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2025: Wrekin’s Golden Year

June 2025

Wrekin’s focus on supporting and celebrating arts in the community continues in 2025. Gayle Fitzpatrick, a collage artist from Bridgnorth, was announced as the winner of the Society’s 3rd biennial Arts Award in January. The Arts Award Committee were impressed by the skill and diverse interests of all of the finalists. The next Wrekin Arts Award will be advertised in 2026.

In May, a celebratory ‘Talk and Tea’ was held at St Andrews Church in Shifnal. Rachel Morley, Director of Friends of Friendless Churches, gave an enlightening talk on the Arts and Crafts churches in the care of the charity. Friends of Friendless Churches was the beneficiary of Wrekin’s summer picnic held at Eyton Hall last year.

The four artist finalists exhibited their art work in the church along with Michael Potter, sculptor and winner of the 2022 Arts Award and Rory Humphries, a prize winner in the 2024 Halls Young Artist competition. Art work from Priorslee Academy submitted for the Halls Junior category was also on display – the theme of goldfish was inspired by their class visit to Weston Park for a day of ‘Creative Arts’ sponsored by the Society.

The two musician finalists also participated – Hugh Walker gave an impressive short organ recital; Andrew Lloyd, acoustic guitarist played background music whilst members visited the artists’ displays. Natalie Furnival is a biro artist, Laura Hadley produces linocuts and Emily Zaadstra makes costumes for Cosplay.

We hope this celebration helped to showcase the artists’ skills, raised their profile and also provided an opportunity for useful introductions. We will be pleased to hear how their careers develop and hope we may have the opportunity to work with some of them again.

The tremendous sum of £1,771 was raised. The majority will be used to sponsor another 6 classes from local primary schools to benefit from EKO (Educating Kids Outdoors) support at Weston Park in September 2025.

Wrekin responded to an Arts Society initiative to sponsor local schools for Art Bytes, a national on-line art competition. Three schools were chosen and we were thrilled that a pupil known as DD from Lamledge School in Shifnal (for students with Special Educational Needs and Disability) was announced as the National Senior winner, a tremendous accolade.

This year’s winner of the Telford College end-of-year exhibition is Jordan, a talented student who is profoundly deaf. The work submitted for the Level 2 BTEC exhibition was inspired by a visit to NT Sunnycroft. TAS Wrekin have judged and sponsored this exhibition for the last 10 years.

Thank you to our many members who generously support our programme of Visits and Events and thus facilitate this vital input for the arts in schools and the community.

Photographs of the presentations and Arts Award can be found in the ‘Gallery’.

December 2024

The Arts Society Wrekin celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new publication and a series of events for its members and the young artists it supports. The main celebration at Weston Park was a joyous occasion with fabulous weather to enjoy drinks and canapes in the Orangery. The venue was of particular significance as it is where the Society first formed as Wrekin Decorative and Fine Arts Society and held its first meetings. We were delighted to be joined by two past presidents from those early days, Joanne Porter, formerly Countess of Bradford (1986-2004), and David Brown (2004-2009). Over 100 members and guests were treated to entertainment by Bertie Pearce, one of our favourite Arts Society lecturers who is also a member of The Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star. He regaled us with tales of working on cruise ships with some magic thrown in.

A small, dedicated team produced an illustrated book ‘Fifty Treasures around the Wrekin’, to mark this special anniversary and to highlight the lesser known / newer artistic and historical treasures in the wider Wrekin area. The treasures were nominated by the membership; every member household was given a free copy and they are now available to purchase for £8 per copy (post and post packing extra).

WDFAS became a charity in 2012 and has made support of Young Arts a priority. In this celebratory year it was decided to use the surplus from our events to sponsor several school projects. A class of Year 2 pupils joined a tube lining workshop at Craven Dunhill and also toured the Jackfield Tile Museum to learn about the tile heritage of the Ironbridge Gorge. A group of Year 9 students enjoyed a glass fusion workshop at Ercall Wood Academy whilst a group of Year 10s from Abraham Darby Academy attended glass fusion workshops at Jackfield. These activities were arranged with the aim of encouraging creativity and to display the handiwork alongside that of some of our talented members in an anniversary exhibition ‘Beyond the Lecture’. An impressive display of over 200 art works was put on for members, young artists and the wider public in a gallery at Jackfield in late October. It was all beautifully displayed and a joy to see some of the young artists when they found their artwork. The feedback from visitors was excellent; more than 300 people visited over four days.

