'The Love Heart’ Series

This series captures the passion and happiness a particular place can evoke. Inspired by amulets and Milagros (ancient symbols of love and protection) the heart symbols reference local places, landmarks, discovered details and histories. The expressive brushstrokes are inspired by map references and symbols, as if taking a journey around the town and local area.

Fragments of music scores, architectural elements, patterns, historical information, recipes, ancient script and maps are often included to tell the story of a place. The love heart series illustrate the passion we all hold for places, travel, nature...

‘Love Wargrave’

The essence of Wargrave in Oxfordshire. Bold motifs in bright colours evoke the cool creative community of this vibrant village. Boating and the river flow through all aspects of life and The fabulous ‘Wargrave Regatta’ was the initial inspiration for the artwork. Flowers and herbs that fill the town in summer are illustrated throughout including lavender, sage, rosemary, lilies and sweet peas. Studies nod to favourite places, pastimes and pub signs!. The circles are a reference to ‘the Wargrave bubble’ .. this is a very special place that seems beautifully separate from the bubbub ! Here is a list of some of the details included.

The colours are inspired by the blue skies and water, festival celebrations and local businesses as well as the gorgeous greys of the River Thames as it flows downstream towards Shiplake and Henley.

• vintage maps of the local towns, area and river

• town crest and other regal crests associated with the history

• sections of the written history ( thanks to the wargrave historical society)

• Woodclyffe Hall

• cocktails and champagne in a bucket.. there’s always a celebration happening somewhere in Wargrave

• a punt just upstream from George and The Dagon

• Hobbs’ boat ‘The New Orleans’ that travels up river to Wargrave

• ‘Wargrave Regatta’ fireworks

• Bushnell’s boatyard looking across to the site of Wargrave and Shiplake Regatta

• Churchyard and Mill Green

• The Bull pub

• allotments

• wargrave manor gate

• a coffee .. there are lots of lovely cafes in Wargrave ( favourite logos can be added if ordering the bespoke option)

• butterflies.. these fill the meadow areas and along the riverbanks in summer

• vintage postcards of the shops and regatta scenes

Flowers spotted in and around the village:

• Loddon Lilies ( grow along the river)

• daisy ( also a refernce to Love Daisy Cafe along with the yellow hearts)

• Forget me Not ( Wargrave cherishes it’s history)

• Stargazer Lily

• sage

• Rosemary

• Lavender

• Cosmos

• sweet pea

signs for pubs including

• The Bull

• St George and the Dragon

• The Horns

• The Greyhound

logos for local clubs:

• Wargrave Wolves

• Wargrave boating club

• Wargrave women’s football club

• Wargrave tennis club

Nearby Henley is also referenced:

• Henley Royal Regatta tents.

• Temple Island,

• Henley bridge

Secret stories of this beautiful town on the Thames are hidden throughout, not forgetting, of course.. a pair of swans and the Union Jack (or two..) for good measure!

Bespoke changes available:

• lose / add / increase a colour eg ‘ make it more pink!’

• add sketch of your house

• lose particular element eg Henley maps

• add new flowers

• add a pub sign or logo

• change the type of cocktails/drinks

• add a coloured background