This year’s Wessex Guild exhibition at Sir Harold Hiller Gardens, near Romsey in Hampshire, was the best yet for takings – and we had wonderful feedback from visitors on the display and quality of the work presented too!
We have not exhibited in March before but were treated to several sunny days and lots of purchases were made in the run up to Mother’s Day on 15 March.
Visitors were also treated to demonstrations of the creative process – including freestyle embroidery by Sheila Barrow, wool spinning for rugs by Stephanie Quirk, as well as fine needlepoint animal and bird pictures made by Nicky Heard. This was an opportunity for the public to gain a little understanding of the time and care that goes into producing the beautiful work on display.
In week 1 of our two-week exhibition you could see handcrafted and unique pieces, including textile bags (Elise Barkes) and stitched pictures (Sheila Barrow), photography (Susan Brown), woodturning (Brian Eyley), prints and artworks (Vicki Hunt), animal, figural and landscape paintings (Jenny Morgan), sculptures (Poppy Morgan), real flower jewellery (Emily June Pullen), willow work sculptures (Jacquie Rolls), plus abstract and nature paintings (Wendy Smith).
A painting by versatile artist Jenny Morgan.
In week 2, the beautiful, original work included fused glass (Dorothy Borland), nature photography (Gordon Brown), basketry (Louise Brown), linocut prints (Jo Cheer), needle-felted art pictures (Nicky Heard), pottery (Helen Piper), jewellery (Jacquelyn Ready), landscape paintings (Jerry Smith), and natural sheepskin rugs (Stephanie Quirk).
A selection of handmade jewellery by Jacquelyn Ready.
In 2027 the Guild will return to this wonderful setting, but in 2026 why not visit us at Upham Village Hall (Mortimers Lane/Winchester Road junction, SO32 1HF) for the annual Hampshire Open Studios (22-31 August 2026), and our very popular Artisan Christmas Fair, also at Upham Village Hall on 15th and 16th November?
Main image: Textile artist Nicky Heard demonstrating her needle felting technique. Photo: Jacquelyn Ready.
