"CARIBBEAN INFLUENCE"

APRIL 1 ST - MAY 14 TH 2006

Two artists, one theme and a unique exhibition!
A textile artist, Vidhya Lockyer, who draws her inspiration from her home in the Caribbean and a glass artist, Alexandra Abraham, whose work is also influenced by these amazing islands, come together to exhibit their colourful work at Walford Mill Crafts this spring in a tropical exhibition
"Caribbean Influence!".

Vidhya Lockyer, an embroidered textile artist, was born and brought up in Trinidad. Although very good at art at school she was discouraged from furthering this natural inclination and set out to study Law in London, and then French in Paris. After a while, a choice between an English degree and Stitched Textiles/Embroidery had to be made, the creative urge won, and she completed her City and Guilds and Diploma at East Berkshire College in Windsor.

Vidhya's work is often 3 dimensional and her use of vibrant colours and movement reflects the vitality of her native island.

"Work in progress is prompted by words and by music and musical variations, and is certain to be vibrant and dimensional." Vidhya quotes.

Alexandra Abraham is a glass artist exhibiting her colourful work alongside Vidhya Lockyer in the exhibition. Following time spent sailing in the Caribbean; working in high fashion and as a secretary Alexandra married and had two sons. She spent time at home and realised that she needed to find a new means of self-expression so she attended a course at Hampstead School of Art and studied traditional decorative painting techniques. She learned to gild and to create effects such as marbling, graining, and lapis lazuli. All her gilding and painting is done on the back of the glass but it is viewed from the front, the reflective quality of the glass giving it a remarkable lustre and clarity. Consequently, the glass panels are very responsive to external light, and their appearance changes when seen from different angles.

This colourful exhibition of textiles and glass is taking place at Walford Mill Crafts from April 1st until May 14th. Don't miss this distinctive exhibition.