The Gift - large charcoal drawings
By Wendy Rhodes
Original drawings - first of a new series
Charcoal on Snowdon Cartridge 130 gsm
Size: A1 - H 84 cm x W 59cm,
Unframed and on mount board, or can be rolled and packaged for easy postage or shipping
In order as shown above (with close-up details on other images)
‘Survivors’ - £750
‘Expectation’ - £750
‘Anticipation’ - £750
As part of our 2026 mini-series of First Impressions, Wendy has created these superb new charcoal drawings, inspired by the ancient pathways near her South Cotswold home
Each drawing takes around a week to create and carries its own power, boldness and strength coming through in the marks, the shadow patterns and the stances of the tree trunks and their branches
Wendy’s observational details stir an empathy in us - she imbues the trees with personality and treats each one as an individual, worthy of our admiration and respect
Describing the drawings, Wendy says: “I think of these raggedy trees as ‘The Survivors’. They were the ones left in the lane after some much bigger trees were taken out from behind them. Straggly and misshapen but standing firm.”
This trio forms the launch pad to a planned new series of charcoal drawings called ‘Gift’: “Sunlight has seemed a rare gift this winter, and bright days are always a gift when we can make use of them. The sunlight gifts us an enlightened view of a lane or path... as artist Laurie Steen said: '...specifically how light shapes us and gets through the shadows'
"There’s also the anticipation that turning the corner will provide a gift in some small way - a gift of a view or the gift of an interesting piece of path orlane to walk, the curiosity of what lies beyond the turn."
ABOUT WENDY RHODES
Wendy is a South Cotswold-based artist whose drawing and printmaking reflect her experiences of walking through rural countryside, along coastlines and becoming immersed in place.
"The rural countryside is an imperfect vision of a natural environment that has been shaped by human intervention. Paths are chewed and indented by farm machinery, hedges are cut and fences repaired. Nature does its best to wrench back control; rain washes paths to new shapes, fence posts lean to their own tune and these are the moments that I find fascinating."
Every piece she creates begins with drawing, exploring the structures and textures of footpaths, bridleways and beaches; tracking seasonal and environmental changes.
Her approach is informed by writers and artists such as Tim Ingold and John Virtue, both of whom have experiential practices; exploring walking and wayfaring. A similarly immersive approach enables her to document places in a diarist’s format, drawing attention to details, memories and glimpses that build to a whole.
Wendy's background is in teaching and she remains an art tutor to this day. She was Head of Art for 16 years at the acclaimed Katharine Lady Berkeley's School (KLB) in Gloucestershire.
