Wendover welcomes Buckinghamshire artists for annual autumn exhibition

Wendover will welcome artists from across the county this autumn when the Buckinghamshire Art Society brings its annual Autumn Exhibition to the Memorial Hall on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November.

With free admission from 10am to 5pm on both days, the exhibition will showcase a diverse range of work, from paintings and drawings to sculpture, printmaking and contemporary mixed media. A preview evening will take place on Friday 30 October, from 6.30pm to 9pm, with the presentation of the Society’s Young Artist Awards at 7pm.

Founded in 1920, Buckinghamshire Art Society has around 100 members, many of whom are professional or semi-professional artists working across a wide variety of styles and disciplines. The exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to discover this breadth of talent, meet the artists behind the work and learn more about the inspiration and techniques that shape their creations.

Six artists from Wendover and the surrounding villages will be exhibiting alongside members from across Buckinghamshire, bringing a distinctly local dimension to the event. The Society’s featured artist is Weston Turville-based Wolfango Chiappella. Born in Italy, he works predominantly in oils, drawing inspiration from places with personal significance, including Wendover Woods, the local canal and landscapes from his homeland.

Through building up and scraping back layers of paint, Wolfango captures the changing light and atmosphere of a place, seeking to convey not just its appearance but also its character and the memories it evokes. He said: “Paintings, and art in general, are a testimony of existence. What might look like just a piece of cloth or a wooden panel with a few splashes of colour is actually a collection of emotions, struggles, happiness and sadness. It's a small window into the mind of the artist. “That's why art is so important. Our society brings together artists from many different walks of life, and that's the beauty of discovering others, the individual soul of each of them. Some are young, some are old, but they all want to give you a piece of themselves.”

Wendover artist Kate Wynne-Eyton also finds inspiration in the natural world, exploring light, atmosphere and a sense of place. Her Year in Wendover series follows the changing seasons around her home, while her wider portfolio includes coastal landscapes. Having studied art in the UK and the United States, Kate returned to exhibiting in 2023 and became a full-time painter at the end of 2025. Her work reflects close observation of the landscape and the subtle changes that transform familiar surroundings.

Di Oldfield, whose studio is in Aston Clinton, works across painting, mixed media, printmaking and collage. Inspired by nature and her travels, she experiments with colour, texture and pattern, moving between recognisable subjects and more abstract compositions. Her work has attracted an international following, with pieces held in private collections in countries including France, Canada and Bermuda.

Bill Senior discovered painting around ten years ago after retiring. With a background in geology and a love of outdoor sketching, he works in inks, watercolours and oils. His colourful, expressive paintings often capture movement and energy, featuring subjects such as cricketers, musicians and swimmers, alongside wildlife, coastal scenes and landscapes.

Graham Jefford has exhibited with Buckinghamshire Art Society since 2008. Drawing inspiration from the Chiltern Hills and Vale of Aylesbury, he seeks fresh perspectives on familiar countryside, exploring overlooked details, shapes and patterns rather than simply reproducing postcard views. His connection with the local landscape was celebrated in his 2020 solo exhibition, Wendover Country, held at 'a little bird told me gallery' in Wendover. Graham said: “Exhibiting with Bucks Art Society is always one of the highlights of my year, their exhibitions being so very professionally set up. The members' work covers an eclectic range of styles and mediums in both 2D and 3D art, and the standard is always high. Being a member has brought many friendships and much encouragement to a self-taught artist.”

Also exhibiting is Wendover-based professional artist Richard Ingleton, whose work encompasses figurative subjects, landscapes and still life, with a strong influence from post-impressionist techniques and a particular interest in colour and form. Richard trained in the classical tradition at the Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art, studying under master painters before exploring a variety of techniques and styles. He now works exclusively in oils from his Wendover studio, where he welcomes visitors and offers a small amount of one-to-one teaching. He has also been involved in the wider Buckinghamshire art scene for many years, including Bucks Art Weeks, when artists across the county open their studios to the public. His work is represented by Chiltern Fine Art, and he shares his paintings and insights into his practice on Instagram at @rmingleton. Richard is particularly pleased that the Society is bringing its exhibition to his hometown. “I'm so glad that the Bucks Art Society is coming to Wendover – they obviously know we're a community with excellent taste!” he said. He will be at the exhibition throughout the weekend, giving visitors the opportunity to discuss his work, creative process and sources of inspiration.

Alongside the established artists, the Young Artist Awards will celebrate emerging talent from across Buckinghamshire. Open to young people aged 16 to 20, the competition offers prizes of £200, £100 and £50, with winning and highly commended entries displayed as part of the exhibition. The awards provide a valuable platform for young artists to share their work with a wider audience, recognising the creativity of the next generation and encouraging them to develop their artistic ambitions.

For Wendover, the exhibition is an opportunity to experience a broad range of artistic styles under one roof, meet artists from the local area and beyond, and celebrate the creative talent on the town's doorstep.

For further information, visit bucksart.co.uk.