Young artists exhibition of Winchester High Street shops opens

Winchester art teacher of more than 40 years, Daphne Vaughn, launched the charity Know Thyself after her son drowned in the USA.

Just days before he died, Daphne’s son Tom said he wanted to leave his job in Los Angeles and set up a company to help mankind, so his mum has carried on his legacy, raising money to help people combat anxiety through hers and her pupils’ artwork.

‘A Celebration of Winchester by its Young Artists’ opened on Friday, September 8 as part of the Heritage Open Days and in aid of Know Thyself Charitable Trust.

READ MORE: Young artists’ exhibition to celebrate Winchester High Street

Daphne Vaughn (Image: Adele Bouchard)

After months of working away at Mrs Vaughn’s home studio in Edgar Road, the group of children aged seven to 14, have been able to see their work on display at Winchester City Museum and in the windows of 17 businesses that agreed to buy the artwork.

The launch was attended by the Mayor of Winchester, Councillor Angela Clear, Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) leader Dr Paul Spencer, Cllr Lucille Thompson, some of the businesses involved and members of the art world.

Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Angela Clear, and Daphne's partner Arthur (Image: Adele Bouchard)

BID director Paul Spencer said: “It’s amazing. The quality of the work by these young people is terrific. It also demonstrates how beautiful our city is. It showcases Winchester in such a novel way and for such a worthwhile charity.

“We helped with some of the business connections and make the idea a reality but Daphne is the one who has gone and done it and we were very pleased to help.

“There are not many examples of projects like this. It’s not often that young people get to paint their High Street and see it on show.”

SEE ALSO: City choir preparing for concerts in its centenary year

Ecco manager Eduardo Matteini (Image: Adele Bouchard)

Eduardo Matteini, store manager at Ecco, was admiring the painting of his High Street shoe shop. He said: “As soon as we put the piece up in our window a mother and her children said thank you to us for doing so. People have been loving the High Street trail.

“We are happy to do it. We have quite a tight budget but we really wanted the canvas up in our shop. The exhibition is really lovely and I’m more than impressed by the standard of work.”

Visitors commended Mrs Vaughn’s bravery after she gave an emotional speech on what started it all.

Mrs Vaughn, 73, said: “My world turned upside down when I lost Tom, my only child. However, he threw me a lifeline. I had the adrenaline to set up this charity. It’s helped me with my grief. It’s given me a purpose and I thank him for that. The extraordinary thing about it is it’s compulsive.”

The exhibition alongside a video of the artists at work is open at Winchester City Museum in The Square until Sunday, September 17. Normal museum admission applies.