Snowdrop Studio is inspired by my family of women artisans, Agnes, Joy and Freda, together with my own experience of the power of creativity to build wellbeing. This is the studio they never had. Read below to understand their achievements and dreams. Come and see their creative work displayed within the studio at the monthly private view and open studio. Click below for information.
Agnes Jenkinson, 1877 - 1916
My great grandmother, Agnes, had a rare artistic talent that was recognised early in her life. See her award winning pastels that she achieved in 1897, awarded by the Sheffield School of Art. Agnes became classically trained and exhibited both in the UK and in Switzerland, where her thoughtful use of colour and portrayal of light was noted. She focused on still life, landscapes but mainly flowers, as can be seen above. Agnes was a devoted mother to her children and sadly she passed away shortly after childbirth, at a young age, in her late 30s. Her talent was so clear but never realised fully due to her sadly dying at such a young age. Agnes's beautiful roses are now being captured in hand painted porcelain.
Joy Stevenson, 1908 - 2004
Joy was Agnes's second daughter and became a beloved mother, and grandmother to my sister Louise and I. The name Mrs Stevenson and 'true lady', were never far away from each other. A very talented confectioner, with her husband Jack, they were locally renowned for their bakery and confections with Joy specialising in wedding cakes. As a couple they typified 'new beginnings', starting a bakery in their forties at a time when entrepreneurs were few and far between. As she retired she spent more time on her art and the results in both watercolour and oils are displayed in the studio.
As a grandmother she was a wonder and often stressed to us that we should always try and do something that we loved as that is when we are truly ourselves. Among many of Joy's creations is the picture of snowdrops that inspires the story of Snowdrop Studio, see below.
Freda Smedley 1919 - 2006
Freda was Joy's younger half sister and a true character from the start. Joy described the arrival of Freda and a later sister Margie, into their lives as a true blessing for the family after the death of Agnes a few years earlier. A real independent spirit, Freda quickly focused on her art and became an undergraduate, specialising in Fine Art practices. Her art portfolio, displayed within Snowdrop Studio, was completed in 1937. Amongst many of her pictures is one called 'Progress', depicting women and their roles. Freda was a talented painter and her love of graphic design, art deco and illustration is prevalent in a clear artistic style, that is both modern and traditional. Later, Freda achieved much success as the Head of Art at a secondary school in Sheffield, and was widely travelled and read.
In her later years she married Smed, her long time love and they retired to Somerset where she was an active member of Watchet art society, where she exhibited locally, where they had a lovely English cottage and garden. Enjoy a cup of tea out of one of Freda's favourite cups. Freda's daffodils, such a feature in her garden are at the heart of many of her paintings in the studio.
Lisa Stevenson, b1972
As a child, my gran, Joy, always encouraged me to stay true to a path of creativity. I have always felt that creativity is where my heart lay, and have increasingly incorporated it into any role that I have had working in leadership and innovation. It is when I am actually creating that I am truly myself and where my heritage of these women guides me.
I started over ten years ago to understand the link between creativity and wellbeing at a personal level. It is easiest to explain if I start with why the studio is called after a snowdrop. In 2010, myself and my husband lost our wonderful son, to sudden infant death syndrome, 'cot death', and through the devastation the thing that I started to do was draw. I felt compelled to draw, which I did for nearly a year, always in pencil, always black and white, every day to get through. The creativity held me up as I was lost in the dark. It was winter when it happened and the first ray of hope was thinking of the snowdrops breaking through the snow, and new beginnings. I remembered the small painting of my gran's that had hung in my parents home and kindly my parents gave it to me as a symbol to hold onto in those days. It was then that I realised that healing and wellbeing is linked to nature and creativity, both of which allow humans to feel growth and for me gave hope in the darkest of times. In the last few years, I wanted to share this experience and learning and the idea for a creative wellbeing studio emerged, where I can practice ceramics, teach and also coach.
I began to understand the role of family and friends in re-building and became interested in my own heritage and explored three women including my gran, Joy, my great aunt Freda and my great grandmother Agnes, all whom creativity shaped their lives and was how they felt happy and well. The creativity of these three talented women is in all areas of the studio. Finally there is a studio worthy for their creations to be displayed.