The Arts Society Wrekin has provided prizes for winning artists at the annual ‘Halls Young Artist’ competition at Weston Park for several years. This year the theme was ‘Gold’ in our honour. Other charitable activities over the year have included sponsoring ‘Creative Arts’ sessions for six Telford schools with EKO (Educating Kids Outdoors) in the Capability Brown Parkland at Weston Park; sponsorship of Telford College’s annual art competition, now a regular commitment, and a master class for students in anatomical sculpture.

The biennial Arts Award is now in its third cycle. We expect to announce the winner in January 2025.

The Society retains regular contact with previous Arts Award winners and were pleased that the two sculptors, Jacob Chandler and Michael James Potter, were able to contribute to the special exhibition - visitors had an opportunity to ‘meet the artists’. Michael also ran the sculpture masterclass, and Jemma Finch, a 2022 Arts Award finalist, ran the glass fusion workshop at Ercall Wood. Kate Woodman (joint 2020 winner) is now in her first year at Cambridge University where she is heavily involved with drama productions and has also taken up rowing. She used her ‘gap year’ to study for a Diploma in Acting at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Amongst many other activities she produced, directed and played Cecily in her version of The Importance of being Earnest, reimagined in the 1950s, at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Some years ago WDFAS funded regular organ lessons for a very talented and passionate Albrighton teenager. We were thrilled to hear that during this special anniversary year, Claudia Grinnell has been appointed as the first female Director of Music at Saint Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds, a fantastic achievement.

At this challenging time for the arts in schools we are proud to make support of Young Arts a prime objective. We are convinced that creative opportunities for young people are really important and that investment in young talent is very worthwhile.  

THE SOCIETY'S HISTORY

Thanks to Rosemary Maitland, Kathy Watson and Elizabeth Mason, there is an extensive archive of materials spanning the first 50 years of the Society. Some of these materials were displayed at the 50th Anniversary celebration held in 2024 at Weston Park.

This article offers a short synopsis of the main events in the Society's early history.

In 1968, Patricia Fay established the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts (NADFAS). When a work colleague of hers from Knebworth, Michael Tebbutt, moved to Weston Park as Administrator, she persuaded him to establish a Society in the area. He conferred with Mary, Countess of Bradford, and in 1974 Wrekin DFAS was born, with The Countess as its President. It was the 59th society and the second, after Stratford-upon-Avon, in the Midlands.

Prompted by Patricia Fay, a lady chairman was appointed. The role fell to an army General's wife, Jane Britten. She was assisted by David Brown from the National Trust at Attingham Park and Ann Trevor-Jones. Meetings were held in the stable block at Weston Park. Committee meetings were held in the dining room with tea served by a liveried maid. Day visits were popular as were three-day visits further afield to York, Salisbury, Cambridge, Bath, Glasgow and elsewhere. After 16 years based at Weston Park, the waiting list had become almost as long as the membership list and a larger meeting room was needed. The Society moved to The Park House in Shifnal and then briefly to Lea Manor before finally settling at Cosford in 2002 at what was then called the Aerospace Museum.

Volunteering was an important part of Wrekin DFAS. The Heritage Volunteers were formed with a view to helping with the conservation of textiles. They soon had projects at many venues, including Attingham Park and Chillington. Help was also given to the Ironbridge Gorge Museum in 1992 with the conservation and storage of historic clothing. Kneelers in front of the altar in Patshull Church were rescued from the mice and moths and were refurbished. The group then undertook the major conservation and renovation of altar frontals in the church at Battlefield in time to be displayed at the 600th anniversary celebration of the battle of Shrewsbury. Considerable work was undertaken on the altar frontals in St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth. The Church Recorders, who worked together with members of the Wolverhampton DFAS, started in 1992. The first record – of St Andrew’s in Weston Park was presented in March 1996. This was followed by Tong and then St John’s in the Square, Wolverhampton where a massive three piece silver altar set was unearthed in an unlocked rug box.

Sue Hanley has now taken over the Archives.

