A chance encounter between Susan Hartry of the Stokes Art Group (SAG) and Sara Messenger of the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group (TBNCG) last spring sparked an idea for an art project. Sara explained that just as the River Severn has Sabrina Goddess of the River, the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve has a God called Trolletheus – named after two rusted and battered supermarket trolleys she and the TBNCG Team had dredged from the lake some time earlier. Susan picked up on this and suggested giving Trolletheus a face as a SAG project competition later in the year. Sara liked the idea and even agreed to judge it with adoption papers at the ready!

Both passionate about their respective groups, they soon realised they greatly complimented each other. After all, conservationists maintain our landscape and for centuries artists have enjoyed painting it!

The competition brief was split into two categories – one to create an image for Trolletheus and the second to create a landscape from any scene or feature from the reserve. The resulting unsigned collection was displayed at the Stokes Art Group end of year awards event, where Sara and fellow conservationist Ceri selected their favourite artwork from each category. Sara was thrilled that finally Trolletheus had a ‘face’ – though the look of surprise on her own face when she announced the artist was Susan Hartry was also worthy of a prize! Inspired by features of the reserve itself Susan’s Trolletheus, armoured with two supermarket trolleys, is based on the Turkey Oaks of Sherbourne’s Brake.

The winning landscape by Stokes Artist Sue Kelly, taken from her own photograph, represents a typical Three Brooks woodland scene familiar to those who go off the beaten track and enjoy the diverse variety of trees, plants, wildflowers and undergrowth found right on our doorstep.

The full collection can be viewed on the 2018 Project page of the SAG website.

More: How to book a free taster session with SAG »

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A young illustrator from Bradley Stoke is set to have an example of her work become one of the most photographed objects in Bristol after being selected to decorate one of the sixty-plus sculptures on the Gromit Unleashed 2 arts trail which started on 2nd July.

Hannah Bone, 23, attended Baileys Court Primary School and then Bradley Stoke Community School before taking an Art Foundation course at Bristol School of Art. She then went on to study for a BA in Illustration at the University of Plymouth, graduating with first class honours in 2017. Since then, she has been working as a freelance illustrator specialising in children’s illustration, but also taking on commissions for pet and family portraits.

After submitting a design back in December 2017, following an ‘open call’ for artists, Hannah says was “extremely excited” to be told she had been chosen as an official artist. She began painting her sculpture in May, but was sworn to secrecy and only allowed to reveal her design a few days before the start of the trail.

Hannah’s Gromit is called Rockin’ Robin and it is located at Ashton Gate Stadium, home to Bristol City FC (‘The Robins’).

More: Hannah’s book illustration work »

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Brightly decorated pebbles have been appearing at random locations all over Bradley Stoke in recent weeks, a sure sign that a worldwide phenomenon known as the Kindness Rocks Project has reached our area.

The craze, which is particularly popular amongst families with young children, involves using paint, glitter and other materials to decorate rocks or pebbles with colourful images and then leaving them lying around in public places, sometimes partially hidden, for others to discover and enjoy.

The ‘rocks’ are usually labelled with a hashtag, which identifies the creator, and people are encouraged to post photos of their ‘finds’ on local Facebook groups (ours is called ‘The Stokes Rocks’), quoting the hashtag. Once recorded, the ‘rock’ is often moved to a new location, exposing it to a wider audience.

Around the Stokes, pebbles can often be spotted on top of street name signs, dotted around play parks and on bridges and posts in the Three Brooks nature reserve. Popular spots are around the local primary schools and on the pathways leading to the Willow Brook Centre.

While it is possible to use pebbles found in the garden, many people have been buying bags of stones from garden centres, as these have a regular size and consistent colour. Acrylic paint and Sharpie pens are often used for the decoration, which is then weatherproofed using clear nail varnish, spray lacquer or yacht varnish.

One enthusiastic member of The Stokes Rocks, Adrienne Wheeler, estimates that her family has decorated and placed more than 60 pebbles over the past few weeks. Adrienne says rock painting is a craft activity that children of different ages can easily get into. Apart from the creative aspects, they also enjoy ‘treasure hunting’ – discovering pebbles hidden by others.

Find out more about The Stokes Rocks group on Facebook »

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Ahead of the highly anticipated new museum opening in late summer, Aerospace Bristol has selected a trio of high-flying artists as the winners of a competition inspired by Filton’s aviation heritage.

Aerospace Bristol was asked to judge the competition by Stokes Art Group, a local community group that covers the six Stokes of South Gloucestershire and surrounding areas. As well as taking pride in their art, the group are extremely proud of the link that many of their members share with the local aerospace industry and were keen to celebrate Concorde’s arrival into her new home at Aerospace Bristol with a competition themed around Filton’s aviation heritage.

Reflecting the story that will be told in the Aerospace Bristol exhibition later this summer, the group produced a collection of 18 artworks depicting aircraft spanning more than a century of fascinating aviation history; from Boxkite biplanes to Concorde and on to the modern day.

After careful deliberation, the three winners chosen by Aerospace Bristol were:

• Winner: Concorde 2017 Home from Home, by Susan Hartry (watercolour)
• Runner-up: We Love Concorde, by Sue Kelly (watercolour)
• Third place: Concorde Assembly Line, by Sara Smith (mixed media)

Working with local people and groups like Stokes Art Group, Aerospace Bristol aims to conserve Bristol’s aerospace heritage and celebrate the world class achievements of our aerospace industry. To play your part in keeping Concorde’s memory alive, visit aerospacebristol.org/donate and give a gift that will help to inspire the next generation of engineers.

Photo: Susan Hartry (right) holds her winning watercolour, which depicts Concorde arriving in her new home at Aerospace Bristol. Stokes Art Group Member Sue Jones (left) shows off the 2nd and 3rd placed artworks.

More: View the prize-winning entries »

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