Newbury Show was filled with colour and creativity

Colours filled the art marquee with artists, crafters and stall holders showing off their items and work.

Traders and artists came from all corners of the country from Wales to Scotland and – of course – West Berkshire.

Newbury resident of 25 years Paula Robinson of The Little Bunny Studio set herself up with a sewing machine and showed off her freehand machine embroidery and fine art pen drawing.

The former secondary school art teacher said she has attended the show around three or four times in the past and preferred it to being in art galleries.

“I can have interactions with people and get feedback,” she said.

“I hear a lot of ‘that is unique’ which is really good, and that my art doesn’t blend in.”

Artist Yan Cheng returned to the show after coming before and winning first prize in best trade exhibit.

He has been painting since he was five-years-old and said he enjoys the environment of a show because everyone enjoys to look at art in real life.

He also liked the environment for it is “true to life, down to earth and a family affair”.

Also displaying animal-themed art was Colin Castle with his life-like portraits of pets and animals.

Mr Castle said county shows like the Newbury Show sparked his love for creating pig portraits.

“I have been trading for 14 years but painting all my life,” he added.

“Someone asked if I could paint their horse and when I came to the Berkshire show 12 years ago I saw the pigs.

“They’re just wonderful and I like their characters and get that into my paintings.

“All wildlife is fascinating and at shows like this, a rural show with cows and pigs, are very much a part of that.”

Artist Mike Coggins said he enjoyed the buzz of the Newbury Show and talking to people about art and getting their feedback.

He said: “Some people are interested in the places that I have painted and some are interested in the painting technique.

“It is nice to meet and talk to people.”

Standing in a wonderfully scented stall was Corrine Penton-Reynolds of soy wax collection Miss Soy.

She said: “I started ten years ago; I just started playing with wax.

“I do the designs, marketing and labels myself and all our glass is recycled and our candles are refillable.”

The eco-friendly company selling wax melts, candles and reed diffusers, started ten years ago.

Also pleased to be out meeting people was Sally Tomkins of Massagical offering her natural handmade skincare products.

“I like meeting customers face-to-face,” she said.

“What sells the products is the feel and the smell.

“It is important, I enjoy getting customer feedback in person.”

Embroiderer Sarah Barnett was selling her work, including her cushions which hold books.

She started eight years ago, sewing her first book cushion for her son after she was made redundant following her maternity leave.

What began as a hobby has now become a business and she has made many more products to add to her body of work.

Another family affair was Bowbrook Studios, a sculpture company who were selling figurines of animals.

Joe Gittens said the business was started in 1992 by his sculptor father who decided to begin his own venture when his employer’s business went under.

“I am proud to be selling my parents’ art work,” Mr Gittens said.

“My dad does the sculpting and my mum does the painting.”

Aside from his favourite figurine of an “aesthetically pleasing” Kingfisher, he said he enjoys meeting familiar faces at county shows and getting to know other traders.

Allison Brook had a stall at the show with her hand stamped vintage cutlery business Hello Lovely.

She sells cutlery from the 18th to the 20th centuries that has been re-worked into jewellery and giftware and said that business had been very busy.

Ms Brook added: “It’s so lovely to be back because we haven’t been here since 2019 and I have a lot of customers that know me from my old shops Tiger Tiger. I just love it.”

Next to the Hello Lovely stall was Clare Design, which was selling kiln fired enamel jewellery pieces.

Clare Waite, the owner of the business, had traded at the show several times before and was glad to be back.

“It has been very busy,” she said. “There’s been a good crowd today of people doing their Christmas shopping.”