Local artist Nigel Fletcher's Spring Exhibition runs from 9th to 25th May this year, part of Oxfordshire Artweeks.

Nigel writes: This year I've been experimenting from time to time with abstract or semi - abstract painting, I can't say I'm an expert at it but really enjoy the process, working with saturated colour and in a completely different way than I'm used to has been fun, frustrating and when it goes well - very exciting! and so I'll be framing 22 and looking forward to showing them to you.

And of course there will be plenty of new figurative paintings of local scenery and painting trips to the Norfolk coast etc.

Come and visit a beautiful eco studio located in a pretty, village garden which houses a jeweller, potter, a mixed media artist and a blacksmith who forges metal garden sculptures. Here you will see a huge variety of professionally made items covering all price points. This venue is part of the NGS (National Garden Scheme) so definitely worth coming to see.

Exhibiting artists: Nicola Durrant, Elly Dunford Wood, David Turner, Maya Callen-Franklin

Phyu Gordon and Rhiannon Evans met whilst sharing the unique studio space of The Old Mission Hall, Sibford Gower, Banbury, Oxfordshire, a building long associated with the local Society of Friends community. Their common concerns are the natural world, local and global culture, heritage and memory.

Phyu Gordon

Phyu is originally from Burma and her practice focuses on portrait paintings especially in water colour and the specialist technique of lacquer painting which she learnt in Vietnam. She will also be showing this process of making. She paints local landscape, natural images and still life in oil and acrylic as well.

Over the past 20 years she has lived in different countries and created paintings that reflect her experiences of people and cultures.

Rhiannon Evans

Rhiannon’s practice involves remediation of pre-existing imagery to make paintings and drawings on semi-transparent

materials. Her work takes on varying forms; from loose, unbound, unframed leaves, 3 – dimensional collaged sculptures and dynamic triptychs and references diverse historical traditions, archival methods and materials.

Her recent works engage with ideas of choice, possibility and the blurring of boundaries between technology, the natural world and community. Her aims is to encourage reflection on contemporary themes where she senses confusion and conflict in everyday life.

Local artist Nigel Fletcher's Spring Exhibition runs from 9th to 25th May this year, part of Oxfordshire Artweeks.

Nigel writes: This year I've been experimenting from time to time with abstract or semi - abstract painting, I can't say I'm an expert at it but really enjoy the process, working with saturated colour and in a completely different way than I'm used to has been fun, frustrating and when it goes well - very exciting! and so I'll be framing 22 and looking forward to showing them to you.

And of course there will be plenty of new figurative paintings of local scenery and painting trips to the Norfolk coast etc.

A History Day in Oxfordshire - Quaker Family History Society Spring Meeting 2026

Join us for history talks and discussion at our family history meeting in the beautiful and picturesque twin villages of Sibford Ferris and Sibford Gower in Oxfordshire on Saturday 16th May 2026.

Here is a short video about the meeting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbSaWbqNN2I

We shall be spending the morning at Sibford School in Sibford Ferris and the afternoon at Sibford Meeting House in Sibford Gower. There will be an optional walk to take us from one place to another to see other points of interest in the picturesque villages.

This is the Quaker Family History Society's first in-person meeting since Covid and we would love to see you there.

The earliest Quakers in the villages were organised and established by 1669 and they met in the house of clockmaker Thomas Gilkes. A decade later, a purpose-built meeting house was constructed and the current meeting house dates from 1865.

In 1842, Sibford School was founded for the education of the children of 'disowned' Quakers who were not in unity, as their children were barred from going to Ackworth School. Later, children from practising Quaker families could also attend.

At our QFHS Spring Meeting, we will have talks at both the school and the meeting house on a variety of topics. These will include both Quaker-centred topics and also connected themes.

Our late member Michael Hargreave, who died in 2025, was from the Sibfords and this QFHS Spring Meeting is dedicated to his passion for family history and his memory.

We would be very happy for you to join us. All are welcome.

Tickets are £15.

If you are a resident of the Sibfords then a ticket is £5.

**You must bring a packed lunch with you as there will be no lunch facilities on the day.**

To book your place and receive further details, please confirm your attendance on meetup or facebook:

Meetup event: https://www.meetup.com/quaker-fhs/events/314495554/
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/915057558199373/

You can also contact Jon Wicken on jonwicken@yahoo.co.uk or WhatsApp or phone 07941 979 630.

Planned Timetable

• 10:30am-12:30pm Welcome and history talks at Sibford School
• 12:30-1:30pm Eating of packed lunches at the school
• 1:30pm-3pm Guided walk of the Sibfords from the school to the meeting house
• 3pm-5pm History talks including Quaker clock makers and a walk around the Quaker burial ground

About Us

The Quaker Family History Society was formed in 1993 and is a member of the Federation of Family History Societies. We are not a Quaker organisation, but a recognised external body by Britain Yearly Meeting. Our website can be found at https://qfhs.co.uk/

Come and visit a beautiful eco studio located in a pretty, village garden which houses a jeweller, potter, a mixed media artist and a blacksmith who forges metal garden sculptures. Here you will see a huge variety of professionally made items covering all price points. This venue is part of the NGS (National Garden Scheme) so definitely worth coming to see.

Exhibiting artists: Nicola Durrant, Elly Dunford Wood, David Turner, Maya Callen-Franklin

Phyu Gordon and Rhiannon Evans met whilst sharing the unique studio space of The Old Mission Hall, Sibford Gower, Banbury, Oxfordshire, a building long associated with the local Society of Friends community. Their common concerns are the natural world, local and global culture, heritage and memory.

Phyu Gordon

Phyu is originally from Burma and her practice focuses on portrait paintings especially in water colour and the specialist technique of lacquer painting which she learnt in Vietnam. She will also be showing this process of making. She paints local landscape, natural images and still life in oil and acrylic as well.

Over the past 20 years she has lived in different countries and created paintings that reflect her experiences of people and cultures.

Rhiannon Evans

Rhiannon’s practice involves remediation of pre-existing imagery to make paintings and drawings on semi-transparent

materials. Her work takes on varying forms; from loose, unbound, unframed leaves, 3 – dimensional collaged sculptures and dynamic triptychs and references diverse historical traditions, archival methods and materials.

Her recent works engage with ideas of choice, possibility and the blurring of boundaries between technology, the natural world and community. Her aims is to encourage reflection on contemporary themes where she senses confusion and conflict in everyday life.