Exhibition news: Looking forward to the Reading Charity Art Fair

Fabulous news – I'm joining in this year's Reading Charity Art Fair. This year's exhibition is scheduled for the last weekend of October and will be held at Leighton Park School – just around the corner from the University of Reading Whiteknights Campus (and the beautiful Harris Garden that features in some of my paintings).

This year's art fair is raising funds for the new Royal Berkshire Hospital Staff Wellness Centre. I'm delighted to be joining other local artists in this lovely event.

I've selected four paintings for the exhibition – each demonstrating my love of texture and mark-making albeit varied in colour and subject.  

As it's a Reading exhibition, I wanted to include something local. "Taking flight" is a beautiful swan scene inspired by a wintery walk along the Reading Thames path, not far from where the Kennet joins the Thames. This is one of my personal favourites. You might recognise it from the carousel on my homepage or the October issue of House & Garden.

Another favourite, is "Sunset over the Henge". I love the sunset sky, which contrasts with the lush lime green in the foreground. Stonehenge, of course, is a distinctive British landmark.

I've also included "Family Time" as a nod to my South African roots. This is the third painting I've painted inspired by a family day at St James beach – both of the others sold.

And, of course, I had to include some of my signature ballerinas. "Morning mists" is one of my favourite ballet blues. The distinctive costumes I'm sure will evoke Swan Lake for most viewers, even though ballet connoisseurs might know this composition is imagined rather choreographically accurate. This is one of those paintings that wasn't quite working when I first "finished" it so I took a creative risk and added the swirling mists that remind me of the opening of Act IV. Luckily the risk paid off! 

All four paintings have been beautifully framed in an off-white boxframe. Thanks to my local framers Keeley's.

Organised by the Reading Maiden Erlegh Rotary and Inner Wheel partnership, this will be the 11th annual art fair. Myself and some of the other exhibiting artists also have artwork available to pre-purchase from the art fair website.

I hope to see some of you there! I'm looking forward to sampling some of the homemade cakes at the exhibition Art Café too.