Thatcham shop owner wins art award

Andrea Cooke, owner of Picture It in Thatcham High Street, won the Fine Art Trade Guild ‘Best Mount Design’ category at a recent awards ceremony in Elstree, London.
Mrs Cooke has been a picture framer for 15 years and opened the High Street shop in 2012, which specialises in framing memorabilia and quirky objects, as well as restoring antique frames.
This years subject was ‘A day out in London’, the image for ‘Best Mount Design’ was supplied by the guild showing people on an underground escalator circa 1950’s.
Mrs Cooke’s created the illusion of a couple, sitting on a bench waiting for their train.
She said, “Cutting out the silhouettes of the people by hand takes a lot of skill and practice. I was very pleased with the overall style and look”.
As well as winning the best mount design she was also a finalist with her entry for the’ Guild Framing Challenge’ category, with her perception of ‘A day out in London’, which shows the back streets, homeless and graffiti.
Mrs Cooke chose this design as she wanted to show the other side to visiting London, “Getting Lost” was her title.
She said: “I am so proud to win this award, being recognised by the FATG at this level nationally, will give Picture It and I a great boost.
"Opening Picture It has been an amazing experience and I have met some amazing people through the shop.
"The business has been growing gradually and has taken a great deal of time, effort and support from my family to make it a success”.