Wiltshire artist Georgina Heywood-Smith brings the daily dedication of West Country tradespeople to life in her most ambitious solo exhibition to date. Through her intricate wood engravings, Georgina honors the skilled workers who shape the region’s character and heritage.
Her latest series, Places and People, features portraits of local tradespeople such as Logan, a plumber from Westbury, and Steve, a mason from Radstock. Each piece is meticulously crafted using an 18th-century engraving technique, with the creation of a single artwork taking anywhere from two weeks to two months. Alongside these portraits, Georgina displays captivating landscapes inspired by her life across Wiltshire, Somerset, Bristol, and Cornwall.
Growing up in the West Country, Georgina spent twenty years designing rugs for well-known retailers including B&Q, Marks & Spencer, and Next. One of her designs, the ‘Gina’ rug, achieved widespread success with tens of thousands sold throughout the UK. Today, she focuses exclusively on wood engraving, exhibiting her work at regional art events and online through her website.
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Her art has earned recognition from prestigious institutions such as the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal Society of British Artists, and the Society of Wood Engravers.
Reflecting on her new exhibition, Georgina said, “Transforming a block of wood into a piece of art is like creating something from nothing. The West Country’s beauty provides endless inspiration. Most of my work centers on places, but I’m always mindful of the people who make those places possible. Tradespeople like Logan and Steve contribute so much yet often go unnoticed—it felt right to give them the spotlight. My goal is to one day see a plumber’s portrait hanging in the Royal Academy.”
Places and People will be exhibited at The West Barn, Pond Lane, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1JY (adjacent to the Tythe Barn).