Welcome to Into the Wyldwood – A showcase of artwork inspired by the magic of Trees and Woodland.

Local artists Sarah Jameson, Simon Jameson and Jane Keay, are displaying their work at Queenswood for this year’s Herefordshire Art Week. Saturday 2nd to Sunday 10th September, 10:30am to 4pm daily. Free entry.

The Dream by Sarah Jameson

The Into the Wyldwood Artists:

Sarah Jameson: “I love drawing, digital painting, nature mono printing, writing, book design, book making, photography and poetry. My ideal work of art would combine all of these. I make art because, with it I try and express the beauty and transience of the natural world. I feel it’s under enormous threat and pressure, as never before. We bought a field in 2018 and we are learning to manage it for nature. We now have a wild flower meadow, new woodland and new wetland.”

Jane Keay: “I taught myself to use watercolours, which I love to combine in layers and layers. This creates a sort of ‘inner glow’, sometimes, overlaying with fine line ink drawings and sketches.

Inspiration ‘arrives’, rarely needing to seek it, to see me, more often than not, in a ‘serendipitous encounter’. I have always sensed a ‘landscape of the body, mind, and spirit; feeling the ancient, past, present, and future perhaps, telling their own stories.”

Simon Jameson: Simon specialises in acrylic paintings, drawings and hand-carved natural stones. Simon (Sarah’s husband) attended Brighton Art College many moons ago and has led a creative life ever since although exhibits only very occasionally. He will show some new paintings, drawings and bring a selection of carved fern stones.       Full Exhibition Details here.

A Walk Through the Folklore of Trees with Pamela Thom-Rowe

Wednesday 6th September, 10:30am.

Ancient woods and forests have long inspired the legends and mythology, the folklore and tales of the British Isles. They can be mysterious places, dark and uncanny. When we enter we feel a change. A liminality as we cross the threshold from light to shade, warm to cool. Even our smell, our taste may change. We enter a different ‘other’ world, we may be transformed, we may get lost.

Herefordshire still contains remnants of the vast ancient woods and forests that once covered large parts of the Welsh March, the boundary between the lands of England and Wales. This remains an area with many ancient traditions and stories connecting directly with this legacy.

Following an introduction to this area we will take a walk through Queenswood, a relic of a once vast oak wood that once covered this part of Herefordshire. As we walk through the greenwood and encounter the trees we will hear remnants of the folklore and laws of the ancient foresters and cunning folk. 

Pamela Thom-Rowe researches folk tradition and stories within the historical landscape of the Welsh Marches. She has a special interest in medieval folklore, archaeology and the impact of landscape upon folk belief. She has an MA in Celtic Studies (UWTSD) and is currently writing a book about the legendary history of the horse in Britain.

£25pp, including a light lunch at Queenswood Cafe and parking. Advance bookings only via Eventbrite.