27/03/2024
In Shaftesbury, Julie Turner and Des Alner are respected by generations for their inspiring art teaching. They have developed thousands of locals' art skills at area schools. Their family's art workshops in Twyford will host a pop-up sale of arts and crafts on Easter Saturday.
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"Most of them are involved this time, except for Theo, who's in Lapland," said Julie. "We've got Rosie's stunning flower wall. At one end of the barn, we have bunny bottoms in flower pots that Esme has made. They're essentially pompoms, but they're very sweet. We also have work from Luckham Hub, just the other side of Blandford. Rachel runs the art side of their work with young people. It's very similar to what we used to do here, working with youngsters who are out of the system, and there are some Shaftesbury young people there. They have a small enterprise shop at the school where the youngsters do all the work, and some of it is here."
Julie says it's possible to discover real talent among differently-abled students who don't get to shine through the regular education system. "We recently had a letter from one of the youngsters we were working with a couple of years ago, just yesterday. He was very ill then, and we got him through his Gold Arts Award. He went to college, finished with a really good merit, and is now applying to university. Someone who was so ill, all of their confidence had gone. He didn't think he would be able to move forward at all. It's wonderful to hear from him."
Julie expects many people to pop in as Twyford is on a popular walking and cycling route. And another family member, Matthew, will provide food with his Piccolo Pizza.
The event is on Saturday from ten till four.
It's clear that teaching is in Des and Julie's blood, even though they are meant to be retired. "It's time to share our skills and to try and enable other people to find their feet. That's how I feel about it."
