Artist exhibition raises funds for dementia research

Fine art painter Angela Scott teamed up with leading ceramicist Caroline Pearce for the special fundraising event, which raised funds for Alzheimer’s disease research.
Angela’s sister Jenny Holbrook has been living at Pendine Park’s Hillbury Care Home in Wrexham since March after her health deteriorated during the first lockdown.
The talented artist wanted to show her gratitude to the home staff for their care and dedication and organized an exhibit in her home studio at Sodylt Home Farm, Ellesmere.
The event saw the fine art painter sell 10 pieces of her work, raising over £ 3,500, while her colleague, Carolina Pearce, donated £ 525 to the causes.
Angela will also make a donation to organize a musical evening for the residents of Hillbury Care Home.
Angela, 78, said: ‘Jenny was a terribly active woman – she was mayor of Knutsford four times. It was so interesting to hear what she had accomplished as mayor over those years.
“It was very touching and very moving for me to meet the current Mayor of Knutsford, Cllr Stewart Gardiner and Cllr Jan Nicholson, at the event. Cllr Gardener wore her ceremonial chain for Jenny so she could help bring back memories of her four tenures.
“Jenny, I could see, really enjoyed it. Her lovely neighbor next door, Kate, also came and there was little recognition there.
“For me personally, I was also absolutely delighted to be exhibiting in public again. It had been a long time since I had been able to show my work. I was exhibiting at the Willow Gallery in Oswestry last year, then we went into lockdown and my paintings weren’t seen.
“I didn’t know how well it would be received, but it was amazing. My gardener hung the paintings perfectly and the studio was absolutely lovely.
“It was wonderful to see so many former colleagues of Jenny. Jenny is one of the many people suffering from this miserable disease and it would be wonderful if they could find a cure. You hear more and more people dying from dementia.
“I said I would devote a portion of the profits to a musical night, something residents can enjoy and experience once Covid is gone. I think music is important for dementia therapy, it lights up something in them.
“The house is absolutely delighted. Carolina loved it too and was so happy to contribute to these causes. “
Jenny was taken to see the exhibit by Cindy Clutton, the manager of Hillbury.
She said: “The staging of the fundraising exhibit has been a wonderfully generous gesture from Angela, an incredibly talented and sought-after artist.
“It was only fitting that she raised funds for research into Alzheimer’s disease, a cause close to her heart.
“The arts are a part of everyday life at Pendine Park, whether it’s our regular art classes or music, so Angela’s contribution will be used very well.
“The arts enrich the lives of our residents and staff and have a positive impact on quality of life and well-being. “
Until her illness, 90-year-old Jenny led a busy and active life. She is a former England Reserve lacrosse player, County Cheshire tennis player and four-time Mayor of Knutsford.
She wrote a book on the art of movement and dance based on the Laban movement and taught all her life, first at Wythenshawe in Manchester then in Canada before moving on to West Sussex College.
Angela, who has two sons and four grandchildren aged 17 to 11, grew up in Altrincham and studied fine arts and pottery at Manchester College of Art and Design, where she graduated in 1964.
His large watercolors, which reflect the beauty of nature in and around Wales, have been exhibited extensively across the UK, including at RWS Bankside Gallery in London and Air Gallery Dover Street in London, and have won countless awards.
Witnessing her sister’s deterioration caused great pain and sadness and she decided that she wanted to do something positive to help raise awareness of the disease.
Angela added: “On my recent visit I got to talk to Jenny from Knutsford and she was very happy. It was a chapter in her life where she was very happy. It is so important to me to see her happy, safe and well cared for. It takes all the stress off my shoulders.
“Cindy was so nice on her day off to bring Jenny to be a part of the day, it meant so much to me.
“I really hope that the exhibition has raised awareness of this disease. This is what I wanted to do, see how I could help. Everyone I spoke to had someone in their family or a relationship with dementia, it affects so many people and it really brings it home. “