Not many people seem to know that when I finished the murals in about 1993 I made a key, which is in a book I presented to the Parish Council, and which is kept in the office in the village Hall. So, hopefully, people can identify themselves and their families, events and friends for as long as our Village Hall still stands.
A mural is painted directly onto the wall, a fresco is painted onto wet plaster. Mine are therefore murals - painted in today’s excellent quality acrylic paint and treated with exterior varnish for durability.
They have recently been cleaned and re-varnished. After 10 years the paint showed no sign of fading or wear at all, despite many activities, parties and classes in the Hall.
I have painted several large murals in very different locations, and have enjoyed creating them all, however, I think the most enjoyment I had was in doing these large paintings of Taplow, which took about 800 hours over a period of 2-3 years.
Brian and I have lived here for nearly 50 years, our 3 daughters were all born here, and now we have grandchildren living here too, so we all know and love the place.
What a wonderfully challenging project it was, especially as Alistair Forsyth, who was Chairman of the Parish Council at the time, bravely gave me a completely free rein, which really allowed the creative spirit to flow. I decided to paint it rather like a tapestry, spreading the High Street and Rectory Road on either side of the church and including as much as I could of the action that goes on around the Village Green, and carrying the scenes and events and characters right round the room on every wall.
All this needed much careful planning, going up and down the scaffolding, drawing and re-drawing the composition before even thinking of putting on the colours. Meanwhile, at social events, church occasions and every kind of happening that I could track down over this period, I would be there, trying to be invisible, lurking in the background with my sketchbook, making notes and observing and recording as much as I could.
It was a pleasure to discover as I progressed with the work, and people dropped in to see how I was getting on, that they asked for their scout group, ballet class or choir to be included. Some people who are very active in Village life appear several times - notably the Grelliers’ beloved cat is featured 3 times. I even went to draw her as she slept in the airing cupboard.
We have a psychic Australian friend who saw an alarming apparition arising and rushing from the Burial Mound, whom she took to be the Saxon Chieftain who was buried there. So, on an impulse and in trepidation, I walked up there in the dark on All saints Day at MIDNIGHT, wondering if I would have a similarly dramatic experience... no such luck! The security lights must have put him off, and sadly there was no ghostly manifestation for me. I included him nevertheless, as I did also the Profumo Affair, St. Berinus, St. Nicolas and the Canadian Memorial Hospital - all History now.
I hope my murals continue to give pleasure for many years to come, because they are indeed a “Celebration of Taplow”
