A MOTHER and daughter are teaming up to showcase their artistic talent, but they’re not doing it for themselves.
Instead, they are raising funds for the charity Home-Start Reading, which helps families through difficult times, to give children the best possible start in life.
Jacqueline Burrage is a volunteer for the charity, and with her daughter Charlotte is setting up a display in Henley.
Called The Chilterns in Colour it features large and small canvases in oils, acrylics and gouache. There will also be works on paper in acrylic and watercolour and a selection of printed cards. All the work features scenes from the countryside around Henley or the town itself, including scenes from the regatta.
Jaqueline says she began volunteering three years ago, once her own children were more independent. More recently she has also become a trustee.
“Home-Start appealed to me as I know how difficult it is bringing up young children and how isolating it can be sometimes,” she says.
“My own experience of bringing up children was ultimately a very happy one, but I did struggle hugely initially as I had no family nearby and was not able to talk to my mother as she suffered very badly with mental health problems her entire life.”
The proceeds from the exhibition will be split between Home-Start Reading and Riverside Counselling, a charity that provides affordable counselling for adults and children over the age of 12.
“I have spent my whole life dealing with the impact that mental health issues have on a family, because of the way my mother’s problems affected myself, my father and my three siblings,” Jacqueline says.
“Charlotte, my daughter, is interested in mental health issues as well. Her whole generation has seen a huge rise in anxiety and mental health struggles, partly stoked by the Covid pandemic but also generated by climate anxiety and the knowledge that they have some huge problems to overcome in their lifetimes.”
The duo enjoy landscape painting.
Charlotte says: “Art is always something that has connected my mother and I.
“I have fond memories of being taken to lots of exhibitions as a child and I am very lucky that all my creative interests were always supported and encouraged.
“ For us, painting together, especially outside when we make a day of it, is a really special way for us to spend quality time and learn from each other. “
She continues: “I always love watching how Mum works as we have very different approaches to our subject matter and each of us always focuses on a different aspect in the landscape and uses contrasting colours.
“The landscape art we produce is about appreciating the beauty in our landscape and the emotional significance of the places we visit on walks and then commit to canvas.”
They have had training with a number of artists, including Camilla Shelley, Neil Drury, Claire Prentice and Sue Lewington. Charlotte completed an Art Foundation course, for which she was commended, before going on to study Archaeology.
Home-Start Reading’s manager, Kelly Dadd, said: “We share Jacqueline’s concern about the prevalence of mental health issues. Last year, 90% of the parents we met told us they were affected by poor mental health.
“Thankfully, by the end of their time with us, all had seen an improvement, but we vitally need more funds to enable us to help more families.
“We’re grateful to Jacqueline for her support, as a volunteer and trustee and now, working with her daughter to raise funds for us through this exhibition.”
The exhibition will be held at The Old Fire Station Gallery in Henley from Thursday, June 29, to Tuesday, July 4. It will be open every day from 10am-5pm and entry is free.
For more details, log on to: www.home-start-reading.org.uk
