At Peachcroft Farm, you are tempted by the farm shop and the cafe. But art first.

The sheep see you arrive.

Inside the barn, several artists display their work, and Susan Hill is demonstrating drawing flowers using two hands then painting them with ink and water.

Paul Minter is there explaining his ideas about art and is fascinating to listen to.

A couple of the artists, also produce books of their own poetry. The poetry is also very good as far as you can tell.

Then you sample and buy some cheese, and relax in the cafe with scones and tea before heading back. You wonder whether Peachcroft Farm can continue as a farm with houses marching in on all sides.

In Abingdon Library there will be three artists in residence this week. First was Louis Williams, a comic book artist and illustrator whose work can be found in independent comics, zines and the soon-to-be-released graphic novel ‘The Crossing.’ He will also be leading a Zine-making workshop at One Planet Abingdon. See https://oneplanetabingdon.org/etn/overgrowth-zine-making-workshop-09-06-2024/.
Above Willow’s Shake Shop, The Abingdon Artist Collaboration have an exhibition, and at the centre of it is Harry, the Supreme Leader. Harry has been given that title by the gamers of the Grim Dark Gaming Society who usually play games up there. Harry is seen among long strands representing mycelium. I was told that ‘Fungi obtain nutrients through the fibrous root like mycelium, and it could also acts as a means of communication between trees, whose roots are connected to each other through the mycelium of fungi. This allows the tree to send and receive information and nutrients to the surrounding trees.’ The artwork also includes glowing toadstools.

At the Abbey Cinema, a group of artists are exhibiting. The linking factor between them seems to be that they have done courses, whether at Abingdon and Witney College, the Ashmolean Museum or elsewhere, with Tatiana Wise. This is John with two of his pictures. He has been doing a beginners art group with Tatiana.

At St Nicolas Church, the Abbey Group are exhibiting. They are all well known in Abingdon as talented and prolific artists. The pews are full because Margaret Horton is selling off pictures to clear her studio.

This three-week festival celebrates visual arts across the county, with the final week showcasing artists in South Oxfordshire, from May 18th to 27th.

Abingdon has a lot of artistic talent on display this year with about a dozen exhibitions and studios. Find all the details on the website https://www.artweeks.org/, in art trail leaflets, or in the full festival magazine.

One exhibition space that is new to me is the 3rd floor of The Charter, Broad Street, Abingdon. The Charter Studios is organised by Makespace Oxford who look to use underused buildings. Some of the artists have studios there and are displaying their work.

The 3rd floor can be reached by lift or stairs and it is interesting to look around and see the variety of artwork.

There are also the results of some community projects, organised by Makespace Oxford, such as a postcard project.