The Henley Arts Trail launched the Art Spark competition to support & encourage the most talented young artists in the area. This initiative is generously funded by The Art Society Henley with art supplies kindly donated by Daler Rowney. This year we also launch the Fletcher memorial prize in memory of Dick & Judith Fletcher who sadly died this year and contributed so much to the Henley Arts Trail.
The winners of the ArtSpark competition are given a day's one-to-one tuition in their choice of specialist skill with a professional artist PLUS £75 worth of Daler Rowney arts supplies.
APPLICATIONS OPEN AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2026
To find out more about the winners and professional artists and craftspeople giving specialist tuition below
ArtSpark Winners 2025
This year the inaugural Judith Fletcher Prize was awarded to Lucy Liu, aged 18 from Maiden Erlegh School. Evelyn Young age 16 from Shiplake College and Zinnia Hodge age 17 from Henley College won the two prizes generously sponsored by the Art Society Henley. They were each given a goody bag of art materials kindly donated by Daler Rowney. All three winners chose to be taught a master class in oil painting by professional artist Sue Tilbury, pictured left with the winners
From left to right: Evelyn Young, Sue Tilbury, Lucy Liu, Zinnia Hodge. Photo credit Sara Painter
ArtSpark Winners 2024
Last summer the 2024 Winners were given one to one tutoring sessions in their chosen media. Freddie Hodges chose to be taught oil painting with Sue Tilbury and Anjali Shanker selected to make silver jewellery with award winning jeweller Janet Richardson.
Oil Painting
Watercolour
Liz Chaderton
Liz works in a mixture of watercolour and inks. She paints flora and fauna in a unique and vibrant style, capturing their vitality and joie de vivre. Liz Shares her expertise in workshops and is the author of five books (so far)
Watercolour
Oil Painting
Sue Tilbury
Sue is a portrait and still life painter. Workingin oil on canvas, carefully layering colour and finishing with soft translucent glazes to add a depth & quality only oils can achieve. Sue regularly runs workshops, courses and one to one tuition in portraiture & still life.
Ceramics
Wheel Throwing
Jess Sarson
Jess creates wheel thrown functional ceramic pieces that have simple and pleasing forms.
Clean lines, gentle curves and simplicity in the glazing define her design style. She is also an experienced tutor.
Life Drawing
Life Drawing
Jo Harris
Jo founded the Henley School of Art and now concentrates on art tutoring and life drawing for individuals and small groups from her studio in Henley. her skill and enthusiasm are inspirational for all her students
Not only is she a good teacher but also a talented artist.
Textiles
Silver Jewellery
Janet Richardson
Jan is an award winning jewellery designer and has been making and teaching for over 40 years. She has had the pleasure of seeing her students enjoy learning about jewellery making, some of whom have chosen to go on to run their own jewellery businesses. She has also co-authored a Silver Jewellery Making book.
Sculpture
Sculpture
Alison Pink
Alison is passionate about sculpting animals. Sheet of clay are imprinted with texture using random items and then layered over armatures. Her pies are as charismatic as she is and student find her enthusiasm infectious. She regularly works in schools and her students' incredible results are testament to her teaching skills
Jewellery
Textile Art
Kate Findlay
Kate is a full time textile artist. She uses pieces of fabric which she layers and sews together to create intricate pictures featuring landscapes and wildlife. For many years Kate was a DT & Art teacher in both primary and secondary schools.
Print Making
Photography
Richard Pinches
Richard is a commercial and corporate photographer with 35 years of experience. You will have seen his photography in glossy magazines, posters, billboards, buses, and online for major global brands such as Sony, Dell, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Lotus cars, British Airways, Waitrose, Xerox and 3M