2025: Wrekin’s Golden Year

June 2025

Wrekin’s focus on supporting and celebrating arts in the community continues in 2025. Gayle Fitzpatrick, a collage artist from Bridgnorth, was announced as the winner of the Society’s 3rd biennial Arts Award in January. The Arts Award Committee were impressed by the skill and diverse interests of all of the finalists. The next Wrekin Arts Award will be advertised in 2026.

In May, a celebratory ‘Talk and Tea’ was held at St Andrews Church in Shifnal. Rachel Morley, Director of Friends of Friendless Churches, gave an enlightening talk on the Arts and Crafts churches in the care of the charity. Friends of Friendless Churches was the beneficiary of Wrekin’s summer picnic held at Eyton Hall last year.

The four artist finalists exhibited their art work in the church along with Michael Potter, sculptor and winner of the 2022 Arts Award and Rory Humphries, a prize winner in the 2024 Halls Young Artist competition. Art work from Priorslee Academy submitted for the Halls Junior category was also on display – the theme of goldfish was inspired by their class visit to Weston Park for a day of ‘Creative Arts’ sponsored by the Society.

The two musician finalists also participated – Hugh Walker gave an impressive short organ recital; Andrew Lloyd, acoustic guitarist played background music whilst members visited the artists’ displays. Natalie Furnival is a biro artist, Laura Hadley produces linocuts and Emily Zaadstra makes costumes for Cosplay.

We hope this celebration helped to showcase the artists’ skills, raised their profile and also provided an opportunity for useful introductions. We will be pleased to hear how their careers develop and hope we may have the opportunity to work with some of them again.

The tremendous sum of £1,771 was raised. The majority will be used to sponsor another 6 classes from local primary schools to benefit from EKO (Educating Kids Outdoors) support at Weston Park in September 2025.

Wrekin responded to an Arts Society initiative to sponsor local schools for Art Bytes, a national on-line art competition. Three schools were chosen and we were thrilled that a pupil known as DD from Lamledge School in Shifnal (for students with Special Educational Needs and Disability) was announced as the National Senior winner, a tremendous accolade.

This year’s winner of the Telford College end-of-year exhibition is Jordan, a talented student who is profoundly deaf. The work submitted for the Level 2 BTEC exhibition was inspired by a visit to NT Sunnycroft. TAS Wrekin have judged and sponsored this exhibition for the last 10 years.

Thank you to our many members who generously support our programme of Visits and Events and thus facilitate this vital input for the arts in schools and the community.

Photographs of the presentations and Arts Award can be found in the ‘Gallery’.

December 2024

The Arts Society Wrekin celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new publication and a series of events for its members and the young artists it supports. The main celebration at Weston Park was a joyous occasion with fabulous weather to enjoy drinks and canapes in the Orangery. The venue was of particular significance as it is where the Society first formed as Wrekin Decorative and Fine Arts Society and held its first meetings. We were delighted to be joined by two past presidents from those early days, Joanne Porter, formerly Countess of Bradford (1986-2004), and David Brown (2004-2009). Over 100 members and guests were treated to entertainment by Bertie Pearce, one of our favourite Arts Society lecturers who is also a member of The Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star. He regaled us with tales of working on cruise ships with some magic thrown in.

A small, dedicated team produced an illustrated book ‘Fifty Treasures around the Wrekin’, to mark this special anniversary and to highlight the lesser known / newer artistic and historical treasures in the wider Wrekin area. The treasures were nominated by the membership; every member household was given a free copy and they are now available to purchase for £8 per copy (post and post packing extra).

WDFAS became a charity in 2012 and has made support of Young Arts a priority. In this celebratory year it was decided to use the surplus from our events to sponsor several school projects. A class of Year 2 pupils joined a tube lining workshop at Craven Dunhill and also toured the Jackfield Tile Museum to learn about the tile heritage of the Ironbridge Gorge. A group of Year 9 students enjoyed a glass fusion workshop at Ercall Wood Academy whilst a group of Year 10s from Abraham Darby Academy attended glass fusion workshops at Jackfield. These activities were arranged with the aim of encouraging creativity and to display the handiwork alongside that of some of our talented members in an anniversary exhibition ‘Beyond the Lecture’. An impressive display of over 200 art works was put on for members, young artists and the wider public in a gallery at Jackfield in late October. It was all beautifully displayed and a joy to see some of the young artists when they found their artwork. The feedback from visitors was excellent; more than 300 people visited over four days.

