THE KING’S BOX
THE KING’S BOX
ABOUT
There is a jewel living in the Wylye Valley, one that inspires and garners others to action. His name is Nick Andrew, an artist and teacher. Twenty-five years ago, from his home next to the river, he founded the Wylye Valley Art Trail (WVAT), an event held every other year, organised by Nick and his band of eager volunteers, where artists open their doors and invite a hungry public to visit their studios and workshops to view and perchance purchase art.
This astounding effort in marshalling, encouraging, and supporting the arts and artists in our area was recognised by the Crown and, just before the death of Elizabeth II, was awarded the Queen’s Award for Volunteering.
To mark this honour, and to celebrate the King’s coronation, it was decided that examples of the artists’ work would be gathered in a specially designed and made box and given to our new monarch.
Having been involved in the Trail since its inception, we volunteered to fulfil the brief. The box was made by Rick Long in our workshop from English elm and rippled Wiltshire sycamore, while A4-sized samples of local artists’ work poured in, in a landslide of enthusiasm, to provide the contents.
Our contribution was a carved sycamore panel with an inscription of a quotation from the Scottish biologist philosopher, Patrick Geddes: “By leaves we live”. The lettering was designed by the inimitable letter cutter, the late Caroline Webb, who gave me a rubbing of the original, hand cut into slate, which stands in her Wiltshire garden. Our A4-sized reduction was exquisitely carved by one of our makers, Harry Rymer, into Wiltshire sycamore.
After being shown in our studio during this year’s event, the box was given to the King.
The contributors from the Wylye Valley Art Trail subsequently received fulsome encouragement, recognition and thanks from our new monarch, for both the box and its contents.
Matthew Burt 2023