L I T H A
A midsummer celebration
Thursday 19th - 24th June 2025 10 -5pm
Opening Evening 19th June 6 - 8 pm
Sixteen Gallery, 16 Rotunda Terrace, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1SW.
An enticing midsummer exhibition of Printmaking, Willow Art and Painting by four female Artists - a moment to pause, look closer, feeling the season's gentle energy and quiet flow.
CLARE SHILVOCK
Clare Shilvock is an artist driven by a deep connection to nature, creating unique works of art from her home-grown, vibrant willows. Inspired by a desire to live lightly on the land, she weaves both traditional and contemporary baskets, sculptures, garden structures, and homeware. Each woven piece is a testament to her commitment to sustainability, blending heritage craftsmanship with modern design to offer beautifully functional alternatives for today’s world.
A passionate advocate for preserving ancient craft techniques, Clare is dedicated to keeping these skills alive through hands-on workshops and taster sessions. Based in Stratford-upon-Avon and working across the Cotswolds, she invites others to explore the art of basketry, sharing her knowledge and fostering a sense of connection with both the craft and the natural world. Through her work, she hopes to inspire others to appreciate the beauty and sustainability of willow, creating a ripple of “willowy love” that extends far beyond her studio.
Instagram and Facebook @WarwickshireWillow
FRANCINE BROWN
Francine Brown is a British artist who currently lives with her family in Warwickshire, England. Francine began her design career when she was awarded a BA Honours degree in Illustration in 2000 before joining a top London design agency. She subsequently enjoyed a variety of roles within an ever-changing design world, adding Graphic Design and Visual Communication to her skill set.
The varied roles throughout her career have allowed her to explore and push her own creative boundaries; it’s been an integral part of where she is today. She took the decision to leave the digital design world in 2020 to return to her first love, painting. She started to experiment with different media and it was on this journey she found the delicate combination of watercolours against a clay and mineral ground best suited her vision; the soft veils of colour against a naturally illuminating ground offered an oneiric quality to her work.
Francine’s artwork has been exhibited in many local art galleries and has been a finalist in nine competitions, winning the ‘Highly Commended’ Award in the Women In Watercolour International Competition 2022, ‘Highly Commended’ Award at the Broadway Open Exhibition 2024, and First Prize in the Leamington Art Society Landscape Competition 2024.
HAYLEY BURGESS
Hayley Burgess is a hybrid printmaker based in Warwickshire whose practice explores the role traditional printmaking has in a digital age. Historically printmaking has played a significant part in disseminating art and ideas using its own unique and technical artistry. Hayley questions this duplication by deliberately creating nonidentical patterns and unique mono-prints. Keeping her focus on creating work made with techniques chosen for their uniqueness of line, tone and texture, she blends seamlessly the traditional mediums of engraving and woodcut with the more modern techniques of silk-screen and Japanese wood lithography called Mokulito.
Hayley has a BA (Hons) Fine Art from Birmingham Institute of Art and Design. She is a member of Leamington Studio Artists, receiving their first Emerging Artist Bursary this year. Previous awards include ‘Highly Commended’ in the Open Annual Exhibition, East Lodge Gallery.
Her autobiographical influences weave emotion, childhood memories and familiar sayings into work which resonates with us all.
More information about Hayley and her practice can be found here:
ANNIE BRENCHLEY
Annie Brenchley’s early years were spent in the beautiful countryside of Snowdonia and the coastline of Anglesey. She now lives with her family and dog in Warwickshire. Many of her paintings are based on places where she walks, often woodlands and rivers. During the chilly winter months, Annie enjoys painting from still life.
Annie started painting when she moved to Alvechurch around 1993 where she joined an art group, which was taught by the talented artist Terence Clarke, who still has an influence on her painting today. She is currently studying with the amazing artist, Vicki Norman, where she is focusing on oil painting techniques, composition and colour.
Annie is a member of Vale Of Evesham, Stratford and Chipping Campden Art Societies and LSA in Leamington Spa, where she exhibits her work and is a Friend at RBSA. In 2024, Annie won an award for Composition Award and was a finalist in The Broadway Arts Festival Exhibition in October 2025.