The Arts Society Wrekin has provided prizes for winning artists at the annual ‘Halls Young Artist’ competition at Weston Park for several years. This year the theme was ‘Gold’ in our honour. Other charitable activities over the year have included sponsoring ‘Creative Arts’ sessions for six Telford schools with EKO (Educating Kids Outdoors) in the Capability Brown Parkland at Weston Park; sponsorship of Telford College’s annual art competition, now a regular commitment, and a master class for students in anatomical sculpture.

The biennial Arts Award is now in its third cycle. We expect to announce the winner in January 2025.

The Society retains regular contact with previous Arts Award winners and were pleased that the two sculptors, Jacob Chandler and Michael James Potter, were able to contribute to the special exhibition - visitors had an opportunity to ‘meet the artists’. Michael also ran the sculpture masterclass, and Jemma Finch, a 2022 Arts Award finalist, ran the glass fusion workshop at Ercall Wood. Kate Woodman (joint 2020 winner) is now in her first year at Cambridge University where she is heavily involved with drama productions and has also taken up rowing. She used her ‘gap year’ to study for a Diploma in Acting at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Amongst many other activities she produced, directed and played Cecily in her version of The Importance of being Earnest, reimagined in the 1950s, at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Some years ago WDFAS funded regular organ lessons for a very talented and passionate Albrighton teenager. We were thrilled to hear that during this special anniversary year, Claudia Grinnell has been appointed as the first female Director of Music at Saint Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds, a fantastic achievement.

At this challenging time for the arts in schools we are proud to make support of Young Arts a prime objective. We are convinced that creative opportunities for young people are really important and that investment in young talent is very worthwhile.  

THE SOCIETY'S HISTORY

Thanks to Rosemary Maitland, Kathy Watson and Elizabeth Mason, there is an extensive archive of materials spanning the first 50 years of the Society. Some of these materials were displayed at the 50th Anniversary celebration held in 2024 at Weston Park.

This article offers a short synopsis of the main events in the Society's early history.

In 1968, Patricia Fay established the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts (NADFAS). When a work colleague of hers from Knebworth, Michael Tebbutt, moved to Weston Park as Administrator, she persuaded him to establish a Society in the area. He conferred with Mary, Countess of Bradford, and in 1974 Wrekin DFAS was born, with The Countess as its President. It was the 59th society and the second, after Stratford-upon-Avon, in the Midlands.

Prompted by Patricia Fay, a lady chairman was appointed. The role fell to an army General's wife, Jane Britten. She was assisted by David Brown from the National Trust at Attingham Park and Ann Trevor-Jones. Meetings were held in the stable block at Weston Park. Committee meetings were held in the dining room with tea served by a liveried maid. Day visits were popular as were three-day visits further afield to York, Salisbury, Cambridge, Bath, Glasgow and elsewhere. After 16 years based at Weston Park, the waiting list had become almost as long as the membership list and a larger meeting room was needed. The Society moved to The Park House in Shifnal and then briefly to Lea Manor before finally settling at Cosford in 2002 at what was then called the Aerospace Museum.

Volunteering was an important part of Wrekin DFAS. The Heritage Volunteers were formed with a view to helping with the conservation of textiles. They soon had projects at many venues, including Attingham Park and Chillington. Help was also given to the Ironbridge Gorge Museum in 1992 with the conservation and storage of historic clothing. Kneelers in front of the altar in Patshull Church were rescued from the mice and moths and were refurbished. The group then undertook the major conservation and renovation of altar frontals in the church at Battlefield in time to be displayed at the 600th anniversary celebration of the battle of Shrewsbury. Considerable work was undertaken on the altar frontals in St Leonard's Church, Bridgnorth. The Church Recorders, who worked together with members of the Wolverhampton DFAS, started in 1992. The first record – of St Andrew’s in Weston Park was presented in March 1996. This was followed by Tong and then St John’s in the Square, Wolverhampton where a massive three piece silver altar set was unearthed in an unlocked rug box.

Sue Hanley has now taken over the Archives.