Jan Lee

Jan Lee embarks on a journey through time to discover issues people faced in China in the 60s

Jan Lee enjoys a well-written good old-fashioned murder mystery set in the Cotswolds

Jan Lee admires an emotive tale which was inspired by the airmen of Bomber Command

Jan Lee takes a peek at a murder mystery set in an all-girls school and likes what she sees

Jan Lee reads a scorching novel by a former Oxford resident who has returned to her roots

Tucked away near the church, in the picturesque town of Bampton, Erin Singleton, a perceptive artist, has mounted a thought-provoking exhibition on the 1930s through to the 1960s. Using wood, paint and different printing techniques, she selects found objects, coins, buttons, photographs and games, to create her assemblages that represent chance and mutability. Her ‘family’ series illustrate changing fashions in the domestic scene with disturbing intimations of gambling, drinking and abuse. Erin’s grandmother was very strict with her children, hence the tiny but cruel clothes hangers. Each collage features a paper bird affected by time; the first one is pure and perfect, while the wings of the second bird are singed, indicating wear and tear, History and nostalgia infuse this exhibition. In her greeting cards Erin plays with pop, propaganda slogans and advertising as “pin-up girls and suburban housewives take centre stage . . . during a time of great social upheaval and political unrest”. In one of ‘The War Girls’ series, reminiscent of propaganda war posters, a sexy silhouette of a girl leans provocatively against a dartboard with the text ‘keep ’em firing!’ showing her to be the real target.

This varied exhibition in Bampton draws on both past and future. Victoria Borondo, inspired by vintage dresses, botanical paintings and china designs, favours a muted palette. Her bags, purses and brooches, made of silk, satin and lace, and decorated with pearls, buttons and Victorian lace, are timeless.

This striking exhibition has drawn artists from round the world who see the Queen with traditional and fresh eyes.

Red kites swooping over Fillington Farm, at Piddington, near High Wycombe, suggest an avian theme for Art of Africa (until Sunday) at Fillington Farm, Piddington. Gemma Orkin’s elegant, handmade ceramic bowl boasts a long-tailed Sugar Bird, the pen and ink lines suggest feathers while its maroon coloured claws clasp a spiky branch. Also from the Cape, Sonya Moore’s serene hand-thrown platter Bird on a Wire displays her signature design, a bird etched out of the delicate celadon glaze.

High standards, skill and imagination are here in abundance in the Gallery in Bampton. Printmaker Susan Wheeler brings out beautifully the underlying structure of Wittenham Clumps, from Castle Hill, in linocut, a medium that lends itself to linear forms. She, in common with many artists like Paul Nash, captures a moment in time of this changing landscape.