the town’s history.
“I also do allotment cards depicting fruits and vegetables, and those included recipes too- whatever you’re interested in at any particular time can inform your artwork.”
She explained: “Of course, you can mix anything; any project I’m involved with I can use to inform my art.
“Whiteknights is one of the few art trails I will continue to do, and it’s very special to me because it’s usually local people.
“Some come up every year and commission work, which is the nice sort of thing you can do with a trail like this.”
On public engagement with art, she said: “We can find venues for artists, which can stop a lot of artists from getting on board, and conversations like that would maybe never happen without the trail.
“It’s a pleasure to paint, and especially when people really want them; it works for everyone, but is still geared towards the individual.”
Andrew Boddington, who was exhibiting his glass pieces, said: “I’m not a full-time artist, but I started around 25 years ago on a glass course in Bracknell at the arts centre there.
“Then I did a post-graduate course in London, and have been working with glass on-and-off since.”
He explains that his work combines multiple aspects, including traditional, stained glass: “The kind of things one would see in a church, or even stuff inspired by Tiffany, such as my bird mirrors.
“Those use a type of copper foil on the glass, and I’ve recently got a kiln, so I enjoy many aspect of glass.”
He admits that there is an element of ‘engineering’ too it: “I like the whole spread of that; it uses different skills within me to make a successful piece.
“You can have a wonderful eye for something, but be unable to realise it because it fuses wrong in the kiln, so there’s always trepidation in opening the kiln.
“Often something goes wrong and you’re back to square one, and occasionally you’re veryy pleasantly surprised.
“It’s tactile and it’s very seductive, especially in the way it interacts with light.”
On sharing his work with members of the public, he said: “I thoroughly enjoy it; it’s so nice for people to be able to see and comment on my work, and you feel so much part of the community.
“We have the university, the hospital, a lot of schools, so there’s a real mixture of people– so many are artsy and crafty, and have their own niches.
“The only downside is that as an exhibitor I don’t get to go and visit other artists, but it’s such a great weekend, and that’s why I’ve been doing it off and on for 25 years.”
Whiteknights Studio Trail returns for its silver anniversary next year.
More information is available via: studiotrail.co.uk
