Shropshire Tourist Information and Visitor Guide

Barbara Noton

Barbara Noton, from Chirk near Oswestry and Jean Green, from Solihull, have combined some of their finest watercolour work for the exhibition, entitled ‘Just the Two of Us’. 

Watercolour is Jean Green’s first love, started with workshops by Beverley Fry, a local Shropshire artist, who inspired her to develop as an artist. In April 2007 Jean started an Artist Development Programme with DASh (Disability Arts in Shropshire) which has enabled her to develop as a practising artist, culminating with an exhibition in January 2008.

Jean adds: “My love of texture, colour and pattern has been developing all my life and forms the basis of my art work today; seeking to combine art and creative writing to express my feelings or responses to a given topic, object or vision in diaries and sketchbooks.”

Barbara Noton has been drawing and painting most of her life but didn’t have any formal training until she retired three years ago. Previously most of her painting was with children in her charge while working for the NHS or in nurseries and schools. She has produced numerous murals over the years for nurseries she has worked in and has recently completed one for Chirk Library which is to be unveiled later this year.

“Children’s portraits are my favourite subject,” Barbara says, although her other interests have encouraged her to diversify over recent years. “Belonging to a drama group has encouraged me to paint and design posters for Theatre groups and over the last few years I have designed posters for Mikrokosmos Theatre Company - most recently for The Ballad of William Owen, the company’s new play at Theatr Clwyd in Mold this summer.”

The Exhibition is being held at:

The Bear Steps Gallery
St Alkmunds Place, Shrewsbury SY1 1UH