Featured Image: Gerry Lynch.
A historic Devizes church will help local children celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by giving them the chance to work with a renowned local artist over the jubilee period.…
The parish of St John with St Mary in Devizes has partnered with artist Joanna May and historian David Evans to put an exhibition entitled ‘Majesty’ in St Mary’s Church on New Park Street from 2-4 June. Three local primary schools will participate: Wansdyke, Southbroom, and Trinity.
Shirley Urwin, who is helping organise the exhibition, said: “The children will hear about Devizes’ historic links with the monarchy through story-telling, then Joanna will help them make paintings and drawings of story or person that resonated most with them. Joanna will then create a mosaic of the children’s drawings as part of a huge exhibition board, based upon her painting “Majesty”, which depicts Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Crown.
“We hope they will benefit from the opportunity to work creatively with a well-known artist and be involved in a unique project marking a memorable event in their lives.
“The pupils will benefit from one-on-one time with a professional artist completely cost free. All three schools are state-funded, and both Trinity CofE and Southbroom receive higher than the national average Pupil Premium funding. This is about bringing art to everyone in our community.
“This is part of a programme of activities that will secure the future of St Mary’s Church as a vibrant and viable multi-use venue for the community of Devizes and further afield. It will raise awareness and engagement in the town of the plans to make St Mary’s available for the community as a vibrant arts space, accessible to all. “
The exhibition will be free, and take place at St Mary’s from 11 am – 3 pm from Thu 2 – Sat 4 June.
For more information, contact Shirley Urwin on shirley.urwin@yahoo.co.uk or 07849 536 179.
About Joanna May
Joanna May is an artist based in Devizes. She is recognised and collected widely, with a listing in ‘Who’s Who In Art’. Her work has sold at Christies’, including to celebrity buyers; she has paintings at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Raymond Blanc’s famous hotel near Henley. Her beautiful hare paintings for The Hare on the Moon – A Treasure Hunt Book hang in her Joanna May Gallery, lighting up Northgate Street in Devizes. She can be contacted on joanna@joannamay.com and has a website at joannamay.com.
About St Mary’s, Devizes
St Mary’s Church is a Grade 1 listed building and one of the town’s oldest and most historic landmarks with its magnificent 13m high internal arch. It is among the top 2.5% listed buildings in the country and of significant historic importance to the town. Plans are afoot to redevelop the building into a space for the arts, accessible to all, enjoyed for generations to come, thus preserving our heritage. Find out more at www.stmarydevizestrust.org.uk.
- Junkyard Dogs & A Homecoming QueenIf, in hosting the launchpad at Doca’s Festival of Discovery, I’ve recently been harking on about youthful emerging talent, this unfortunately doesn’t fit into that … Continue reading “Junkyard Dogs & A Homecoming Queen”
- “Mary’s Frankenstein” at the Rondo Theatre, Larkhall, Bath November 11th to 14th 2026.by Ian Diddams images by WhimsiCo productions It’s quite well know, it is fair to say, that in writing “Frankenstein” in 1816, Mary Shelley invented … Continue reading ““Mary’s Frankenstein” at the Rondo Theatre, Larkhall, Bath November 11th to 14th 2026.”
- Boom Bap Vegas; The Scribes Coming Back to TrowbridgeIt’s going to be all hip hop hooray at Trowbridge’s Birdhouse when Bristol’s award-winning boom bap rappers The Scribes arrive on Saturday 21st November…. The … Continue reading “Boom Bap Vegas; The Scribes Coming Back to Trowbridge”
- Marlborough’s Historic Polly Tea Rooms Closed; Do Tea Inc Instead!Sad news for Marlborough, especially for the tourist industry, as the Polly Tea Room announced its closure today, after 114 years…. The iconic tea rooms … Continue reading “Marlborough’s Historic Polly Tea Rooms Closed; Do Tea Inc Instead!”
- Wiltshire Music Centre Appoints Ken Scott as New ChairWiltshire Music Centre is delighted to announce the appointment of Ken Scott as Chair of its Board of Trustees…. The appointment comes at an exciting … Continue reading “Wiltshire Music Centre Appoints Ken Scott as New Chair”
- Happy 1st Birthday to Devizes Area Youth LoungeToday is the first anniversary of the Devizes Area Youth Lounge on Sidmouth Street. With free afternoon sessions on Mondays, Thursdays and one for SEND … Continue reading “Happy 1st Birthday to Devizes Area Youth Lounge”
- Christmas at The Rowdey Cow!Christmas at the Rowdey Cow; because nothing says Christmas like an ice cream! Or at least, it works for me; I’d eat ice cream through … Continue reading “Christmas at The Rowdey Cow!”
- McDonalds in East Devizes?!There’s no fooling you; this headline is Mc-deliberately misleading! There’s not even a burger, just a clickbait sesame seeded pun. I had to grab your … Continue reading “McDonalds in East Devizes?!”
- Burning the Midnight Oil on Halloween at The SouthgateIf you came to this monster mash last night you’d be excused for finding it hard to believe it was only a couple of years … Continue reading “Burning the Midnight Oil on Halloween at The Southgate”
- Lille Røde Hunting Wolves in Box!Real life Little Red Riding Hood, Lille Røde comes to The Queen’s Head in Box on Saturday November 28th; beware wolves! Sounding something like St … Continue reading “Lille Røde Hunting Wolves in Box!”
