Public Art Commission - Broadleaf Park, Rownhams
A new art trail has been commissioned by Test Valley Borough Council using developer contributions from the Broadleaf Park housing development.
The artists
Nicola Henshaw tells stories through wood and metal, creating long-lasting artwork, which is both sculptural and functional. Drawing upon folklore and social history, it is tactile, accessible and often interactive. She lives in the New Forest, Hampshire and creates site specific work for public spaces as well as smaller domestic pieces for galleries in the UK and the USA.
Nicola has successfully run several community-based public art projects across the UK. Recently in Crowdhill (Eastleigh); Buckland Rings (Lymington); Romsey to Abbotswood art trail and Hockey Viaduct interpretation scheme (Winchester).
These have engaged a wide variety of people in a range of creative activities including writing stories and poems, evoking and sharing memories during “roadshows”, making sculptures and drawing with different tools, printing, photography, film making and temporary installations.
Discover more of Nicola’s work on her website at nicolahenshaw.co.uk and her Facebook page.
Michael Johnson studied fine art at Ravensbourne College of Art and Design, then printmaking at University of the Arts London. At Middlesex University he gained a Bachelors Honours degree in History of Art, Design and Film; culminating with a Master’s Degree, (achieved with Distinction), at the University of Winchester in 2012.
Michael’s arts practice has certainly been inspired and enriched by the natural world, as well as the ethereal; and his work to date has been rooted within this exploration, whether that’s using found objects or writing holistic poetry.
As a creative thinker, Michael brings to the table new ways of tapping into key themes and topics. He also believes deeply in local people being engaged with and holding a sense of ownership of art in their community and is always seeking to open up a fresh dialogue with local people.
